Black Wave

Chapter 1

Rudra kept her eyes fixed on the door through which the Judge would arrive. She had no idea who was going to be presiding over the case today. She didn't need to know that. Her job was to explain the behaviours of the defendant, based on her interviews with him, and whether he will be charged as a mentally ill adult or not. Rudra was confident today. She was never a fidgety person. Nor has she ever let her nerves paint an obvious reflection on her confidence. Body language was key. She of all people should know.

The door opened and the bailiff, who was standing next to it, raised his voice, "All rise." Everyone seated in the courtroom stood up. Rudra watched as the judge walked in. A short and plump woman wearing her black coat over her saree and a white neck bend walked in. A pair of thin wiry spectacles sat on the bridge of her hooked nose and her face held no emotion whatsoever. She walked up to the bench and sat behind it, folding her hands onto the table. Rudra averted her gaze to the bailiff, who announced, "Department One of the High Court is now in session. Judge Vimala presiding. Please be seated."

There was a flurry of movement and sound as everyone sat back down. Rudra kept her eyes on the judge. Her glasses were sliding down her nose and she had her head tilted down to look above into the space spread out in front of her. It was comedic to look at. Her beady black eyes surveyed the courtroom audience.

Judge Vimala waited until a hush was spread through the courtroom before speaking. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen" her voice was husky and professional, Rudra noticed. It showed of her experience and the weight of her position. "Calling the case of Vaishnavi Krishnan v. Muruga Das AIR 2019 Mad. 245. Are both sides ready?" she questioned the prosecution and the defence. At their affirmation she nodded and shuffled some papers on her desk.

"You may begin" Judge Vimala said.

The Prosecution and the Defence presented their sides of the arguments flawlessly. If Rudra hadn't been informed of the basics, she too would be torn between the two as the people around her were.

The case was the first one she would be a part of. She had dabbled a bit in criminal psychology before. There wasn't a very big market for criminal psychologists. But they were a subsection to the area Rudra was very familiar with. The attorney for the prosecution had approached her one evening with his briefcase in one hand and his tuxedo jacket in the other, hair combed back flawlessly and a more or less polite smile on his face. She was getting her cup of black coffee from the break room when she heard the bulky footsteps behind her.

"Ms Rudra?"

Rudra spun around, looking at the man at the entrance of the break room, who looked very hesitant.

"Yes?" Rudra confirmed. The man's face relaxed before he extended a hand to her, which she professionally accepted and shook.

"My name is Joseph Ram. I'm a civil lawyer at the Madras High Court." he had introduced himself. Rudra was surprised. It wasn't everyday lawyers looked for her. Well, at all. When Joseph had explained to her what he needed her for, she had accepted. She had never done it before, and she was excited to delve into newer waters. He had shined a relieved smile at her before giving her his card, and bidding goodbye.

They then met up at the prison where they had been keeping the defendant. Joseph briefed her on the case. Muruga Das was a 43-year-old man who was part of a major political party. He had tortured and murdered a family of five. Three kids and the parents. Vaishnavi Krishnan, the mother of the dead father, was the one who had found them and reported it. At first Joseph had thought that maybe the family had some sort of affinity to a rival political party. But there were none. The relationship between Muruga Das and the family were non-existent. They had no relation whatsoever. So, the motive was still unclear. But then they had hit the jackpot with connection when the police went through the records of known friends and acquaintances of the family members. The defendant was the father of the oldest son's best friend. Still no motive. This is where Rudra came in.