It was late evening by the time Arjun reached home. The streetlights had already flickered to life, casting a dim, yellowish glow. In the heart of winter, darkness descended early. The weight of the bag slung over his shoulder—stuffed with files and notebooks—was clearly visible in the way his posture strained under it.
As he had gazed out of the bus window on his way back, one question had echoed relentlessly in his mind: Why did all of this happen to him?
But just then, the words of Madhav Kaka resurfaced—words that had sunk deep into his consciousness.
Madhav Kaka often used to say, "Arjun, Nature has her own sense of value. She never gives anything halfway. When she gives, she gives completely. She sends situations and people into our lives so that we may learn our lessons."
"The arrival of someone, the departure of another, the breaking of a relationship—none of these are mere coincidences. They are Nature's way of propelling us forward on our journey."
As Arjun recalled those words, he felt, for the first time, that Shreya's disappearance might not be meaningless. Perhaps it was pointing toward some larger truth—one that still lay beyond his understanding, yet was not entirely in vain. Maybe Nature was teaching him resilience. Maybe she was making him realize that he could survive even the kind of pain he had once believed would destroy him. In that moment, Arjun understood that the battle was far from over. Nature would not leave him half-broken. No matter how deeply buried the truth was, one day it would emerge—complete and undeniable.
When he finally stepped inside the house, his mother asked gently, "Bittoo, why did Suyash call you?
What's going to happen now with the RTI?"
Arjun shook his head and replied, "Nothing much, Ma. We're filing the first appeal, and then we'll prepare for the court hearings."
He remembered how, that day, Suyash's eyes had lacked their usual sharpness and irritation. Instead of just a lawyer, Arjun had seen in him the warmth and protectiveness of an elder brother. Arjun had kept a photocopy of the appeal for himself. Suyash had meticulously noted down every important detail—dates, registration numbers, the name of the police station, and all other relevant information.
"This fight is going to be long, Ma," Arjun said softly, his voice tinged with weariness.The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, as if an unspoken fear had quietly claimed every corner of the house.
Sitting beside his mother, Arjun added, "But we will not lose. He has assured me of that. Shreya's family's disappearance has now strengthened our case considerably."
The following week, the file was presented in court. As always, the courtroom was packed. Media cameras stood ready, people whispered among themselves, and a few glared at him with open hostility.
The judge flipped through the file and asked the government lawyer, "What evidence do you have so far?"
The government lawyer repeated the same tired line: "My Lord, the preliminary investigation is still underway. However, suspicion falls on Arjun because the last call made by the missing family was to his number."
Arjun felt his heart sink once again.
But before the despair could take hold, Suyash rose to his feet. His voice carried such calm authority that the entire courtroom fell silent."My Lord, receiving a call is not a crime. And suspicion can never be treated as proof."
The government lawyer bristled at the remark."But the accused is not cooperating with the investigation," he countered.
Before Arjun could respond, Suyash interjected sharply, "My Lord, my client has been fulfilling all conditions and following every rule. No charges have been framed against him yet. He is still an ordinary citizen, entitled to his fundamental rights."
"One cannot misinterpret the meaning of cooperation and drag any citizen into the dock as a guilty party."
Suyash continued with measured intensity, "It appears this last call was made deliberately to mislead the court and trap my client in a conspiracy. I wish to clarify that at the time of the call, my client had not even been granted bail. Therefore, this allegation is entirely baseless."
The courtroom was so quiet that the fall of a pin could have been heard. Every breath seemed suspended, waiting for the judge's verdict.The long, high-ceilinged courtroom echoed with silence. On the blackboards fixed to the walls, "Silence Please" was written in bold red letters, though the warning was hardly necessary—the hush here descended naturally.
The back benches were filled with relatives, journalists, curious onlookers, and those who had simply come to witness the drama of the court.It was the phrase 'Natural Justice' that ultimately shifted the course of the case.
The judge closed the file. His expression turned solemn. In a slow but crystal-clear voice, he declared:"The State must remember that criminal procedure is guided by the principles of Natural Justice."
For Arjun, those words were not just hope—they were a lifeline.Then came the order: "The police shall submit all documents related to the RTI before this court within 14 days."
Arjun's breathing quickened. Now, whether the police wanted to or not, the court would compel them to provide answers.It was a turning point—the first time he truly felt he might one day walk free.
Suyash had earlier told him, "Now we will file the first appeal. This is no longer just your request—it is your right. Not answering an RTI is also an offense. And this time, it is not only you who is asking for the reply; the law itself is demanding it."
That day in court, Suyash had stood with complete confidence, brimming with conviction that the case was finally turning in their favor.
Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. Outside stood Ranjana and Sudhanshu.
Seeing them, Arjun's mother looked pleased, yet she couldn't resist a mild rebuke: "Come, Bitti, after so many days you finally found time to check on your mother. We live barely a kilometer apart, yet you can't spare a moment to visit your own home."
Bitti replied apologetically, "It's not about time, Ma. I haven't been keeping well. You know how quickly I catch a cold or flu in this weather. Winter arrived early this year, and it's been unusually harsh. Since I couldn't come to court, I thought I'd visit home instead."
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