(Queen of Verdicts)
It is 7 a.m. Warm sunlight streamed softly through the window, bathing the room in a gentle radiance. Outside, the cold November breeze whispered the gentle onset of winter, while inside, I nestled in the cozy embrace of my blanket. It is one of those uncommon mornings when everything seemed calm, comfortable, and perfectly suited.
Lying there, I kept hoping that somehow the court would call it a holiday day. The idea of stepping from that ideal warmth into the chill outside seemed almost unjust. November mornings hold their own enchantment, with a cool breeze, the soft sunlight, and the undeniable allure of a warm, snug blanket. For a few perfect moments, all I wished for is for time to slow down so I could linger there just a little longer, but it looks like my luck is not with me because, at the same time, my little brother, that crooked monster Abhay Singh Rathore, enters my room shouting, “Pratha, diiiii, Badi Maa is calling you,” and with that my day starts.
“Stop shouting, Abhay. "I says, 'What are you doing here in my room… Don't you have to get ready for college?"
Our class has planned to have mass bunk today, di…He says so; yes, I don’t have to get ready, and Badi Maa is calling you, so get up.
Ok, but for God's sake, stop shouting... I said, "And think how a person can have this much energy in the morning because I can barely keep myself in my senses after waking up.
I am coming downstairs after getting ready.
He left after destroying my sleep and snatching my comfiness that I was having in this sweet blanket, but again, my not-so-normal self-thought about how it would look if the court would also have a mass bunk. That thought was enough to make me laugh at all lawyers', advocates', criminals', families', and judges' discussions. Let's have a mass bunk, but it's such an absurd thought because innocent people will not get justice if the court starts having a mass bunk, and with that and throwing this useless thought out of my mind, I throw my blanket away, get up from the bed, tie my hair in a messy bun, grab my towel, and head towards the washroom.
20 minutes later, after a hot shower, I dressed in my usual court attire—a crisp white shirt, black trousers, and a fitted black coat. I tied my hair into a high ponytail, checked my handbag for the essentials, grabbed some important files I needed, and headed downstairs.
I quickly descended the stairs and scanned the living room, and as always, my dadi is busy in the mandir praying, Papa is reading the newspaper, Maa and Choti Maa are busy in the kitchen looking after breakfast, Di is doing some work on the laptop, Abhay and Vritika are fighting as always, and Chote Papa is not here, maybe he left early for the hospital. I move towards the mandir to get blessings. After entering the mandir, I greet Dadi and fold my hands in front of the Mata Gauri and Bhagwan Shiv idols, praying. After praying, I move towards the dining table, as breakfast is ready.
We all take our seats and start having breakfast. The conversation is flowing normally, then I look at Di, and she looks tense, but I didn’t ask right, but I decides on the to ask when we are alone, and at the same time Ivan enters the room back from the gym. “So what's happening, guys?" he asks... "Come have breakfast, Ivan” Maa says, and he took his seat. Then Dadi asked me, "So Pratha, are you having an early court hearing today?
“Yes, Dadi, it's an early court hearing today," I replied.
Then Dad asked me, "So against whom are you fighting the case this time?" "It's Vinay Sehgal, one of the biggest human traffickers..." I replied.
I looks at my mom as she become tense every time she hears that I am fighting against someone who is this dangerous. I held my mother's hand and said, "Relax, Maa. Why do you always get tense? Nothing is going to happen, and I know how to take care of myself and how to handle this type of shit monsters."
“You will not understand my concerns, Pratha, because you are not the mother. I am the mother, and my little girl is fighting against this monster. It's always scary; they can do anything to save themselves and to satisfy their ego," she says.
"Maa, first thing, I am 28 years old, not a little girl, and I promise to always take care of me and look after my security, so relax," I said.
You will always be my little girl no matter what your age is, and if you are promising to look after your security and will take care of yourself, then I can be a little bit relaxed," she says, but her eyes still held the same kind of concerns and sacred emotion that a mother holds.
"Pratha, when are you going to get free today?" she asks me changing the topic. I looked up at her again and asked, "Why is it something today?"
"Yes, actually the Ranawat family is coming to see Shivanya for their son.” She reply.
I made an "Oo" face.
"Ok, I will be free by lunch," I told her.
She asked me to come home after getting free. I said, "OK," and looks at my watch, as it's 8:45 am and my court hearing is at 10:00 am. So I quickly complete my breakfast and grab my black coat, my handbag, and car keys and greet them goodbye and ask Ivan to meet me near 12:00 pm, as he wants to talk about something important because he wanted to talk about something last night, but I was hell-tired, so I asked him if I will talk to him in the morning, and he agreed to talk to me the next morning. He said, "Ok," and with that, I stepped out of the house, the morning sun now bright, his sunlight hitting my face straight. My court hearing against Vinay Sehgal began in less than an hour, and I think about the mysterious royal family of Jodhpur, THE RANAWATS, which would be sitting in our living room… God knows how today's going to go.
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