67. The Court Hearing #4
Vedika nodded. After stepping down from the witness box, she came back and sat beside us. Ishaan silently handed her a bottle of water. She took it with trembling hands and drank a few sips.
Ms. Arora turned towards the judge again.
"Here is the truth, My Lord. The opposing counsel wants this court to believe that my client, Mr. Yugant Raizaada, betrayed Miss Olivia Kingsley and broke a genuine marriage alliance. But how can my client betray someone who was already involved in an intimate relationship with another man?"
She picked up a file from her desk.
"The entire foundation of their case is built on the claim that Miss Olivia Kingsley suffered because Mr. Yugant Raizaada refused to marry her. What they conveniently forgot to mention is that Miss Olivia Kingsley was already having an affair with Mr.
Adhvait Raizaada while this so-called marriage arrangement was being discussed."
The courtroom remained silent.
Ms. Arora continued.
"Not only that, but witnesses have testified that threats were made, blackmail was used, and an innocent child was dragged into this matter to force compliance. If anyone acted in bad faith here, it certainly wasn't my client."
She looked directly at Mr. Kingsley and then Olivia.
I looked towards Mr. Malhotra, who seemed unusually relaxed. For the last few minutes, he had been doing something on his phone beneath the desk. Beside him, even Mr. Kingsley was checking his phone repeatedly.
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
"Mr. Malhotra, would you like to respond?" the judge asked.
Mr. Malhotra immediately stood up.
"Of course, My Lord."
He adjusted his coat and stepped forward.
"With all due respect, we cannot accept such serious allegations merely on the basis of a witness who happens to be the sister-in-law of the accused party."
He glanced towards Vedika.
"We are not denying that Mr. Adhvait Raizaada committed fraud. In fact, he is already facing consequences for his actions. But if the learned counsel wishes to prove an affair between Miss Olivia Kingsley and Mr. Adhvait Raizaada, then they must present evidence."
His gaze shifted towards Ms. Arora.
"Because if we start accepting verbal statements as proof, then I can also claim that Mr. Yugant Raizaada was involved with Ms. Dhwani Rathore nearly seven months before his marriage and that the entire blame is now being shifted onto my client."
The moment Dhwani's name came into the discussion, I felt her body stiffen beside me.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.
I immediately placed my hand over hers. I knew she was afraid of court hearings, and hearing her name inside this room triggered her past trauma.
And I can feel that in the way she was sweating while her body was still cold.
It wasn't a secret that I loved her before marriage. It wasn't a crime either, when I was never involved with Olivia emotionally or physically. It was just my words and that bloody contract that kept our name together. So in my view I neither lied nor cheated.
Still, I knew where Malhotra was trying to take this.
"Objection, My Lord!" Ms. Arora's voice echoed through the courtroom, high. "The opposing counsel is deliberately trying to divert the matter. Mr. Yugant Raizaada's relationship with his wife has absolutely nothing to do with whether Miss Olivia Kingsley was involved with Mr. Adhvait Raizaada."
The judge immediately raised his hand.
"Ms. Arora. Lower your voice. This court understands your objection. However, both counsels will maintain proper decorum." His eyes shifted between the two lawyers. "No shouting. No personal remarks. Stick to relevant facts and evidence."
"Apologies, My Lord," Ms. Arora replied, though the irritation was still visible on her face.
The judge nodded before looking towards Mr. Malhotra."Continue.”
A faint smile appeared on Mr. Malhotra's face.
"Certainly, My Lord." He looked towards Ms. Arora. "Since the learned counsel is alleging an affair, I would simply request her to submit proof.
"Sure, My Lord." He looked towards Ms. Arora. "Since the learned counsel is alleging an affair, I would simply request her to submit proof. Because if she doesn't have any, I do. I can prove that it was Mr. Raizaada who was having an affair with Ms. Rathore before the marriage."
The judge gave him permission.
Mr. Malhotra took Mr. Kingsley's phone and connected it to the projector. Within seconds, pictures of me and Dhwani in Florence appeared on the screen.
The same pictures.
The same ones Mr. Kingsley had used to blackmail me.
A murmur spread through the courtroom.
"Doesn't this look like an affair, Your Honour?" Mr. Malhotra asked confidently. "Who flies to another country with his friend's sister? Especially when a marriage is already fixed elsewhere?"
"But these pictures prove nothing," Ms. Arora argued.
"Then let us settle it properly." He smiled. "I would like to call Mrs. Dhwani Raizaada to the witness box."
The moment her name was called, Dhwani's entire body went rigid. Her grip tightened painfully around my hand.
"I... I can't. I can't go there." Her lips trembled as tears gathered in her eyes.