Dedicated to Rhitam Das, my brother(cousin actually; but he is way closer to my heart than any blood sibling I can have) and vasusetia, my brother who I met at high school.
Wishing you both a very Happy Bhai dooj( Bhai-phota).
And wishing all the bro-sis duos like us the same.

"No matter what happens in my life later; my brother will always be my confidant, my first male friend and my hero. He'll always be the first man I loved after my Dad."

-Elegiac_Damsel

__________
29th October
Sampurnaa's pov:

It is Bhai-dooj today. A festival that celebrates the bond between a brother and a sister. I am going to celebrate with Dada after so long! More than 4 years! All this time when I was in the USA, I missed being with him.
Boudi is at her parents' place for Bhai Phota or Bhai Dooj. She will be returning tonight as she has work tomorrow.
Dada was pissed off anyways because Boudi wasn't there to help him and he became even more annoyed when I went to wake him up in the morning.

I tip toed inside his room. He was lying, sprawled on the bed and snoring. I went and took the water jug from the bedside and poured the water straight on his face, drop by drop.
He woke up with a start and I ran away just as he started realising what had happened.

"You monkey! Wait! Why did you do this?"
He screamed at me while chasing me.
I ran around in circles and he followed me, trying to catch me in vain. I laughed at his unsuccessful attempts and continued going about the living room in circles.
But that has its own drawbacks!
I started feeling dizzy in no time and eventually felt light headed and fell down.

Dada ran towards me, obliviating all his anger.
"You stupid girl! I wouldn't hit you anyways! Why would you do something like this? You would have got hurt!" he seethed and then helped me stand back.

I smiled at him and then apologised.
"Sorry for waking you up like that."

Unfortunately he got reminded of the actual reason of our Tom-Jerry chase and he caught my hair.
"Dada! Not my hair! Please." I whined.
He did not listen. Instead he threatened to cut my hair in a weird style...

"Pretty please, Dada." I finally told him playing my last card. He can't refuse my puppy dog eyes and babyish ways!

He sighed and released me.
Maa walked in at that moment and then said,
"Finally the house seems alive after so long on Bhai Dooj!"

I grinned but Dada's face became grim.
"In a few days, the house will feel dead again Maa! She will be gone!"

Maa's smile vanished from her face and I knew that there would be a big argument commencing soon between Maa and Baba-Dada. The two men just don't want me to leave them and go!

I racked my brains and voilà, an idea!

"Maa! You know Dada threatened to cut my hair in an unruly way! That too right before my marriage! Can you imagine how I would look?!" I complained naughtily.

Before Maa could say anything, one of the cushions from the sofa came and hit me on my head. I threw back another and then we began fighting.
Eventually Maa sent us both to get ready for the day and the situation was salvaged.

I showered and dressed up in a traditional dress.

Dada too came out after freshening up. I did the puja and fed him sweets. I sought his blessings and he gave me my gift. I gave him a gift too.
Mine wasn't very innovative, it was just a set of 4 official ties.
He gifted me books like every year. The books I received included:
Origin by Dan Brown, Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon and Gently Falls the Bakula by Sudha Murty.

I am really happy and blessed to have an older brother like him.
No matter how much we quarrel even today, I know that he is always going to be there for me and that he has always got my back... The same as I have for him!

The rest of the day passed with me being at the office. I did not have a day off again this week as many people had already taken their leaves!
....

Indrayan's pov:

It is Bhai Dooj today and I remembered yesterday only because Adrija brought her pregnant self here in an excited state.
I had to literally rush to Bandra market at 11 at night in order to get her a gift!
And at 11, the clothes shops were shut and only the stationary and department stores were open. In the end, the gifts I got for her were an expensive, Parker pen, a set of baby toys, an embroidered shopping bag and a kids' bedtime stories story book.
Let's just hope that she becomes happy with the stuff for the baby!

Adrija was waiting for me, all dressed up and happy. Dad was instructing the interior designer who had come to renovate my room while Maa had gone to prepare brunch for her princess and us.
She did whatever she does and then applied chandan (sandalwood) on my forehead using the little finger of her left hand, and a kohl dot to ward of evil eye! I honestly don't mind the sandalwood paste... But evil eye? Really?!

She stood there waiting for something.
"What?" I asked her.

"You need to seek my blessings! I am full..."

I cut her off, "18 minutes older than me. I know that!"

I bent and pretended to take her blessings... But while she wasn't paying attention, I got up and pulled her hair and ran away!
She followed me to my temporary bedroom and stood their with her hands on her waist.
"At least give me my gift, bhai!" she whined.
I handed her the gifts and said,
"Sorry I did not get time to giftwrap them."

She kept the gifts aside and punched me on my stomach.
"You can simply say that you did not remember that it was Bhai-dooj today! You think I don't know how you are even after all these years!"

I looked down guiltily. Adrija picked up each gift and observed them.
"Well you are lucky that I like these gifts. So you are forgiven." she told me and then walked out of the room with the gifts.

And even after so much effort that I put in... I did not get a gift from her; for the 3rd year in a row!

...

1st. November

I was woken up at 7 a.m. by my mother's screaming voice. I showered quickly and rushed to see what was going on.
Her voice was coming from my room, which was still being redecorated. I have been informed that the room will be ready by 14th.

I went inside the room and my parents were quarrelling.
"What is wrong with you two? Your voice was so shrill that I thought there was some burglar inside! And why are you two arguing in this room early in the morning?" I asked them a bit annoyed at the early morning fiasco.

"Your mother is making a fuss... Not I! I was just telling her that the bed needs to be changed as it isn't complementing the new paint... But she isn't listening!" Dad complained.

I looked at the paint. 3 walls were painted white and the wall at the head of the bed was painted royal blue. The bed was dark brown in colour! Dad was obviously right!

"Maa. Please get the bed changed. Get a black one or something."

She opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.
"The hearing is at 10. I need to leave home by 8.30. Can we argue over this after I return in the evening?"

Maa nodded as did Dad.

Bedroom

As imagined by me. Ignore the mirror on the wall. That is where photoframes would be once the room is finished being redecorated.

....

I reached the court at 9.45. Almost everyone related to the case had already reached. The two men who had been caught were also brought to the court on my request. Anya was present too; Mr. Sequira was in hospital with an appendicitis operation scheduled for tomorrow. Sridha was present at the court with her parents and brother.
Sampurnaa arrived 5 minutes after I did. She came and said Hello to me and asked me about those men.

"They have been brought to court and I will question them. But before that, I need to cross-examine you and you need to say everything about what had happened there at night." I told her.

"I am ready. You have the video clippings right? The ones I mailed you?" she asked me.

I nodded in affirmative.

The hearing commenced at 10 a.m.
....

Sampurnaa's pov:

I knew that I had to speak at the court today, so I had mentally prepared myself. When the justice asked Indrayan to call the first witness, he summoned me to the witness box. Once I had been sworn in, I waited for him to ask me the first question.

"Ms. Roy, the police have arrested two people with the accusation that they traded in drugs and that they were totally involved in the drug racket. Could you tell us what you know about them?" he asked me

"Your honour", I spoke, turning to the justice, "A team of reporters including me conducted string operations in the city to expose and uncover the drug racket. There were a few colleges in South Bombay, where students used drugs on a regular basis. On the basis of information from the police and the local residents, we came to know of a pharmacy in Malabar Hill where there are no CCTV cameras. Three reporters and I, went in at the pharmacy in disguise taking turns in order to snoop and question. One of my teammates was asked to wait at the seashore where someone would deliver him drugs. The police followed the delivery man and traced his hideout to Khopoli. As far as the pharmacy is concerned, a college going boy who was highly intoxicated came there and began quarrelling with the man at the counter over the delivery of some drug. Upon questioning, it was discovered that the boy had brought a girl home after sedating her with the hopes of getting intimate with her. He wanted the drug to use them on the girl. Fortunately, the boy passed out and had to be taken to the hospital, which paved way for the police to rescue the girl. After all this, the police upon investigation and searching, discovered a trap door at the pharmacy which led to underground cellars. There were tons of boxes packed with drugs. The police arrested the man who worked at the pharmacy."

Right after I was done speaking, the defendant immediately rose up and said, "What you said has no relevance to the case!"

Fortunately for me, Indrayan answered before I could.
"Ma'am defendant, this was just the first question. Please allow me to ask further and then you will get if this holds any relevance or not."

The defendant nodded reluctantly and resumed her seat.

"What did they confess on camera, Ms. Roy?"

"Your honour, the first man who was caught by the police at Khopoli admitted that he was involved in the drug racket with Anya. He said that there was another man who is also involved. The man whose name is Arvind Jena, vouched for the fact that the man in question isn't Mr. Sequira. The other man, at the pharmacy, his name is Raj Matthews. He told us that the pharmacy is a property of the Municipal Corporation. It is built on government land and that the man who controls the trade is someone involved in politics. He has never met the man but can deduce all this on the basis of the facts that the phone line is secure and the number is private. Moreover, the mysterious mastermind in question was too busy throughout the election and campaigning season. Mr. Matthews also said that the man knew Anya as they both traded in drugs together."

I breathed once I finished speaking.
Indrayan turned towards the justice and said,
"Your honour, we have both video as well as audio evidence of the two men's statements. A copy of the recording has been submitted to you and the notice was given earlier to you and the defendant as is the protocol of the court."

The justice nodded and asked the bailiff to play the recording.
It was the video one so everyone could see what had happened.

Once the video was over, Indrayan turned to the justice and said, "Your honour! I would like to call Ms. Anya Siddiqui to the winess box."

The justice granted him permission and I stepped down from the box as Anya was escorted by two female officers.
...

Anya was sworn in. Indrayan addressed his first question to her,
"Who is your partner in the business?"

She simply stood still and did not reply.

The question was repeated 4 times and I could feel Indrayan losing his cool each time.
Finally when the question was asked a 5th time, the justice intervened and asked Anya to answer or they would have to inject her to a semi-conscious state and get answers.

She answered, "I have a business partner but I am not going to reveal his name. I can drop hints to you if you want but I am not revealing the name. I would request the court to respect this wish of mine as I have taken a vow years back.".

I was honestly annoyed at her. A woman who did all sorts of things... All crimes that affected people adversely; honours her vow! Unbelievable!.

What shocked me and the entire court was the justice's take on it.
"Alright, Ms. Siddiqui. The court shall respect your wish."

The entire courtroom was in an uproar! The media representatives and the other audience jumped up in their seats. The police and security managed to calm them down even as the judge continued to bang his gavel shouting for order in the court.

"Everyone please sit down silently! Anyone who protests against the High Court's verdict can do so after the final verdict of the case is given or else they will be charged with contempt of court."

Everyone sat down fuming. Even I was shocked at the judge's bizarre judgment.
Once everyone was quiet, he announced, "The justice who presides over the court has to respect the wishes of every citizen who appears here.... Be it a victim and be it a fugitive! The law is the same for everyone and everyone has equal rights in my court!"

That shut everyone's mouth and the hearing resumed.
....

Anya continued speaking, "The man who is my business partner was well acquainted with Minister Desai. I met him through Vijay's father. The minister did not know about our side business. The man is also a friend of the colonel who helped us escape that night."

I racked my brains at that piece of information. Who can it be? Was it some minister who was in power?

The rest of the hearing was all about the drug racket and the two men were also questioned.

The hearing dragged on for 4 hours without a break and finally at 2p.m., the judge announced the next date.

"The next hearing is on 4th November, 10 a.m. The court is adjourned for the day."

We rose as the justice exited the room. I was about to exit, when Anya passed by me with two female officers.

"Sampurnaa!" she called out to me.

I stiffened. Why would she call me?
Indrayan heard her and came and stood nearby.
"Try and get the samples of all medicines that were being sold at the pharmacy that day! You have the locations from where the blackmailer messaged... Try reminising the campaigners of the ruling party. You will get who you are looking for!
I am honestly tired of this game! After Vijay's death, I genuinely realised how helpless those girls are... I lost my son to a girl's helpless state! I just want to be convicted peacefully... I don't want to come to the court everyday! Sort this out quickly please!" she requested earnestly

I nodded as I was shocked by her confession.

The police led her away and I turned to Indrayan.
"What was that about?" he asked me

I shrugged.
...

"We need to get those medicines checked like she said." I reminded Indrayan as we both walked out of the courtroom.

He nodded.
"I will send you the list of the blackmailer's locations along with the time and date. Tally them with your records! There must be one person who was common at all the locations!"

I nodded and then we both parted ways.

The case is so far from being over!

....

To be continued...