CHAPTER 3

Nedumbasherry Airport, Kochi

Aaradhya walked out of the terminal and saw Tejaswi waiting for her.

“Hi”

“Hi, flight got delayed a bit”

They hugged each other.

“So Tejaswi Ram is now transferred to Kochi”.

“Yup, punishment-transfer with immediate effect”.

“And Azmi?”

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Last one month was a roller coaster ride for Azmia and Tejaswi. The case was filed against Khaleel Khan; opposition used the scoop for their benefit by giving maximum media hype to the case. If they expected Khaleel Khan to hush up the matters; what happened next was just the opposite.

He sped up the process and the trial was called for in days under his influence. Azmia and Tejaswi knew this move from him meant danger and they were not wrong. At trial, he turned the tables against Azmia. He defended his stand by projecting Azmia as mentally challenged which proved her accusations as a psychic patient’s ramblings. He provided evidence of her treatment for the past few years. Also strong witnesses were called forth to the witness box in his favour, which included Azmia’s family members as well. Her mother and brother came to trial to testify against her.

Azmia knew her brother will never care about her. But her mother’s betrayal hurt her. Her mother still had two daughters who should get married; hence could not afford the luxury of Khaleel Khan’s enmity. That was the case in the past as well. Azmia was a bright student and wanted to complete her education and support her family. But her mother and relatives were against educating a girl child. If not for her father, she would not have survived in that house. But after her father’s sudden demise when she was 19, life turned upside down for her.

Her brother had taken a loan from Khaleel Khan’s finance company and was in no position to repay owing to his failed business. The situations led to Azmia becoming the fifth begum of the highly rich and older Khaleel Khan who was also an MLA at that point of time. It was a match that her family could never even dream of. With the alliance, their lives were settled once and for all. Hence they eagerly made her a scapegoat.

It was not like Azmia didn’t fight her fate. She is her Abba’s brave daughter. But in his absence there was little she could do. There was no one to support her stand. Her mother and brothers were hell bent on screwing her life for the better good. She even thought of running away or finding help from her teachers or her friend’s parents - anyone who could help her in that situation. But the fate destined for her will then befall on her 15 year old young sister. She knew her family wouldn’t mind playing with the lives of the daughters’ of the family. If she fled, that means her sister will have to adorn this role. Her sister Mumtaz, is a weakling and will not survive this entire situation. Hence she took this upon her shoulders intending to fight her fate.

But Khaleel Khan was a bigger opponent than she thought of. The physical abuse she could still bear. But the mental torture he put her through was deeper. Her rebellious nature just fanned his ego and he enjoyed torturing her. To add to it, her beauty was an obsession for him. She struggled to break free all these years. But she could not get out of his clutches no matter how hard she tried. If she fled then it meant her family’s doom. She didn’t care about her brothers and mother. But she wanted a safe life for her sisters; a life she never had. But soon she realised how wrong she was. Mumtaz got married to a nice guy from a good family and never turned back to her sister. Her younger sisters knew nothing of the sacrifice Azmia did for them. At one point, it all came back to her that the last decade of her life was utterly meaningless. Getting involved with a psycho man and serving unworthy people was what her life has come down to. That realization urged her to open the gate of her golden cage. And that has led once again to her doom.

The rest of the trial went as Khaleel Khan wanted. His high profile advocate and falsified evidence proved his ‘innocence’ before the law. He appealed for an immediate closure of the case owing to the campaign going on and the law didn’t have any reason to reject his plea. So the verdict came soon after, favouring Khaleel Khan. Azmia was sent to a government mental hospital for special care based on the judgement and Tejaswi Ram was rewarded with a punishment transfer for building a false case against a respected politician ‘without checking the facts’.

                                                    ************

“The order came the same day of the trial and I was moved here. I tried for leave but as expected it was denied”.

“Azmi is still in that place?”

“Hmm”

 “I’ve booked an appointment with Khaleel Khan”.

“What?”

“You heard me”

“Why?”

“Well, apparently our parents were friends. His father was an active member in my father’s NGO works”.

“What are you planning?”

“Let’s just have a talk with him and see”

“Do you think a talk with him will work?”

“I don’t know; nothing wrong in giving a try. What other alternative do we have?”

“Then I think I have the right thing for you”

“Huh?”

“Actually, Azmia got out of that house with the help of his youngest brother. He is very much attached to her. When he saw how his brother defamed her, he is now ready to fight for her. This is his confession”.

“Brilliant, how did you manage this?”

“Joanna. She is in town. It’s an exclusive she got for her channel; but she thought its best to sent this to me”

“And you are not taking it to your ‘law and justice’?”

“Hmm, I think this will gain us Azmia’s freedom outside the court more than inside it”

Aaradhya smiled seeing her friend giving up her rigid idealism for the sake of her friend.

“I think convincing Khaleel Khan is going to be easier now!”

“You bet!”

They shared a half smile despite the situations surrounding them.

                                                **************

                                                                                

The election was just two days later. The official campaign was over; yet Khaleel Khan was pulling all strings to make sure he will win this election. He was just back home from a party meeting when he was told Aaradhya Abhiram is waiting for him. 

Aaradhya reached Calicut by the late night train from Kochi and headed straight to Khaleel’s house. She had taken an appointment in advance to make sure she gets his time. She was here for almost an hour and his family especially his mother was courteous enough since they knew her from childhood. Khaleel walked in and the whole house went silent.

“Hello Aaradhya, long time. How are you?”

“I’m fine sir. How are you?”

“Well, elections are around the corner, so pretty busy. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you a better time for an appointment”.

“No it’s ok sir”

“We’ll go to my study and talk. Amma, take her to my study. I will be there in 5 minutes”.

Aaradhya nodded and he left smiling. She was led to the front office room and as said he walked in 5 minutes later.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Election is just 2 days ahead and there is a lot to be done".

“I know sir. You needn’t explain. By the way how did the campaign go?”

“Well let’s just say you are talking to the next home minster”.

He laughed when he saw Aaradhya’s raised eyebrows at his over confidence.

“I hope I’m allowed to be honest than modest with people close to me”.

Aaradhya gave a stiff smile to his response and broached the matter without delay.

“I’m here to talk about Azmia”

Suddenly there was a silence, a small break in their talk which Khaleel broke with a smile again.

“Which Azmia?”

Aaradhya didn’t let his conniving smile get to her.

“Your wife, who threatened your standing in society”

He sighed. Aaradhya was a social activist and he concluded that she is here to get Azmia to SEVA where she can flourish back to life. But he will not let that happen.

“So you heard about the controversy. It had been a little embarrassing; with the media hype and opposition using it as their trump card. But truth always wins and so I proved my innocence”.

He smiled in the most deceptive way and tried to divert the topic.

“How is your business and NGO work going? I’ve been hearing pretty good things about your recent services. I must say you have kept your father’s name”

 “Azmia is my best friend; we went to the same college” she stated ignoring his attempts to divert their conversation giving him the clear hint she is here to talk.

His smile faded and he wiped his face with one hand before resting it on the table.

“So?”

“Let me come straight to the point. By now you might have guessed I know the truth and I’m here for her. So why don’t we get down to business?”

“How is Aunty? Does she still have her arthritis complaint?”

Aaradhya understood he is not going to make this easy.

“Sir please, let’s talk”

“There is nothing to talk about. I’m tired. I think we can wind up”

He got up and the smile was back on his face.

“Sir listen...”

“Convey my regards to Aunty. I will meet her next time I’m in Dubai. Goodnight Aaradhya” saying so he walked towards the door only to be stopped by the confident firm voice of Aaradhya.

“Mr. Khaleel Khan I will not leave until we sit down and talk”.

He turned towards her with his hands folded before him.

“I’m not here to threaten you; but if you will understand only that language then I will be forced to do it”

“And what do you have to threaten me with” he asked with the smile intact.

But his smile went rigid when he saw Aaradhya smile.

“Now we are talking”    

She swiped the screen of her phone and showed the screen to Khaleel.

“Your brother Ajmal is very close to Azmia right?”

“What are you saying?”

“All your questions will be answered after watching this video”

She extended her phone to him. She saw his face showing true feelings for the first time. Anger was eating him up. Tejaswi had told her that he loved his brothers a lot and this act of his brother will hurt him.

“I don’t want to hurt you or your reputation. All I want is my friend’s freedom from you; Once...... and for all”.

“I heard it right........you have become a pro at deal making like your father”.

Aaradhya had a confident smile on her face.

“So do we have a deal here then?”