Story 2: Justice

"I am innocent Radha!! The world might not believe me, but you have to!! You have to!!!"

Radha keeps on sobbing, She cannot garner any strength to utter a word before the court resumes.

The Court: Call the case.

The Clerk: Criminal Action 1-77-87, people versus Avigyan Sthapit.

The Court: All right. I understand this is a criminal case against defendant and the accusation is murdering of Mrs. Sijapati, his sister-in-law. Mr. Coulihan you may proceed.

Prosecution: Thank you your honor...

The case officially starts. Defence argues that Avigyan had gone out for a long cigerrette break, his normal routine at around midnight. Radha testifies that it is indeed his normal routine, but cannot prove that she actually see him smoking that particular night. Prosecution builds up a case that Mr. Sthapit got up and proceeded to his sister-in-law's room (she was Mrs. Sthatpit's cousin not sister). There he slit her throat and then spilled things quietly to indicate a robbery. Problem was that nothing was missing although the main door was indeed found open during the discovey of the body by Mrs. Sijapati the following morning.

Court is on recess.

"Radha, I know where this is leading to. But trust me, I didn't kill your cousin. I can commit adultery, I can be a thief but I would never commit a murder. You know me, I am not that strong!!"

Radha now wants to believe him but she knows her testimony won't save her husband. She reaches her hand towards him and cries as the guards take him away from the courtroom. She has already lost her good cousin, now she will be losing her husband, her sole mean of survivor in this foreign nation.

Court resumes.

"Member of the jury, I would now like to present the murder weapon, the kitchen knife." No finger prints are found in the handle, however some of Avigyan's finger print were apparent at the end of the handle, a possible faux-pas by the defendant. As the minute hand behind the judge's head increases its angular reach, the case increasingly goes towards the prosecution side. Defense' now strategy is to reduce the sentence as much as possible. This gets harder as prosecution brings the biggest proof of the motive, the deceased had Avigyan's fetus inside her. She was due in 7 months.

Jury Deliberation takes a quick 10 minutes and they come out of the deliberation room. "This Jury finds the defendant GUILTY of all charges."

"NOOOOO!!!" Radha cries uncontrollably. Avigyan was more than a husband to her, he was her everything and they took that everything away from her, for 300 years behind bars with no chance of parole.

Avigyan is stunned. He quietly stands up and walks in front of the guards. He then turns to Radha for the last time, "This court doesn't believe me, the world doesn't believe me...but I want to hear from you once..once that you believe me...that I didn't murder your cousin!!"

Radha cries, "I believe you Abhigyan, I believe you. I am sorry I couldn't do anything. What will happen to me now? Oh my God."

She collects herself wiping her tears, "You take care of yourself hajur. And don't worry about me, I will be fine. And again, I believe you, you didn't kill her. Trust me I believe you."

"How couldn't I?" she talks to herself now. Abhigyan is gone and the entire court room is empty except for Radha and the clerk who is stacking her files and is about to leave. Radha faintly says to herself, "How couldn't I? I killed her. This is what you and Sheena deserved for cheating on me, under my own roof."

The End