A Painted Gate - Part 8!

A PAINTED GATE

PRE-NOTE: 

Kindly excuse correct the grammatical mistakes. Thanks in advance. :-)

PART 8: 

“What happened? Indigestion?” asked Vaishali, shrewdly, sinking her small teeth into an apple.

“What?” Gowtham looked up, surprised by her comment.

“No, you were very good while examining Vimal in the first half and then something happened in the second half. I am trying to establish a reason,” said Vaishali, throwing the half-bitten apple at him. Gowtham caught it with a chuckle, took a bite and passed it back to her.

“I didn’t push him too much – yes. But he already gave away what I wanted and I didn’t want to give him a chance to rectify himself,” said Gowtham, doodling carelessly in his notepad. “He is a dangerous witness, Vaishu. I was always aware of that. ”

“Good. Just that you’re not willing to acknowledge that he is a dangerous lawyer too,” said Vaishali, twisting her lips.

“Don’t… don’t pout. You know I hate it,” said Gowtham. “By the by, I was under the impression that you’re in my side.”

“I am. I just hate it when you think so high of yourself,” said Vaishali.

“I am high, baby. Have you ever seen Vimal appearing on a sensational case? Have you ever seen him appearing for a murderer?”

Vaishali raised her eyebrows. “He has his morals.”

Gowtham shut his casebook and rolled his chair next to her. He cupped her face on his hands and smiled, looking into her eyes. “Textbook morals are for school children. We, advocates, have only one moral – to give our client the best possible argument. Got it?”

She dropped her eyes, nodded like a child and beamed back. Gowtham went back to his desk, picked up the receiver and asked his secretary to send Priya in. Priya entered, greeting him with a smile which could not be treated as either warm or cold.

“Where is Karthick?” Gowtham questioned.

“No idea,” she said, removing the rubber band from her pony tail to leave her hair free. “So tomorrow, you’re going to call me?”

“Yes, are you ready?”

“I am,” said Priya shortly.

Gowtham tapped his desk with the parker pen on his hand for a few seconds and then asked suddenly. “Did you ask Vijay about the painted gate?”

“I did.”

“And?”

“Well, you know, Vijay has a camera installed in that gate – to look after Caesar when they were sleeping.”

“What’s there in that camera?”

“Nothing. I just said that it was switched on only during night.”

“Caesar was sick that day.”

“Yes. And he was not in his dog house either. It was off.”

“Then why were you telling me that?” Gowtham looked puzzled.

Priya gave a short laugh. “To see that look on your face.”

Gowtham gritted his teeth. “Listen, Priya…”

“Fine. It was accidentally switched on that day and it has recorded the entire conversation between Sravya and Jason. It’s with Vijay now.” Gowtham narrowed his eyes while Priya’s lips widened. “You’re going to lose this case, Gowtham, if that video comes out. Get ready to face your first failure.”

**********

“I call Priya to the witness box,” said Vaishali, crackling her neck. Priya came running with an excitement of a child as though she was the next in line to get a chocolate on Independence Day. Gowtham watched her from his seat with his arms crossed. Never once in a court room, he was in such a disturbed mood. The woman who was in the stand managed to shake him.

He could not judge whether she was telling the truth or not. If it was the truth, he had no way to discover what could be possibly in that video. If there was something worthwhile in that footage, how was he going to break it? He turned around and looked at the happy couple – Vijay and Indhu in the corner of the courtroom. Vijay was whispering something to his wife and Indhu was trying hard not to laugh out loud. They clearly looked happier than before – maybe that video meant that their gloomy days were over? Gowtham shook his head and focused on the courtroom once again.

“Priya, how are you part of this group?”

“Karthick is my boyfriend. I met him in a tennis club. He was playing with his friends Vijay and Vimal. That’s how I got introduced to this group.”

“Where did Jason come from?”

“From the apes, if you have to believe Darwin’s theory of evolution.” The entire court laughed. A few people had even tears on their eyes. Judge Bhaskaran called for silence.

 Vaishali pressed her lips and asked, “How did a poor guy like Jason come to be in touch with all of you?”

“He happened to be the son of Karthick’s gardener. Karthick knew him right from his childhood. When Vijay had a job opening in his company, he recommended Jason to him. Of course, Vijay said something like he believed in talent, and so he had to attend the interview. That particular interview was taken by Sravya. That’s how the connection worked out. Did I cover everything?”

“I think so. So Karthick trusted Jason.”

“Yes. Otherwise he wouldn’t have let Jason handle all the money.”

“So Jason did handle all the money.”

“Oh yes.”

“Was Karthick aware of all the financial decisions taken by Jason?”

Priya looked at Gowtham for the first time since the morning. She knew that either Karthick or Karthick’s father Janarthan made the major financial decisions but she had to lie now according to the script given to her by Gowtham. “No.”

“Very good,” nodded Vaishali appreciatively. “Do you know?”

“No,” repeated Priya.

“What about Sravya?”

“She knew,” Priya kicked her for saying that. Another lie. Sravya looked up sharply as though she was whipped with an iron rod.

Vaishali continued in an even tone. “In other words, all the financial decisions were taken by Jason and Sravya. And no one was aware of it.”

Priya looked troubled. “Yes.”

“Good. Where were you when Jason disappeared with money?”

“I was with Karthick at their home.”

Vaishali shifted her eyes to the judge. “Witnesses will be called to confirm this, my lord. As of now, the written statements of the entire household are submitted in front of you.”

Vimal rose for the first time. “Objection.”

“What is your objection, Vimal?” asked the Judge.

“We’re here in trial for Jason’s murder and not Jason’s abduction. I don’t understand why we need witnesses from Karthick’s household at the time of Jason’s disappearance.”

“Objection sustained. Ask questions that are relevant to the case, Mrs. Gowtham.”

Vimal sat down and Vaishali nodded in agreement. “Priya, your boyfriend suffered a good deal because of Jason’s embezzlement, right?”

“He did. But as the police found out the truth…”

Vimal said a bit harshly. “By any chance, is it possible for the prosecution counsel to explain why this is all relevant?”

Vaishali turned and fixed her eye firmly on Vimal. “One event led to another and we can’t just jump straight to the final event to get to the truth.”

“Yeah, let’s start from Jason’s birth all over again,” Priya quipped with a grin.

Judge Bhaskaran grunted. “Ms. Priya, I’d book you under contempt of court if you spoke unnecessarily one more time.”

“How much is the fine for it?” Priya asked sweetly.

Judge Bhaskaran threw a furious look at her and gestured Vaishali to proceed. Vijay said slowly, “I admire her.” Indhu murmured inaudibly, “What for? Not obeying the judge?” Vijay smiled. “Don’t you see what she is doing? She shows herself careless, disobedient and immature. That means her words won’t take effect in the Judge’s mind. No matter whatever Gowtham made her say, it’s not going to work out.”

The Judge behaved exactly like that way. He wasn’t interested anymore and he watched the proceeding vaguely. Vaishali concealed her emotions and tried her best to get everyone’s attention back. She asked a bit louder, “After the embezzlement, why did you forgive him and take him back?”

“Sravya wanted to.”

“Why did she want him?”

“I don’t know.”

“So it’s only because of Sravya, he returned back to your gang?”

“Yes. By the way, Vaishali, you need to work on your grammatical skills. Which school did you go to?”

Gowtham cursed under his breath. He knew that Priya was insulting his wife in purpose. It was his fault that he let her do the argument as he was under the impression that Priya would reply what was taught like a parrot. She was a pretty little actress and she gave him a considerable headache.

Vaishali took a deep breath. “Ms. Priya…”

Priya sighed. “Oh just shoot the next question already.”

“How did everyone take it?”

“I have no feelings about it. I don’t care what others’ feelings are. So don’t ask me.”

“Fine. What happened on New Year Eve?”

“Thank god. Finally. I came there with Karthick. I was watching and he was playing with Caesar in the hall. Vimal and Vrunda showed up around 9. I spoke to them about Jason’s return. And then I went to dining table to arrange it. Karthick was helping me. And the dinner is served.”

“Good. Where was Jason the whole time?”

“He was in Vijay’s room.”

“You didn’t speak to him?”

“No.”

“He was alone there?”

“Till Sravya went inside.”

“What were they talking about?”

“No idea.”

“When did they come out?”

“Just before the dinner. And then Sravya went to pick up the aspirin. Jason took it.” She conveniently left the part that Karthick asked for the tablet and Gowtham was thankful finally. He wondered whether she would screw up just to spite him. But she was telling what he wanted her to tell in the court, just with a pinch of added salt.

“From Vrunda’s medical kit?”

“Yes.”

“She took only the tablet?”

“I don’t know. Nobody saw anything.”

“So she could’ve taken the morphine?”

Vimal got up, frustrated. “The witness’ opinion doesn’t count. She didn’t see Sravya taking it. That’s all.”

Vaishali protested. “I am not asking for an opinion. I am asking whether there was enough time.”

“Objection overruled. The witness may answer,” said the Judge. Vimal sank back on his chair, looking defeated.

“Yes. She could’ve,” said Priya.

“Was Sravya alone with the food in the dining table anytime?”

“Yes, when Indhu went to attend the call and when I was still with Vimal in the hall.”

Vimal punched his head and thought hard. Did that ever happen? Was there enough time?

“After Vrunda’s arrival, did anyone else have a chance to be alone at the dining table?”

Priya shook her head. “No. Only Sravya.”

“We know the story of champagne bottle already and we know that no one else had a chance to mess up with that. So I think we can wrap it up here,” said Vaishali, bowing a little and moving back to her place.

Priya made a face. “That’s it? I guess that tall lawyer wearing a Rolex had to ask some questions to me. Aren’t you, sir?” Vimal stood up and he couldn’t hide a smile. “Yes, mam, I am.”

“Okay,” said Priya, grinning.

“I have very few questions.”

“Okay.”

“You just told the court how everyone got connected with Jason, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it true that you and your boyfriend knew him before any of the others?”

“Yes.”

“You knew him before Sravya did?”

Vaishali rose to object but Gowtham stopped her holding her hand.

“Yes,” said Priya.

“All right. How well do you know Jason?”

“Well, I am not going to lie about it…”

“Of course, you didn’t lie at all the whole day. You took the oath too seriously,” said Vimal sarcastically.

Vrunda snapped her forehead. “Does he have to do that? She is our friend, no matter what.”

“It’s okay,” said Karthick. “Let’s watch.”

“Jason and I are pretty good friends. In fact, I suggested that Karthick should include him in the business.”

“Yeah, you trusted him so much that you let him all the financial decisions in your business.”

“Not mine. Karthick’s.”

“Oh sorry, I forgot. Fine, let’s move on. Jason ran away and Sravya wanted him. You told us that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, you just forgot to mention who brought Jason back to Sravya.”

Priya hesitated at first and then said in a low voice. “I did.”

“So you knew the whereabouts of Jason, didn’t you? How?”

Gowtham leaned forward. “God, this is a mess.”

Priya fidgeted a little and then held her chin up. “He… he contacted me.”

“Not Sravya. Not Karthick. Not Vijay. But you.”

“I… I don’t know why…”

“He is dead. We will never know why.”

“I…”

Vaishali said sharply. “Priya, he is not asking questions. You don’t have to say anything.”

Vimal smiled. “Okay. I will ask questions now. Do you know about Jason’s will?”

Vaishali looked at Gowtham. Gowtham replied quietly. “He doesn’t have one. I checked up on it already. Interesting that Vimal didn’t ask about it to Indhu but to Priya.”

Priya bit her lips uncomfortably. “He… He never wrote a will.”

“That means all the 1000 million dollars in Bank of France will go to his only living relative, right?”

Gowtham smirked. “She is not a lawyer, Vimal.”

Judge Bhaskaran’s voice held a warning note. “Advocate Vimal, get to the point.”

“I will, in a minute, my lord. Who is that, Priya?”

“His father.”

“Karthick’s gardener.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know whether Jason’s father had a will?”

“Yes. There is a will.”

“And?”

Priya chuckled bitterly. “He leaves all the money to Karthick.”

To be continued.

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Lavanyaa