Once again. Update on Sunday instead of Monday!

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Shishir's POV.

I saw Paresh  and Suvi talk about something with a worried expression on their faces.

Where were the people they have been expecting?

The judge entered right then and we stood up as a sign of respect. It was strange feeling to know the case may be about to swing completely in my favour and not be happy about it.

As the judge came and sat on his chair there was a slight noise at the entrance of the room. I turned to see a middle aged man being wheeled in.

Where the people Paresh had been waiting for finally here? By the look on Paresh's face it seemed likely. He was standing and presently looked at the Judge.

"They are here your honour."

All eyes turned towards the door.

"Papa!" Ravi stood up.

He was the senior Mr. Gupta who had been in coma! What is he doing here and that too in his medical condition?

The man who entered right behind him was not someone I had expected at all.

My father!

Is he here to help or hamper?

Guilt took over me for thinking negatively, however his actions of the past were responsible for these thoughts.

"Your honour my father is not in a condition for-"

"Do you think I have kidnapped him and brought him to court for sightseeing?" My father effectively interrupted Ravi. "Your honour here are the medical documents that confirm he can be here." He handed over some papers to be scrutinized "As an added precaution there is an ambulance parked just outside the court and we also have a doctor here with us."

Ravi sat down reluctantly still looking worried as he stared at his father.

If Papa has gone to this extreme measures then he must be having something big under his sleeves.

Wait and watch can be the only step for us right now I decided. Mr. Gupta's wheelchair was manoeuvred into the witness stand and a mike was fixed for him to speak into.

"Before I start my cross examination- does the opposition have any questions?" my father turned to look at us, his eyes lingering on me for a split second.

I exchanged a look with others and they shook their head. "No questions for now." I said standing up.

My father exchanged a brief word with Paresh and Suvi and then turned to the old man in wheelchair. "Mr. Gupta –you are aware there is a case against my client Miss Suvarna Sharma regarding the money Mr Navin Sharma had borrowed from you?"

"I had not been aware till just before coming here." He said his voice soft- but strangely steady "Why did you have to book this case?" he asked looking in the direction of his son much to mine and others surprise.

"The reasons you can sort out later Mr. Gupta. " My father intervened "Had Mr. Navin approached you for the credit?"

"No. His business had been doing well and he had been looking to expand it. One day while talking he disclosed his plan and also that he was going to apply for a small loan from the bank."

Intuition it could be, but right at this point I felt a jolt of excitement run through me.

This was the back story and obviously not documented. My father was on to something!

My father: "Go on Mr. Gupta."

Mr. Gupta: "Since the amount was so small I told him I would fund it."

My father: "What was this small amount?"

Mr. Gupta: "Fifty thousand rupees. That is what he had said he had wanted- initially"

I inhaled sharply. The documents cited Two crores – two million rupees! What could have made Suvi's father change his plans and take a loan so much larger than he had initially planned?

My father: "Was this documented legally?"

"Yes. Navin insisted we have clear paperwork."

My father: "Was it executed by lawyers?"

Mr. Gupta: "Yes I had my company's legal representative look into it."

My father: "For Mr. Navin Sharma?"

"You Mr. Ramnath Malhotra. You had been his lawyer."

I knew this. I had seen my father's signatures but had not been surprised. Since Prachi  aunty had been a part owner of the property and my father her best friend his involvement had seemed normal.

"I agree. I had been present when the legal loan papers had been signed = and paid off in full."

Paid in full?

Mr. Gupta shook his head looking sad "My accounts team pointed out to me much later that the amount borrowed eventually had been much higher than what was returned. I trusted Navin so had not even glanced at the papers while signing."

"That is when you started sending the legal papers to his next of kin, his daughter?"

"Yes."

"Would I be correct to say that these papers you had been sending for have already been looked at and we have had an out of court settlement?"

"Yes."

"That will be all for now Mr. Gupta. Thank you."

"I would like to ask Mr. Gupta some questions at this point your honour." I requested.

"You are our lawyer! Why would interrogate my father?" Ravi objected.

"It's vital to clear a point in front of everyone." I insisted.

"Permission granted." The judge said.

"Mr. Gupta you said the case had already been settled. Can you elaborate>"

"I had agreed not to take any legal actions."

"So no monetary or other settlement had been reached? Only verbal assurance."

"Yes. However my son decided otherwise I think while I was in the hospital."

I nodded. So the case against Suvi was still intact. "Thank you. That will be all." It was vital to clarify this point.

"The session will resume after lunch." The judge announced and the court dispersed.

I sat in my chair while others trickled out. Life had not really been too gentle with me in terms of emotional turmoil, however at this point I was close to breaking.

Professionally I am equipped. Personally- did I even have a personal front left anymore?

"Tough situation." the hand on my shoulder from behind was firm.

Danny! I had almost forgotten he and Charles are here.

I nodded and got up, thankful of their company.

My Suvi as always knew what I would need and saw to it that I have it- while I fight to crush her dream.

"Don't be harsh on yourself Mehrotra." Charles said, understanding my unspoken agony.

As we stepped out of the courtroom I saw Prema walk in our direction. "Come we are about to have lunch."

Where is Suvi?

"I am not too hungry Prema. Charles and Danny you both carry on with Prema I will join you all in a few minutes." I introduced them formally to Prema.

"Suvarna di asked me to call you."

I nodded. I did not need food, but I need my Suvi right now- desperately.

"Besides we have a food monster among us." Prema said making me smile.

"Food monster?" Danny asked sounding puzzled.

"Do you mean Paresh?" Charles guessed and both him and Danny burst out laughing when Prema confirmed it was indeed him.

We walked outside and approached where others were grouped. My eyes roamed around looking for the one person who held the key to my soul.

"Stop looking for Suvi Shishir." Varsha bhabhi's teasing voice reached my ears and I gave her a sheepish smile.

"She has just gone to the washroom." Prema smiled as she handed me a bottle of water.

"I will be back." I said and walked away.

Suvi. I know her strengths and her weakness. Today the term deceased has been used a multiple time for her father- a fact she has not come to term with till date.

I walked around looking for her- and found her.

Sitting on a wooden bench head bent low, shoulders hunched was my pillar of strength

Suvarna's POV.

I felt his presence beside me even without looking up. I stared with blurred vision at the bottle of water that came into my line of vision.

His shoulders pressed against mine as he sat down beside me. Fuzzy eyed I watched his fingers curl around the lid of the bottle and turned it and held the bottle to my lips.

A strangled sob escaped me and I turned around blindly opening my arms to reach out to him. I was like a sunflower and he was my Sun.

My source of strength and energy. I sobbed into his warmth as his strong arms cradled me to him.

After a few moments he gently pulled away slightly and held the bottle still in his hand to my lips again. I took a sip from it opening up my parched and clogged throat.

I looked at him. His close proximity was soothing and I felt better- so much better. Not taking his eyes off me he took a sip from the bottle too.

His fingers caressed my cheeks, tenderly wiping away the remnants of the tears.Standing up he offered me his hand.

Placing my hand on his unhesitatingly I looked at him. He blinked his eyes at me reassuringly and I blinked back with a small smile as I got up.

No words were spoken- no words were needed.

His arm on my shoulder as we walked towards where others were was enough to tell me – he is there with me. He always will be no matter what.

As we neared the group Paresh came forward towards us. I know he has been talking to Raghunath uncle so probably he wants to brief me about something.

Looking serious he took both my hands in his. "Suvi death is imminent and not in our hands."

I stared at him not sure how to respond. What he was saying was true but I am not going to let that thought invade my mind.

"Paresh-" Shshir started saying probably to stop him from going on but Paresh shook his head and continued.

"No bhaiya this is important. Suvi remember your uncle and Aunty are like your parents and you are like a daughter to them."

"Are you trying to be sensible?" I asked him not quite familiar with this side of him.

"Sensible?" he asked with a frown before nodding "I suppose yes, confessing is being sensible."

"Confessing?" Shishir voiced my own confusion.

"Yes." Paresh said looking at me "I am confessing that- I AM GOING TO KILL THAT SISTER OF YOURS"

I blinked trying to register and then hit my forehead with my palm. Turning to look at Shishir I saw his expression was also of sudden realisation of the actual line of talks.

"I should have known some people are born completely devoid of sense." Shishir murmured and I chuckled.

"I thought you love her?" I asked laughing.

"So he will kill her and become Devdas." Shishir said making me laugh loudly.

I nodded "A Devdas who is addicted to food and not alcohol." I quipped. "So tell us unique Devdas in the making- what did she do?"

"She is a thief, a cold blooded heartless food flincher." Paresh lamented.

"What exactly is her crime?" I asked trying to control my laughter.

"She flinched the cucumbers off my cucumber sandwiches – every single piece!"

"Oh that is rather serious" Shishir nodded and winked at me. "Your prospective victim is coming this way, just to let you know."

Paresh sneaked in between me and Shishir and announced "You both are on my side- let's get this clear beforehand."

Prema came and stood in front of us with a plate of sandwiches and grinned at me. "Food monstor you forgot to gobble these." I laughed at her term for him.

"Be gone you cucumber flincher."

"Prema why did you do this to him?" I asked still laughing.

"But di he knows how important bread is to sandwich so-" she trailed off glaring at Pushkar.

Un oh.

Paresh shot me a questioning look "Um – I might have shared a part of our London conversation with her."

His look of dismay was priceless even in the current situation.

"There could be two murders." He said turning to Shishir who laughed and reached out and pulled me to him as we walked towards the rest of the group

&&&

Updated on 10th September 2017.

I hope the chapter has been a good read. Raghunath is about to explode a bomb- by way of revelation. Something that no one else could do but him in the current situation.

SuShi need no words- their emotions are connected with their souls!

Paresh is Devdas in the making – haha!

Please do vote and comment.

Love, from me to you.:)

Precap Chapter 102.

Suvarna's POV.

"So Mr. Raghunath you were present when the papers of loan were signed?" Shishir continued.

"Yes I was."

Shishir lifted the papers in his hand "You were the lawyer and also among the witnesses."

"Yes."

"So when you signed these papers-"

"I did not."

What does uncle mean by that?

"You just agreed you have-" Shishir started to say.

"I deny these signatures to be mine. They are counterfeit."

Enjoy guys!

See you on Thursday!

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