Chapter 38 #2
Kushal’s patience finally snapped. “Every time we take up a case, we demand complete honesty from our clients, Devika,” he said.
“We need every fact as it is, not the way you wish it to sound. Your one lie to us, or one secret you hide, can turn the entire case against you in court. And when that happens, it’s not just you who loses, our reputation is at stake too.
We wouldn’t like to lose only because our clients weren’t honest with us, despite our fighting so hard for them. ”
Devika rolled her eyes, but he didn’t stop. “We’ll fight your case, but only on the grounds that are real. If you’re still sticking to this story about your husband’s affair, which our investigation proves isn’t true, then we won’t take it up.”
Arundhati watched him, shocked, the corner of her lips curving faintly.
All this time, she had been the one who fought strictly by the rulebook of law, while Kushal had worked the other side of the line—using pressure, persuasion, even manipulation to win.
Once upon a time, he had been the master strategist who twisted evidence for victory.
But today, he stood on the side of truth, refusing to fabricate evidence. Her heart swelled with pride.
Devika’s chair screeched as she stood abruptly. “Fine,” she spat. “You two aren’t the only top divorce lawyers in the city. I can find someone who’ll fight the case my way. Someone who won’t lecture me about morals when all I want is my freedom.”
She snatched her handbag and stormed out.
Arundhati watched the door swing shut behind Devika before exhaling slowly. She rose from her chair, rounded the work desk, and, without a word, she lowered herself gently onto her husband’s lap, curling her arms around his neck.
Kushal didn’t waste a heartbeat. His hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, adjusting her on his lap so she fit perfectly against him. Her thumb brushed his stubble.
“Are you sure we’re not taking this case?” she asked quietly, searching his eyes.
He caught her hand, turned it over, and pressed a kiss into her palm.
“I’m sure,” he said. “I can’t stand watching an innocent man being painted as a cheater just to suit someone’s bruised ego.
Besides…” He looked at her, a faint smile curving his lips.
“Living with my wife again has made me pick up some of her principles, too. Manipulations are fine in the courtroom, but not when it comes to tearing apart some innocent’s image.
That’s against my conscience now, Aru. So yes, let Devika find another firm.
Verma & Associates doesn’t need cases like this to stay on top. ”
Arundhati grinned. “I hope Raj Uncle doesn’t start thinking that ever since we began working together, we’ve been rejecting more cases than accepting them.”
Kushal chuckled because, well, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
These days, Arundhati had turned half her legal sessions into something that resembled marriage counselling.
She’d started making it a point to talk to every couple seeking divorce, unless there was genuine abuse or infidelity involved, about the value of fighting for what they once had.
Her calm logic, gentle persuasion, and hard truths had helped patch up more than one broken relationship.
Which, naturally, meant fewer divorce cases and fewer billable hours, much to their boss Raj Verma’s pragmatic annoyance.
But Kushal? He didn’t mind. Not anymore.
He slid a hand around her waist again, tugging her a little closer. “Leave your uncle to me. I’m still his golden boy, remember? I’ll convince him why we couldn’t take the Malhotra case. Though…” his grin turned wicked, “I’ll expect my fees for the effort.”
Before she could even roll her eyes or scold him, his lips were already on her, claiming and melting her right where she sat.
For a few seconds, she let herself get lost in him, in his taste, the heat, the familiar rush that always came with Kushal.
Then, breathless, she pulled back and pressed her hand to his chest.
“Enough,” she whispered. “I have a hearing at court for a case today. Need to leave.”
He groaned softly, rolling his eyes as she slid off his lap and straightened her saree.
Arundhati walked back to the door, then paused and turned to him again. “Don’t forget, tomorrow Raj Uncle’s joining us for dinner. He’ll expect his usual royal treatment.”
Kushal nodded with a smirk, already reaching for his files again. “Wouldn’t dream of forgetting.”
They had made it a ritual to have Raj Verma stay with them every weekend from now on.
With him being the only family they both had, and they, his, those weekends together had started becoming their most cherished time.
No courtrooms, no clients… just laughter, shared meals, and the quiet comfort of being a family.
Plus, before they flew for their two-month honeymoon, which was in two days from now, they wanted to spend maximum time with him as possible.
She smiled, watching Kushal for a second longer before slipping out of the cabin, already deciding what the dinner menu should be.
**************
Penthouse – Weekend
The aroma of Raj Verma’s favourite dinner…
spicy butter chicken, jeera rice, and roasted papad, filled the penthouse.
The three of them sat around the dining table.
It was supposed to be an easy Saturday evening, a break from the endless swirl of court dates and client meetings.
But the conversation inevitably drifted back to work.
Raj set down his spoon and looked at his niece, a bit unhappy.
“You think I’m crossing the line in there?” Arundhati asked, folding her arms and meeting his gaze steadily.
Raj gave a dry chuckle. “Of course, you are, Aru. Clients come to us for solutions, not moral sermons. You can’t talk them out of a divorce. That’s not our job.”
She frowned. “Maybe not. But someone has to make them understand what they’re walking into, Uncle. Half of these divorces aren’t even real. They’re ego battles dressed as heartbreaks. Impulsive, petty, revenge-fuelled, and full of lies.”
Raj raised an eyebrow, amused. “You’ve changed so much. A few months ago, you would’ve had the petition ready before the coffee even arrived.”
She smiled faintly, nodding, then glanced at Kushal across the table before replying, “I’ve learned from my own experiences. Marriages shouldn’t collapse over silly misunderstandings. That we, as lawyers, can’t just be puppets pushing paperwork when we know what’s happening is wrong.”
Her voice softened, but the fire in her tone didn’t waver. “Like, take the case of Devika. False allegations of infidelity or cruelty… all to escape a marriage, it’s not justice. It’s emotional fraud. And we make it worse if we let it pass.”
For a long moment, Raj just watched her…agreeing, his eyes reflecting a quiet pride he didn’t voice often. Finally, he sighed and turned toward Kushal, his lips twitching. “And you? You too agreed with this sudden moral awakening of hers?”
Kushal chuckled, reaching for his glass of water. “What else am I supposed to do? God help me,” he muttered. “I married a lawyer with a conscience.”
Arundhati leaned closer, bumping his arm playfully. “Not just married a lawyer, you also fell in love with her,” she shot back.
He grinned, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face with his thumb.
“Guilty as charged,” he whispered, then leaned just a fraction closer so his breath brushed her ear.
“And if you think I’m guilty now, wait till the honeymoon, Mrs. Nair.
I’ve got an entire list planned, none of which involves sleeping early. ”
Before she could come up with a witty retort, Raj cleared his throat loudly, feigning irritation. “At least spare me the romance until dessert. Keep all this for your honeymoon.”
Arundhati flushed a deep shade of pink and pushed Kushal’s shoulder lightly, laughing in embarrassment. “He’s right. Not before him,” she said, half-hiding her smile.
Kushal groaned, leaning back in his chair.
“Speaking of honeymoon,” Raj continued, chuckling as he picked up another bite, “what’s your plan for the two-month break? Where are my favourite lovebirds flying off to?”
“Still finalising,” Kushal replied. “Although we are starting with Dalhousie again. After all, that’s where it all began for us. From there, we’ll decide on our next spot. But we’ll make sure you get live updates from every destination. Pictures, videos — everything.”
Raj pointed his fork at him. “You better. Or I’ll cut short your two-month leave to one.”
Laughter rippled through the table as they continued eating, trading stories, teasing, and discussing travel itineraries…from the snowy hills of Switzerland to the beaches of Santorini.
As Raj listened to them, his heart swelled quietly.
Watching his niece and his golden boy, once so broken, now so beautifully in sync, was everything he had ever prayed for.
When he’d arranged their marriage and it didn’t work initially, he’d feared he’d doomed two bright souls to a loveless union.
But tonight, seeing them laugh, argue, and tease each other with the tenderness only true love carried, Raj realised he hadn’t made a mistake.
He smiled to himself, silently thanking the universe for second chances, for healing, and for the miracle of watching two people fall in love again… this time, the right way.
**************
One month later – Zurich, Switzerland.
Arundhati woke with her body pleasantly sore, every muscle humming with the afterglow of love. The past month had been nothing short of a beautiful awakening, not just for her body, but for their marriage. Their honeymoon had unfolded like a dream come true.