CHECKMATE

Chapter 13

"No commissioner Khan," sighed Pratap shutting the door of his room. "I can assure you that I won't take up this case."
"It's an advise," replied the commissioner Abdul Khan rubbing his thumb and forefinger on his creased forehead. "You are too young too risk your life for a politician whose career is down the drain."

Pratap simply nodded not knowing how he could respond to that. All he knew was that the CM had helped him go abroad by funding him and easing his Visa.

"I hope you haven't slighted hearing my words." Said the commissioner with an edgy tone in his voice.
"Of course not sir," replied Pratap, "actually I had a question for you."
"Shoot,"
"Who filed this case and when?"
"This case was filed by the girls parents on the 17th..." Replied the commissioner finding Pratap's questions baseless.
"If the girl was raped on the 15th..."
"The medical report says 16th," corrected the commissioner, "but there seems to be a catch here."
"Right you are commissioner Khan!" Exclaimed Pratap, slamming his palm on the wall. "The semen cannot be three days old if the girl was raped on the 16th, I'm sure she was raped on the 15th."
"Exactly my point!" Exclaimed the commissioner. "Now just enlighten me, if the CM is innocent how was his semen stain found?"
"It's planted I'm sure," shrugged Pratap, "but the question is why."
"Forget why Pratap," said the agitated man. "The biggest question is, how did the semen be found inside the girl?"

Pratap sighed in defeat and slumped into his bed. The entire case was baseless but had strong evidence to convict the CM of rape.

"What about the illegal alcohol thing?" asked Pratap.
"It's an open and shut case," he sighed from the other end. "His own party members claim that and also provided evidence of this illegal business. I suggest you do not waste time mulling over an open and shut case Pratap, you'd better find another case."

Pratap nodded without a word and ended the call. The case against the CM was too strong to prove himself innocent. All Pratap had was his assumptions which would not work in the court. Either the CM was guilty or he was being framed; but all the evidence only slapped Pratap across his face saying 'guilty'.

Putting the folder back into his locker, he grabbed his the keys to his black Bentley and sped away leaving his parents worried.

"I wonder what's gotten into our son." Said Utpal with a sigh filled with fatigue. "Since the time he's back from America, he hasn't spoken a word nor has removed time for himself let aside us."
"He needs a life partner," concluded Adhira, shocking Utpal completely. "Don't look at me like that. He's 29 already...and no more excuses will work."

Utpal shook his head wondering if his son would agree to his mother's preposterous idea.

~

"He doesn't live here anymore. Why would he be here anyways when he's got a bigger house to be in." Sighed Bhagwant shaking his head in sheer disapproval.

Pratap continued to sip the coffee served to him by one of the servants and nodded to what his professor had to say.

"Not only our state but also our country is going to dogs." Spat Bhagwant checking Pratap's face for reaction. Pratap's passive look made Bhagwant shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Has...Ranveer Thakore done a degree in politics or...umm...any such connections?" Asked Pratap keeping the mug on the center table.

Bhagwant simply shook his head much to Pratap's dismay.

"But yes!" exclaimed Bhagwant sitting upright on the couch. "He does have degree in politics."
"Did he ever plan to get into politics?" asked Pratap pulling his brows into a frown.
"He always was interested in politics and as a teen stood for the role of youth leader but wasn't voted for. This was when he decided to shift streams into social work."