Under his gaze (his forced bride) by Olivia Jessie (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📕

" What? " I wiped off my tears and thought more clearly. " But he didn't kill her. " I had no idea why I was so adamant that he was innocent and moreover he was with me. He didn't have time to kill the girl. But hadn't he attempted to kill Reema? 

" He did. Bhabi. Why are you defending him? " She sounded irritated. Her face was no longer showing any love towards her brother. But maybe she did. Deep down. She should. She was his sister  . He never hurt her. Never caged her. 

" Fine. Why don't you take a shower? You are a mess. " She stood up and held my hand softly. The tears again telling that she was missing him. 

" Tomorrow is the verdict. He will be convicted. " So early. They had the evidence. I still couldn't believe all this. " I want to save him. " She said slowly. I didn't know how to react. She understood my anxiety. " I mean I can't save him . But I can help with his time in jail. I don't want life sentence. " She was indirectly pleading me to not judge her. But I wasn't. 

" Yes sure. But how will you? " She was just a simple girl with an undergraduate degree. 

" I have connections  . We have. We always have. " She smiled with no glint reaching her eyes. " I will have shower. Then, I have a lot of work to handle. " And with that she walked away , confident and worried. 

The kaushik family was really a weird one. They loved each other and won't let go. But still even if any one of them was toxic they won't ask them to change. If my brother behaved like this, I would have given him a serious warning and forced him for counselling. 

Nothing else to think or do my stomach growled showing the hunger. I shuffled through the fridge and cabinets. And finally found cheese and bread. 

Nidhi was downstairs later in a black shirt and high ponytail. I offered her something to eat but she politely declined. After saying a sweet good bye she turned again. 

" I will protect you bhabhi. No matter what. " I nodded smiling at her concern. Her tall figure drove the car out of the driveway. 

My stomach was empty again. So I made myself another cheese sandwich. After eating quite a lot of food, I slept peacefully. Because it was not about me anymore. It's related to Nidhi and her brother. One thing was sure that he won't be coming out any time soon if he had given his statement. Plus the proof. I was happy not a bit sad. Finally free. My family had no idea about my whereabouts and I wanted them not to. 

The sun was setting down when she walked in the living room. A small smile on her face. She sat with me for a while explaining her smart move for tomorrow. She guaranteed me that she won't jeopardize my freedom. I couldn't understand anything because she was talking about some uncle of hers in CBI with his name. But whatever the plan was it would be known tomorrow. 

" You want something to eat? " I asked her but she again declined and wished me good night. I ate two apples and a glass of milk. Finally, I was satisfied and slept with a fear in mind that I will have to see him in court tomorrow. I didn't want to but to not raise any further suspicions Nidhi wanted me to. 

A wold howled at some distant place and the night became eerily calm. 

" Bhabhi wake up. " Nidhi shook me up. It was 7:30 am and I overslept. Damn. 

" Don't worry. The hearing is at 9 in the state court. " She told me. And I hurriedly ran to take a shower. After getting dressed, the main issue that came was to apply sindoor or not. I didn't want to. I wanted to do nothing with him. But Finally gave in. And got ready. The mangalsutra was too hanged in the corner of the dressing table but I ignored it. 

Nidhi drove like a hurricane was chasing her. I had never seen this side of her. Genetics. 

The court was smaller and had really no crowd. We waited for some people to join. Nidhi greeted them and talked. Just talked for the whole half an hour before the judge was seated. Advay walked in with two officers. He didn't look up at me. Just once. But his main focus was on Nidhi. 

The facts and proof were presented before court. According to the report, Advay was seeing the girl because she told him that sharad ruined her life .The girl was not naive and honest she had other plans.she was going to ruin his reputation after he got to know about her links with terrorists. The files she stole from sharad. So during that particular argument he attacked her in self defense and she fell from the stairs of her house and died. 

What? Me? Did I even matter? And he fighting for his country..Terrorists??This was a lie but why? 

" Your honor. We have those files she stole from sharad. " Mr bharadwaj was helping him.because his fake ego mattered a lot. Sharad was not present. " She was not pregnant either. She lied to Dr to get his sympathy. " His lawyer said. Nidhi nodded. 

If I had filed a case against him on the grounds of violence I guess they would have framed me too in case related to terrorism. 

After when he knew that he won't be given a life sentence he looked at me. His eyes told me that he was giving me hints that he was not the killer. 

" As per the evidence and other eye witnesses. The court has concluded that it was a case of self defense but still as the knife was used twice on the girl which would have been enough to stop her we state that a minimum of seven years to be given to the guilty. No medical license is to be seized. He can continue working after serving his time with no parole. The court is adjourned. " 

" Yesssss" Nidhi hugged me. Seven years. Not bad. I looked up at him. He was neither happy nor sad. Just stared at me till he was gone with the officers. 

" Bhabhi told you. I will save both you. And I saved. " I hugged her too. 

When we were going down stairs from the court again. I saw the guy. The same one, waiter or manager but now he had a camera around his neck. He smiled at me. I walked towards him. Who the hell was he ?