Chapter 29 #2
Kushal exhaled hard, feeling guilty. But he had no time for this. Squaring his shoulders, he strode toward the family court hall. The press swarmed outside the doors like vultures. The moment they saw Kushal, microphones and cameras were shoved at his face.
Reporter 1: “Mr. Nair! Is it true your client is refusing all alimony demands?”
Reporter 2: “Sir, what do you say about the abuse allegations against Mr. Mukherjee?”
Reporter 3: “Do you think this case will damage your own firm’s reputation?”
Kushal didn’t pause. He kept walking ahead, ignoring every question, and cut through the chaos. The security barely kept the crowd at bay. He finally walked inside the court hall, and the thick wooden doors closed behind him, shutting out the frenzy.
To the left, Arundhati stood with Anant, murmuring something to him as she flipped through her neatly tabbed file. Anant was restless, shifting on his feet, tugging at his cuff nervously.
On the other side, Sadhna was seated next to her lawyer, Maanya Kapoor, who whispered sharply into Sadhna’s ear while sliding a thick file toward her.
When she glanced up, her eyes locked on Kushal.
The confidence in her smirk was unmissable.
She believed she had already won this battle. In her dreams!
Kushal ignored it and strode to his side. Arundhati looked up as he joined them, her voice trailing off for just a moment. Their eyes met briefly, but she quickly turned back to Anant.
“She looks so calm. Like she knows something we don’t,” Anant said anxiously as his eyes darted toward Sadhna across the aisle.
“That’s what Maanya wants you to think. Don’t let it get to you,” Arundhati replied.
“Focus on me, Anant. Not on her,” Kushal interrupted. “The more unsettled you look, the more power you hand over to the other side. We’ve prepared. We have the facts. Let her play her way, but facts don’t bend.”
Anant gave a small nod, though his fingers still drummed nervously against his thigh.
Kushal’s eyes flicked, almost involuntarily, toward Arundhati again.
She didn’t have her breakfast, he could say that and he knew what it did to her.
It made her weak and dizzy. How could she risk her health today?
The courtroom doors swung open again, and in walked Kamya Bakshi, looking confident as usual. She took her place behind Sadhna and her lawyer team, a little far, but clearly showing where her support still was.
Just when she sat, her eyes darted straight to Arundhati, who didn’t flinch, nor did she look away.
For the first time, she didn’t feel scattered by Kamya’s presence.
She knew now that Kushal had never wanted anyone else.
All those months, she had tormented herself with suspicion, kept him away because of her own assumptions; it had been her mistake.
The guilt hit her deep as she turned back, only to catch Kushal already staring at her, as if he had read her mind.
Heat flushed her cheeks, but she quickly dropped her eyes to her file again.
“Where is Noyonika?” Anant whispered in a tense voice.
Arundhati blinked out of her thoughts as Kushal responded to him.
“Our team’s escorting her. She’ll be here any moment.”
Meanwhile, she tapped out a quick message on her phone, and moments later, Noyonika walked in, head slightly bowed, flanked by two associates from Kushal and Arundhati’s firm who kept the media at bay.
She looked hesitant. Anant’s eyes hardened; a storm of betrayal and old affection flickered there.
But when their gazes met, Noyonika looked away instantly, feeling embarrassed.
Time was up. The judge was about to make his entry.
Arundhati adjusted her file, sliding it over toward Kushal in silent coordination.
He accepted it without a word, their hands brushing for the briefest moment before he pulled back.
He would be the lead oral argument voice today for Anant and Arundhati, his co-counsel.
The clerk’s sharp voice rang out.
“Silence in the court. All rise for the Hon’ble Judge.”
Everyone rose as the judge entered and settled into his chair, spectacles perched low as he scanned the docket.
“Case No. 342/2025 - Anant Mukherjee versus Sadhna Mukherjee,” the clerk announced.
“Appearances?” the judge asked, looking forward.
Kushal rose smoothly from his chair.
“For the petitioner, Anant Mukherjee — Advocate Kushal Nair, assisted by Advocate Arundhati Nair.”
Maanya Kapoor stood up with her confident smile. “For the respondent, Sadhna Mukherjee.”
The judge nodded. “Proceed.”
Kushal stepped forward.
“My Lord, this case, though presented as a simple divorce and alimony dispute, is not that simple. My client, Mr. Anant Mukherjee, has been vilified in the public eye, his reputation shredded by false allegations of abuse and infidelity. These stories circulated in the press are baseless, concocted scandals, and used to bolster an excessive and unreasonable alimony claim.”
Behind him, Arundhati kept her gaze fixed on her husband. God, it was something else to watch him like this…leading in the courtroom. The man was born for this arena. No wonder Verma he is a public figure, a producer, whose projects employ hundreds of technicians, actors, and daily-wage workers. The longer these proceedings drag on, the more livelihoods are at risk. This isn’t merely about a marriage dissolving.
It’s about the collateral damage of weaponizing divorce proceedings to ruin a man’s career.
That is why fast-tracking is not just desirable, but essential. ”
His words landed heavily.
The judge leaned back, interlacing his fingers.
“I have heard both sides. At this stage, I am not deciding the quantum of alimony or the authenticity of media reports. But I do acknowledge the petitioner’s plea for urgency.
Celebrity divorces are not a theatre for public amusement, nor should they be allowed to fester as fuel for gossip columns.
Justice delayed is, indeed, justice denied. ”
His gaze shifted to the gallery. “I am informed that two summoned individuals, Ms. Kamya Bakshi and Ms. Noyonika Talwar, are present in court today?”
The clerk nodded, and both women were asked to rise. Kamya stood first, chin high. Beside her, Noyonika shifted uneasily, hands twisting at her sides, unable to meet Anant’s eyes.
“Good,” the judge continued. “Their presence is noted. Both will be heard during witness examination, once the evidentiary stage begins.” His eyes flicked briefly at Kamya, almost warningly.
“Until then, they are directed not to discuss this case in the press or otherwise attempt to influence public opinion. This courtroom, not the media, will decide the facts.”
He then turned a stern eye back to both counsel tables.
“This matter will be fast-tracked. Witness testimonies shall commence at the next hearing. Both parties are directed to file any documentary evidence they wish to rely on before that date. Let the facts speak, not the tabloids.”
The gavel struck lightly. “Adjourned.”
As everyone rose, the tension in the hall swelled.
Anant exhaled a long, shaky breath of relief, while across the aisle, Sadhna leaned into Maanya, whispering furiously, her face tight with indignation.
Kamya’s trademark smirk wavered for a moment before she turned on her heel and strutted out.
Meanwhile, Kushal’s firm associates guided a visibly uneasy Noyonika out through the side exit, away from the media’s glare.
Kushal snapped his file shut and turned to Anant.
“Don’t speak to the media. Not a word, Anant. One wrong sentence and they’ll twist it into something else.”
“And don’t take Sadhna’s bait if she tries to provoke you outside,” Arundhati added. “No matter what she says, you hold your dignity. You want to win this? Then your silence will speak louder than any accusation.”