Calming The Storm🌌 (#wattys2019)√

2. Burning Embers✔

Indrayan's pov:

I woke up in the morning with newfound confidence and determination. That was me: a hot-headed and successful criminal lawyer.

Dealing with criminals and the law over the years has totally made me rock hard. My eyes are reddish-brown and my sister calls them burning embers. She says my eyes are eyes created for a lawyer.
My colleagues at high court call me Dry Ice since I have never melted.
After freshening up, I grabbed one of my black three-piece suits and got ready for the hearing at the High Court. After breakfast, I bid farewell to my parents and reached the high court.

It was a rape case and the victim was my client. The accused had tried to accuse my client of drugging him and then taking advantage but the story and the evidence state otherwise. We have been coming to the court for the last 2 years! Unfortunately, Indian law is pathetic and Justice is always delayed here.

Today was the last hearing and the verdict would be announced.
As a brother to a girl, I had never looked at other women in a degrading way. It disgusted me to even think of taking advantage of a woman and rob her of her dignity. So far during all the trials, I had kept my anger in check when the accused had been lying through his teeth. Even so, I had received around 5 warnings over the 24 hearings of this case.

At exactly 12 pm, the judge summoned us to the court.
The trial:

"The State of Maharashtra vs. Mr. B. V. Seth rape case. The complainant, Ms. Anandi Parekh has accused the latter of rape and prolonged sexual harassment, blackmail, and cheating. The accused is requested to come to the witness box. Prosecutor may begin cross-questioning." finished the judge

I rose to my full height and strode towards the accused with confidence.
"Mr. Seth, for how long have you known Ms. Parekh?"

Accused: "I had known her for 6 months."

Me: "Who's she to you?"

Accused: "She's my personal assistant."

Me: "Have you always maintained a professional relationship?"

Accused: "Yes. I have never given her any leads. Almost 3 years ago, when I had taken her to Hawaii with me for a meeting, she had tried to seduce me and had drugged me when I refused to get led by her."

Me: "What exactly do you remember about that night since you say you were intoxicated?"

Accused: "She had offered me some Scotch which had been spiked."

Me: "Are you aware that you have changed the name of the drink she offered you at least 6 times? The first time I asked this question, it was orange juice, then you moved on to Coke, Vodka, Red Wine, Sparkling water, and now Scotch. I also remember asking you the first time if you take alcohol. Your reply as recorded by my assistant and the court typewriters in the presence of Your Honour was a flat no.
So now I would like to ask you, Mr. Seth, if Ms. Parekh had offered you alcohol, why did you take it willingly?"

The accused turned red and was now sweating profusely. That is always my cue to know that the story was eventually going to change track and that he would confess his crime soon after a few more harsh questions had been asked.

Me: "So Mr. Seth, since it is quite perceptible that you do not remember any drink which had been offered to you by Ms. Parekh, are you going to speak the truth now? Did you or did you not take advantage of Ms. Parekh? Did you rape her? Yes or no?"

The accused was looking here and there and was visibly tensed. Deep creases had formed on his forehead and he was trying to gesture to his lawyer for help.

Me: "It seems that you were so intoxicated that day that you barely remember if you have committed a crime."

Defendant: " Objection! Your honor, the prosecutor is trying to lead and trap my client."

I was about to retort when I stopped myself.

Judge: "Objection overruled!"

Me: "Your honor, it is quite simple. The man who's never got the facts from his point of view to be the same for two hearings, the man who cannot even say a confident no when I ask him if he's committed a crime, the man who's clearly underprepared to defend his case, the man who's not spoken once in his defense while looking up and the same man who we've got evidence and witnesses against is standing in the court not just covering his crimes but also accusing a woman of undignified and derogatory behavior! He's simply not as innocent as he's been trying to portray himself to be. The hotel in which the defendant and the victim had been checked in at show no reservation for a conference hall where the meeting was supposed to be held. Moreover, the hotel staff has given statements against Mr. Seth saying that he himself went to Ms. Parekh's room and forced his way in through the door. The CCTV footage also affirms that no drink had been served to the two during the period they were inside the room. The hotel staff denies seeing Mr. Seth come out of the room with a hangover as he stated earlier. Instead, when the housekeeper had gone inside the room to clean, she'd come across an injured, tired, and visibly assaulted Ms. Parekh. Your honor, the accused has been lying through his teeth to escape punishment but he's what he is: a rapist! He not just did the heinous crime called rape but also lied to this high court of justice. My lord, I now appeal to you on behalf of my client to give her justice. What happened can never be erased from her life or mind but at least the criminal should pay for his crimes! I now rest my case." I finished.

I needed to calm down. Whatever had happened to Ms. Parekh was beyond my imagination. The pain, the trauma!
I quickly took my seat and gulped down two glasses of water.
The court went for a break a short while later after which the court declared Mr. Seth guilty. Ms. Parekh was supposed to be given a compensation amount of Rs. 10,00,000/- while Mr. Seth was going to be imprisoned for 7 years.

After the successful case hearing, I headed out where a huge swarm of reporters was waiting.
I was making my way past them when a young girl collided with me. She had a trainee badge on her blazer and an Identification card that said she was a reporter. I apologized and was about to make my way past her when she stopped me and asked,
"Sir, you have won yet another case, how does it feel to have succeeded in pushing a rapist behind the bars?"

I was a bit surprised at her question because reporters tended to ask infuriatingly personal questions.

Hence, I answered, "The place where a criminal belongs, is the prison and I am satisfied that the honorable court of justice has identified the criminal and has given him appropriate punishment. No more questions!"

I was making my way through the crowd again when I heard her speak again, " Thank you for helping a woman get justice."

I turned and this time her chocolate brown orbs met my burning embers.

...
To be continued...