Chapter 38: Chapter 38

After one week

Author's pov

Shivansh, his parents, Ankush, Niyati and Ranvijay are sitting in the courtroom and waiting for the judge to arrive.

The lawyers from both sides are preparing themselves to fight against each other when the judge entered the room. Everyone stood up to show him respect and he gestured them to sit. Then, he ordered the lawyers to start the case.

Shivansh looked at Niyati and he clenched his jaw seeing her holding Ranvijay's hand. His whole system filled up with jealousy seeing Niyati so close to Ranvijay.

Niyati looked at Shivansh and found him looking at her angrily. He glared at her and then diverted his gaze towards the judge.

The lawyer from Shivansh's side started saying," Your Honour, my client Mr Shivansh Raichand has requested his daughter Neela Mehra's custody. He is the biological father of Neela Mehra. He is financially stable to raise Neela and he assures that he will be a good father to Neela Mehra."

" I object, M'lord," The lawyer from Niyati's side said and asked for permission to say something which he got very soon.

Then, he started saying looking at Shivansh's lawyer," Just because he is financially stable doesn't prove that he will be a good father. My client Mrs Niyati Mehra is also financially stable to support her daughter. Moreover, Neela has been living with her mother for 3 years and she never has to face any kind of difficulty. My client Niyati Mehra has already proven that she is a great mother and I hope the court will decide in her favour."

Niyati smiled after hearing all these and hope rise inside her. Ranvijay looked at her and gave an assuring smile to her. They both looked at Shivansh and found him looking at them angrily.

" There is no doubt that Niyati Mehra has been showing off herself as a good mother. But, the truth is she is a dishonest and characterless woman. She has............." Shivansh's lawyer started saying but couldn't complete his sentence because of Niyati's lawyer's interruption.

Niyati's lawyer yelled," I object your honour. My opposition party can't point their finger on my client's character.'

" Objection overruled," The judge said and Shivansh smiled cockily and glared at Niyati.

Then, Shivansh's lawyer continued," Mrs Niyati Mehra is a dishonest woman. She hid her pregnancy from my client Mr Shivansh Raichand. Not only this, she kept him in darkness for almost 3 years about their daughter's birth. Last but not least when Mr Shivansh Raichand asked her about their daughter's real identity she hid everything and introduced her second husband as her daughter's biological father. My client did a DNA test and that's when the truth came out."

Hearing all these, Niyati became anxious and looked at Ranvijay. She felt like she will lose the case and Shivansh will take away her daughter. Ranvijay again assured her blinking his eyes a little.

" Why all these are coming here? We are here to discuss a child's betterment not to judge someone's character," Niyati's lawyer said looking at Shivansh's lawyer.

Shivansh's lawyer smiled and said," Sure. And the child's betterment lies with her biological father."

" If that so then let's call the child and ask her what she wants," Niyati's lawyer proposed with a confident smile.

Niyati's lawyer requested the judge for permission to call Neela and the judge permit him without any delay.

After sometime Neela entered the courtroom holding a lady constable's hand with one hand. With another hand, she was holding her favourite barbie doll. She was wearing a pink colour frock with two ponytails and she was looking adorable.

Shivansh and Niyati's eyes sparkled with happiness seeing their little Munchkin but both of them felt sorry thinking that because of them Neela has to present herself in the court at such a young age.

The lady constable stood up in the witness box holding Neela in her arms when Niyati's lawyer started questioning her.

" Hi, baby. How are you? This is for you," Niyati's lawyer asked giving a chocolate bar to Neela.

Neela took the chocolate bar and replied innocently," I am good. How are you?"

" I am good too. So, tell me dear, with whom you want to live? Your mommy or your daddy?" The lawyer asked Neela.

She thought for some time because she didn't understand the question. She is already living with her mommy and daddy then why the lawyer is asking her this question isn't understandable to her.

" I want to live with both of them," Neela replied softly.

The lawyer understood her situation and asked her," I wanted to know with whom you want to live specifically. Your mommy and daddy?"

Neela looked at Niyati and replied," With mommy because wherever mommy will go. Daddy will be there too."

Ranvijay and Niyati smiled after hearing Neela. They know how much Neela loves them. Shivansh didn't like Neela's answer but still, he couldn't get angry with Neela.

After that Neela was taken away from the courtroom by the lady constable again.

" See your honour, even the child also wants to live with her mother," Niyati's lawyer told the judge.

This time Shivansh's lawyer objected and said confidently," The child is only 3 years old. What will she understand about all this? She will say whatever she is told to say. Your Honour, I will still say that the child's betterment lies with her biological father."

" How can you say that with so much confidence?" Niyati's lawyer asked glaring at Shivansh's lawyer.

Shivansh's lawyer didn't answer him, he just smirked and requested the judge," Your Honour, I need your permission to present something to you about Neela Mehra's stepfather."

The judge permitted him and he placed some papers in front of the judge.

Niyati and Ranvijay were confused seeing all these. They weren't understanding why this lawyer dragged Ranvijay here and what kind of papers are those.

" M'lord, this is the proof that Neela Mehra's stepfather Mr Ranvijay is a drug dealer as a large number of drugs were found from his art gallery. A few days ago he was arrested by the police and fortunately he came out of jail by using money. Not only this, he was taken to police custody for driving while in a drunken state. So, is it appropriate for a child to live in the house where a drug dealer and drunk man lives?" Shivansh's lawyer asked and everyone started whispering.

Ranvijay was dumbfounded after hearing all these. He looked at Shivansh and found him chuckling. Ranvijay never thought that Shivansh is behind all these. He thought that it's all coincidence. But, it wasn't. He underestimated Shivansh. On the other hand, Niyati was speechless.

" Objection, M'lord. What's the poi........." Niyati's lawyer tried to object but his objection was overruled.

Shivansh's lawyer continued," Not only this, your honour. Mrs Niyati Mehra is an irresponsible and abusive mother."

" That's not true. You are lying," Niyati yelled standing up.

She has been hearing all these silently but she couldn't keep herself silent when the lawyer accused her of being an abusive and irresponsible mother.

" Order. Order. If you have something to say then say it in the witness box," The judge told Niyati and having no other way she has to sit down.

After that, Shivansh's lawyer said," Your Honour, I want to call the maid from Niyati Mehra's house. She will say about Niyati Mehra's true face."

The judge permitted him and the maid from Niyati's house came in front of everyone. With slow steps, she went towards the witness box.

Niyati's lawyer was also speechless after seeing all these. He never thought that Shivansh's lawyer will twist this case like that. He thought that he will win this case easily as everything was in Niyati's favour. He underestimated Shivansh and his lawyer.

" So, Ms Farhana. How many days you have been working in Niyati Mehra's house?" Shivansh's lawyer asked the maid.

Farhana replied," It's been 2 years since I have been working in Niyati Mehra's house."

" So, can you tell me about Niyati's Mehra's approach towards her daughter?" Shivansh's lawyer asked.

Farhana started saying," Niyati Mehra's approach towards her daughter isn't so good. She is very abusive and irresponsible. She doesn't feed Neela timely nor she takes proper care of her. For example, a few days ago she locked Neela in the house alone and the little child burnt her hand."

Hearing all these, Niyati again yelled but she has to again sit down by the judge's order.

Niyati lost all her hope when two of her neighbours also gave statement against her. They both stated that Niyati is an abusive and irresponsible mother.

" See your honour in what kind of environment Neela Mehra was being raised? A drug dealer stepfather and an abusive irresponsible mother. On the other hand, My client Shivansh Raichand lives in a family environment with his parents and brother. Everybody knows about their personality and what kind of people they are. So, considering all the facts, I hope the court will decide what's better for an innocent child. That's all I have to say," Shivansh's lawyer said and took his seat.

Niyati's lawyer didn't have anything to say. So, without any further argument, he just took his seat and prepared himself to hear that he has defeated.

Then the judge declared," The court will declare its decision after the lunch break. The court is adjourned."

Note- I don't know in real life how this type of thing happens. I just wrote whatever was in my imagination so don't compare it with real life.