Chapter 1 #2
“Is this case going to be your most high-profile trial yet?”
Arundhati took one graceful step forward.
“Yes, Verma & Associates is representing Mr. Anant Mukherjee. And no,” she paused just long enough for the tension to build, “the allegations against him will not hold. We will prove that every single claim made by Mrs. Mukherjee is false. And by the time we’re done, the truth will speak for itself. ”
The cameras flashed faster, the murmurs growing louder.
Kushal didn’t speak yet. He just watched her as she addressed them. But the murmurs among the reporters didn’t take long to shift focus. A journalist from one of the leading news channels smirked as she held up her mic.
“Isn’t it strange that two people fighting their own divorce case are now working together on someone else’s?”
Cameras flashed to capture every flicker of reaction between them. Arundhati’s spine stiffened, her nails subtly digging into her palm. She had expected this question. What she hadn’t expected was Kushal stepping in before she could respond.
“Strange?” he asked before taking a long exhale, as if indulging a child’s foolish question. “It’s not strange but a masterpiece in the making.”
The press stilled, intrigued.
“If you were assembling the strongest army, you wouldn’t pick soldiers who only know peace.” His eyes gleamed. “You’d pick the ones who have already fought the hardest battles. Who knows what it takes to win, because they’ve survived the worst of wars themselves.”
The media, stunned for a moment, hung onto every word. He was a king of manipulation, proving wrong as right with no big deal for him. Even Arundhati’s breath hitched as he continued.
“So, if you’re asking whether two of the country’s best divorce lawyers, who just happen to be fighting their own case, are fit to handle Anant Mukherjee’s case, then let me make it simple for you.”
His smirk deepened, pure confidence radiating off him.
“Yes, we are. Because we don’t just fight these battles. We win them.”
The frenzy erupted, reporters scrambling to capture the moment, the statement, the boldness of it all.
“We will keep the media informed about the progress of the case,” he said with absolute authority in his voice. “But right now, no more questions.”
Then, he waited.
Waited for Arundhati to turn. And she did. No hesitation, no reluctance.
She matched his stride, the two of them walking back into the building like true partners—strong, untouchable, knowing they would win this case. Together.
**************
Same Night – Arundhati’s Apartment
The warm steam from the shower had barely faded from her skin when Arundhati walked out of the bathroom, towelling her damp hair with one hand while rubbing her forehead with the other.
It had been a hell of a day.
Between the media frenzy, the heated legal meetings, and Kushal’s infuriating presence, she hadn’t gotten a single moment to herself. And now, as she stepped into her dimly lit bedroom, exhaustion weighed on her, but her mind wouldn’t stop.
She tossed the towel into the laundry bag before walking toward the dressing mirror, her reflection staring back at her—calm on the outside, but her eyes... they gave her away.
Anant Mukherjee’s case was complicated. Sadhna was playing a smart game, throwing out one outrageous allegation after another, ensuring that even before the legal battle began, the damage was already done in the public eye.
They had spent the entire day strategizing ways to counter her claims, but this wasn’t enough.
She sighed, reaching for the bottle of moisturiser, when her phone pinged with a WhatsApp message.
Her brows furrowed when she saw the sender’s name. Akash—A junior lawyer at Verma & Associates. Her trusted source.
She unlocked her phone and opened the message only to see a photo.
A dimly lit image of Kushal.
In a pub.
Two other men were at his table. Drinks in hand, laughter on his lips, completely unbothered by the world.
Akash had also sent a follow-up text, mentioning the name of the club and that Kushal was there with his friends at the moment, enjoying his drinks.
Her fingers moved almost instantly, typing back.
“Is there any woman with him?”
The typing bubbles appeared for a moment. Then, instead of a reply, her phone rang. She swiped to answer Akash’s call.
“No, Ma’am,” Akash said, his voice cautious. “There’s no woman with him.”
Arundhati exhaled, not even realising why she was holding her breath.
For the past nine months, since she had moved out and filed for divorce, she had kept an eye on him. Not because she cared. But because she needed proof.
Proof that he had moved on. That another woman had entered his life, so she could use it in court to strengthen her case.
But Kushal was too damn careful.
Yes, he was seen with women—clients, colleagues, social acquaintances. But he never took anyone home. Never spent private time with anyone.
Either he was too smart, knowing that she would need evidence to build her case, or he genuinely wasn’t interested in any relationships. Not even flings.
And that... that irritated her more than it should.
“Ma’am, I hope Kushal Sir never finds out I’m following him,” Akash said hesitantly. “He’ll fire me on the spot.”
Arundhati’s brows knit together. “He can’t fire you. Such decisions are taken by Raj Uncle, not him. Not even me. So, relax.”
“Fine, but what if we just find another way?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What way?”
“What if we... plant someone?” Akash hesitated. “I mean, we plant a woman. Get some staged pictures, make it look like—”
“Akash!” she cut him off. “I am not going to support anything like that.”
He immediately went silent.
“Either it’s the truth,” she continued, firmly, “or it’s not. Got it?”
A defeated sigh came from the other end. “Got it, Ma’am.”
“Good.” She disconnected the call, tossing the phone onto the bed before rubbing her temples.
She spent all day fighting other people’s cases, but at night, her mind always circled back to one battle—the one she was stuck in with Kushal.
She sank onto the edge of her bed, staring at nothing as her mind replayed the events of the past months.
The court had given them a cooling-off period of six months, standard in contested divorces under Indian law, before the case could proceed to trial. That period had already ended.
And yet, they were still here.
Because Kushal had refused the divorce.
And after this, it would go into a full-fledged courtroom battle. She needed evidence. Something strong enough to prove that their marriage had no future. But Kushal was too damn smart to give her one.
If things continued like this, they would end up fighting this case for years. She let out a slow breath, and her eyes flickered to her phone again.
His words from earlier in the day rang in her ears.
“Unblock my number, Arundhati.”
She stared at the screen as her finger hovered over his contact. It was the logical thing to do. Whether she liked it or not, they needed to communicate for Anant’s case.
Not for anything else.
Just for this case.
With that thought, she finally unblocked him before tossing the phone aside and pulling the blankets over herself.
Tomorrow would be another war.
And this time, she had one less wall between her and Kushal Nair. They would have to communicate!