Chapter 1

Author's pov

The monsoon was at its peak nowadays. It was raining continuously from last night and it wasn't showing any sign of stopping anytime later.

The heavy and muffled sound of water dropping was echoing in the silent room. There was a sleeping figure in the bed. Murmuring something in her sleep. Maybe calling someone.

"Riya"

"Riya"

"don't go. I am sorry."

"Please"

"Comeback"

The sound of heavy breathing was muffled with the heavy sound of water pouring outside and crashing on the glass window.

"I'm sorry." She cried in her sleep.

"Riyaaaaa?" She woke up as if someone just poured a bucket of icing water on water with hand hanging mid air, as if reaching out to save someone but couldn't. Another day. Same dream.

She sighed and looked around the room while wiping the sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her night gown. She took the glass from the table and gulped it in one go while reaching for her phone to look at the time. It showed 5:30 AM.

"It's still raining?" She stood up from the bed and went to the window.

She opened it just for a second but closed immediately as the heavy rain drops hit her in the face wetting it.

There was still a lot of time before the court session started.

She had the most important hearing till now today as it could either make her career sky rocket or just ruin her reputation as a best youngest prosecutor in the industry.

Either way it's gonna affect a lot. For her,  Who haven't lost any argument till now.

She was known for the "No case lost till now" record and that's what got her more clients. People trusted her. Either criminal or innocent. She never failed to prove it. Either it was proving the criminal as innocent or innocent as criminal. These things were like a piece of cake for her.

Because Kaya understood something most people didn't.

The law was never about innocence. It was about proof.

Many admired her. Many hated her for it. Many underestimated her. And that was the fun in it. She liked seeing those reactions on those people's faces when she wins the case, who underestimated her and thought of her any less just because she had the privilege or she was the daughter of a No. 1 lawyer in the country.

There was something dangerously composed about Kaya Khurana.

Maybe it was the way she walked into courtrooms like she already knew everyone inside would underestimate her.

Maybe it was the sharp intelligence hidden beneath the calm expression and professionalism.

Or maybe it was those her eyes. The kind that looked calm even while dismantling someone's entire life with a single question.

Time skipped ~~~

The time she got ready was already 7:30 AM and surprisingly it even stopped raining outside. She opened the fridge to look for something to cook for breakfast.

She took out the bowl of leftover rice from last night and decided to stir fry it with some veggies.

Yeah. it was not the 'ideal' healthy breakfast for her but it was enough to give her some energy and she was used to it.

She sat on the couch to eat and reached for the remote to see some news before going out.

As soon as she opened, the voice of the news anchor bummed in her ears.

AAKHIR KYA HAI SACH? KYA WAQAI RAIZADA LIMITED KE CEO ADITYA RAIZADA NE UNHI KI COMPANY ME KAAM KARNE WALI LADKI KE SATH DUSHKARM KIYA? OR AGAR NAHI KIA TO WO SAMNE AKAR KUCH BOLTE KYU NAHI? (After all, what is the truth? Did Aditya Raizada, the CEO of Raizada Limited really commit rape against a girl working in his own company? And if he didn't, then why isn't he coming forward and saying anything?)

She looked at the TV screen where the pictures of Aditya were showing with heavy music in the background like some suspense movie. That's the Media for you. You don't need to tell them the story. Just give them the name, they'll make up the story themselves.

"KAL RAAT HUMARE REPORTER NE UNSE SAWAL PUCHNE KI KOSHISH KI TO UNKE BODYGUARD NE UNKE SAATH BADTAMIJI SE BAAT KI AUR BAHAR FEK DIA. DEKHIYE UNHONE HUMARE REPORTER KE SATH KAISE BARTAAV KIA" (Last night, when our reporter tried to ask him questions, his bodyguard spoke to him rudely and threw him out. Watch how they treated our reporter.)

Then they showed the footage of Aditya coming out of his office building and the reporter shoving the mic in his face. Just an inch away from hitting him in the mouth. I am surprised how it didn't hit him. Soon the bodyguards rushed to him and started shoving that reporter and cameraman away from him. It was certain that Aditya was avoiding them. I told him it's better that way but these insects...

"Hsssh" I hissed and lowered down the volume as the reporter's voice was pricking in my ears.

"Mr. Raizada"

"Mr. Raizada. Answer our questions."

"Did you really rape the girl working in your company?"

"Why are you avoiding the media?"

"There are rumors you do this often to your female workers. Is it true?" The bodyguards were trying their best to shove them away. I think physical stamina comes in journalism training. If I was in his place I would've shoved that mic down that reporter's throat and would've given her a good blow job with it. The hearing didn't even happened yet to come to any conclusion.

"Mr. Raizada? Why are- oww." I stopped chewing to not laugh as his own mic hit him in the teeth and she finally decided to move away from aditya.

The screen moved to the anchor. She cleared her throat to cover up the embarrassment her reporter made her felt before she starts speaking.

"TO DEKHA AAPNE KAISE ADITYA RAIZADA KE BODYGUARDS EK FEMALE REPORTER KE SATH BADTAMIZI SE PESH AAYE AUR JAWAAB DENE SE KATRAATE RAHE. MEDIA DEMOCRACY KA 4TH PILLAR-(So you saw how Aditya Raizada's bodyguard behaved rudely with a female reporter and avoided answering our questions.)

I switched off the screen. What? I scowled.

Pillar? And behaved rudely? Aditya or that reporter? If I remember she was the same new anchor who was trying hard to get some rumours of her and Aditya dating start after she took his one interview.

And look at her now.

Huh!

Kaya exhaled quietly and looked away from the television. She finished eating and got up to keep the plate in basin. Just as I came out of the kitchen her phone vibrated on the table.

Aditya.

For a second she stared at his name without answering.

Then she picked up.

"You're watching the news?" he asked immediately.

His voice sounded rough. Tired.

"No," Kaya lied, going towards her room to give final touches of makeup to her face before going.

A bitter laugh came through the line.

"They're camped outside my building now."

"You need to stop reading everything online."

"They froze my sponsorship deals overnight. What do you think is gonna happen now? Is this it? My career? My years of hardwork to gain this reputation? All into vain?" He said.

"Adi. I'll ask you again. You are sure you didn't do this? Don't forget I am your lawyer and I'll only be loss for you If you hide anything. Remember that."

"You don't trust me?"

"Adi-"

"My mother called crying this morning."

That made Kaya close her eyes briefly. His mother was his biggest weakness.

Because behind the public image, behind the money and attention and headlines, Aditya was still one of the few people who had remained in her life consistently for years.

She knew his worst habits. His arrogance. His recklessness.

But she also knew he was not violent.

And he was certain this never happened.

"When's the hearing?" he asked quietly.

"Ten."

"And you'll be there?"

The question irritated her more than it should have.

"Of course I'll be there."

Silence.

Then he muttered slowly

"I didn't do this, Kaya."

Kaya tightened her grip around the phone.

Three days ago, she would've answered immediately.

Now?

Now there was hesitation she hated admitting existed.

Not because she believed he was guilty.

But because this case has gotten more complicated than before.

Too public.

Too fast.

Too messy.

The victim's statement had inconsistencies but still parts of it were disturbingly believable. The evidence leaked online before official processing. Someone inside the department was feeding information to the press.

Nothing about this investigation felt clean.

"Kaya?"

"I'm handling it," she said finally.

She ended the call before he could hear uncertainty creeping into her voice.

~~~

She locked her apartment and got inside the car, took a deep breath before dialing her assistant. "Hello?"

"Yes mam, I am just reaching there." Her assistant answers.

"Ok. Meet me at the canteen before the hearing." She hung up and started the car moving out of there.

~~

She reached the canteen but her assistant was still not there. She called her.

"Where are you?"

"Mam actually I am stuck in traffic. I'll try to be there in time. " She was sounding like she was on the verge of losing her patience.

"Ok. Ok. You don't need to panic. Take your time. there are still 2 hours left." She hung up and decided to order coffee as she didn't drink any at home.

She ordered her coffee as her eyes fell on the television mounted inside the canteen. There were words displayed in big, bold letters as breaking news.

TECH CEO ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

INSIDE THE NIGHT THAT DESTROYED ADITYA RAIZADA

THE WOMAN SPEAKS OUT

Kaya stood near the counter waiting for her coffee. Her sunglasses hiding tired eyes after three sleepless nights, while the entire cafe buzzed with noises of people discussing. Sound of typewriters.

Just then she heard the man bruing coffee talking to his partner.

"Iske jaise ameer jade to asaani se nikal jaate hai in cheezo se."(Men like him always get away with it.)

"She looked terrified in that interview." His partner replied.

Author's pov

The monsoon was at its peak nowadays. It was raining continuously from last night and it wasn't showing any sign of stopping anytime later.

The heavy and muffled sound of water dropping was echoing in the silent room. There was a sleeping figure in the bed. Murmuring something in her sleep. Maybe calling someone.

"Riya"

"Riya"

"don't go. I am sorry."

"Please"

"Comeback"

The sound of heavy breathing was muffled with the heavy sound of water pouring outside and crashing on the glass window.

"I'm sorry." She cried in her sleep.

"Riyaaaaa?" She woke up as if someone just poured a bucket of icing water on water with hand hanging mid air, as if reaching out to save someone but couldn't. Another day. Same dream.

She sighed and looked around the room while wiping the sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her night gown. She took the glass from the table and gulped it in one go while reaching for her phone to look at the time. It showed 5:30 AM.

"It's still raining?" She stood up from the bed and went to the window.
She opened it just for a second but closed immediately as the heavy rain drops hit her in the face wetting it.

There was still a lot of time before the court session started.

She had the most important hearing till now today as it could either make her career sky rocket or just ruin her reputation as a best youngest prosecutor in the industry.
Either way it's gonna affect a lot. For her,  Who haven't lost any argument till now.

She was known for the "No case lost till now" record and that's what got her more clients. People trusted her. Either criminal or innocent. She never failed to prove it. Either it was proving the criminal as innocent or innocent as criminal. These things were like a piece of cake for her.
Because Kaya understood something most people didn't.

The law was never about innocence. It was about proof.

Many admired her. Many hated her for it. Many underestimated her. And that was the fun in it. She liked seeing those reactions on those people's faces when she wins the case, who underestimated her and thought of her any less just because she had the privilege or she was the daughter of a No. 1 lawyer in the country.

There was something dangerously composed about Kaya Khurana.

Maybe it was the way she walked into courtrooms like she already knew everyone inside would underestimate her.

Maybe it was the sharp intelligence hidden beneath the calm expression and professionalism.

Or maybe it was those her eyes. The kind that looked calm even while dismantling someone's entire life with a single question.

Time skipped ~~~

The time she got ready was already 7:30 AM and surprisingly it even stopped raining outside. She opened the fridge to look for something to cook for breakfast.
She took out the bowl of leftover rice from last night and decided to stir fry it with some veggies.

Yeah. it was not the 'ideal' healthy breakfast for her but it was enough to give her some energy and she was used to it.

She sat on the couch to eat and reached for the remote to see some news before going out.

As soon as she opened, the voice of the news anchor bummed in her ears.

"AAKHIR KYA HAI SACH? KYA WAQAI RAIJAZADA LIMITED KE CEO ADITYA RAIZADA NE UNHI KI COMPANY ME KAAM KARNE WALI LADKI KE SATH DUSHKARM KIYA? OR AGAR NAHI KIA TO WO SAMNE AKAR KUCH BOLTE KYU NAHI?"

("After all, what is the truth? Did Aditya Raizada, the CEO of Raizada Limited really commit rape against a girl working in his own company? And if he didn't, then why isn't he coming forward and saying anything?")

She looked at the TV screen where the pictures of Aditya were showing with heavy music in the background like some suspense movie. That's the Media for you. You don't need to tell them the story. Just give them the name, they'll make up the story themselves.

"KAL RAAT HUMARE REPORTER NE UNSE SAWAL PUCHNE KI KOSHISH KI TO UNKE BODYGUARD NE UNKE SAATH BADTAMIJI SE BAAT KI AUR BAHAR FEK DIA. DEKIYE UNHONE HUMARE REPORTER KE SATH KAISE BARTAAV KIA"

(Last night, when our reporter tried to ask him questions, his bodyguard spoke to him rudely and threw him out. Watch how they treated our reporter.)

Then they showed the footage of Aditya coming out of his office building and the reporter shoving the mic in his face. Just an inch away from hitting him in the mouth. I am surprised how it didn't hit him. Soon the bodyguards rushed to him and started shoving that reporter and cameraman away from him. It was certain that Aditya was avoiding them. I told him it's better that way but these insects...

"Psssh" I hissed and lowered down the volume as the reporter's voice was pricking in my ears.

"Mr. Raizada"

"Mr. Raizada. Answer our questions."

"Did you really rape the working in your girl?"

"Why are you avoiding the media?"

"There are rumors you do this often to your female workers. Is it true?" The bodyguards were trying their best to shove them away. I think physical stamina comes in journalism training. If I was in his place I would've shoved that mic down that reporter's throat and would've given him a good blow job with it. The hearing didn't even happened yet to come to any conclusion.

"Mr. Raizada? Why are-oww." I stopped chewing to not laugh as his own mic hit him in the teeth and he finally decided to move away from aditya.

The screen moved to the anchor. She cleared her throat to cover up the embarrassment her reporter made her felt before she starts speaking.

"TO DEKHA AAPNE KAISE ADITYA RAIZADA KE BODYGUARDS EK FEMALE REPORTER KE SATH BADTAMIZI SE PESH AAYE AUR JAWAAB DENE SE KATRAATE RAHE. MEDIA DEMOCRACY KA 4TH PILLAR-"

(So you saw how Aditya Raizada's bodyguard behaved rudely with a female reporter and avoided answering our questions.)

I switched off the screen. Whattt? I scowled. Pillar? And behaved rudely? Aditya or that reporter? If I remember she was the same new anchor who was trying hard to get some rumours of her and Aditya dating start after she took his one interview.
And look at her now.
Huh!

Kaya exhaled quietly and looked away from the television. She finished eating and got up to keep the plate in basin. Just as I came out of the kitchen her phone vibrated on the table.

Aditya.

For a second she stared at his name without answering.

Then she picked up.

"You're watching the news?" he asked immediately.
His voice sounded rough. Tired.

"No," Kaya lied, going towards her room to give final touches of makeup to her face before going.
A bitter laugh came through the line.

"They're camped outside my building now."

"You need to stop reading everything online."

"They froze my sponsorship deals overnight. What do you think is gonna happen now? Is this it? My career? My years of hardwork to gain this reputation? All into vain?" He said.

"Adi. I'll ask you again. You are sure you didn't do this? Don't forget I am your lawyer and I'll only be loss for you If you hide anything. Remember that."

"You don't trust me?"

"Adi-"

"My mother called crying this morning."

That made Kaya close her eyes briefly.

Because behind the public image, behind the money and attention and headlines, Aditya was still one of the few people who had remained in her life consistently for years.

She knew his worst habits. His arrogance. His recklessness.
But she also knew he was not violent.

And he was certain this never happened.

"When's the hearing?" he asked quietly.

"Ten."

"And you'll be there?"
The question irritated her more than it should have.

"Of course I'll be there."

Silence.

Then he muttered slowly
"I didn't do this, Kaya."

Kaya tightened her grip around the phone.

Three days ago, she would've answered immediately.

Now?

Now there was hesitation she hated admitting existed.
Not because she believed he was guilty.
But because this case has gotten more complicated than before.

Too public.

Too fast.

Too messy.

The victim's statement had inconsistencies but still parts of it were disturbingly believable. The evidence leaked online before official processing. Someone inside the department was feeding information to the press.
Nothing about this investigation felt clean.

"Kaya?"

"I'm handling it," she said finally.

She ended the call before he could hear uncertainty creeping into her voice.

She locked her apartment and got inside the car, took a deep breath before dialing her assistant. "Hello?"
"Yes mam, I am just reaching there." Her assistant answers.

"Ok. Meet me at the canteen before the hearing." She hung up and started the car moving out of there.

~~

She reached the canteen but her assistant was still not there. She called her.
"Where are you?"

"Mam actually I am stuck in traffic. I'll try to be there in time. " She was sounding like she was on the verge of losing her patience.

"Ok. Ok. You don't need to panic. Take your time. there are still 2 hours left." She hung up and decided to order coffee as she didn't drink any at home.

She ordered her coffee as her eyes fell on the television mounted inside the canteen. There were words displayed in big, bold letters as breaking news.

TECH CEO ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
INSIDE THE NIGHT THAT DESTROYED ADITYA RAIZADA
THE WOMAN SPEAKS OUT

Kaya stood near the counter waiting for her coffee. Her sunglasses hiding tired eyes after three sleepless nights, while the entire cafe buzzed with noises of people discussing. Sound of typewriters.

Just then she heard the man bruing coffee talking to his partner.

"Iske jaise ameer jade to asaani se nikal jaate hai in cheezo se."(Men like him always get away with it.)

"She looked terrified in that interview." His partner replied.

"I heard there's a video."

"Video? Fir to iska ho gya ab"(Video? Now He's done for sure.)

Heard.

Interesting word.

No trial.

No facts.

No evidence presented in court.

Kaya exhaled quietly and looked away from the television.

This was exactly why she hated high-profile cases.

Not because of the media. Not because of public pressure.

Because once the world decided who the villain was, the truth stopped mattering.

~~~

Outside the cafe, rain soaked the streets in shining as black SUVs lined the courthouse entrance three blocks away. Reporters crowded the stairs despite the weather, umbrellas colliding while cameras flashing nonstop.

Seems like aditya came. Now it was time for her to go out amd discuss with him.

She took her coffee and came out of the canteen. Upon reaching the court hallway she saw the other party was already there and there was also the investigating team of police officers.

Aditya was still not here so she leaned against the wall away from them and sipped her coffee. The bitter sweet taste soothing her tongue.

She was just looking at everyone's faces. There was 5 or 6 man police man standing there. One was talking to the victim. His face was on other side so she couldn't see it. The girl was standing in front of him and beside her was standing her mother while joining her hands in front of him as pleading or requesting.

She was sipping her coffee quietly. Silently trying to understand what they were planning to do. Looking at his back she can tell he was some senior officer. Now she was curious to see him. She moved to the left side to see him but only could see the faint side profile of his. Soon the same man turned around.

As soon as she saw the face. She felt her whole world froze. That man. That face. She swore to never see this face ever again in her life. Her hold tightened on the plastic glass, almost crushing it. Never in her life she imagined she would see him again. She wanted to

look away from him but it seemed like her body was not ready to listen to her. The world can't be that small,right?

Apart from shock what frustrating her more was

Just why the hell is....

RUDRA RAI SINGH  assigned to this case.