Vishesh got to know that Surekha had filed an urgent motion and the case was being taken up before the appointed date.

He was present. Sitting on a wheelchair being pushed by Nishtha. His parents were there too. Surekha was there with her father and lawyer. The woman had no shame and was standing tall, as if proud of her actions.

“The respondent has filed an urgent motion. What are the grounds of your urgency?”

The judge asked sternly. A woman in her early 50s, she’d dealt with thousands of such cases.

“The urgency is that there is no scope in this relationship. I am still young and have my entire life before me. This marriage, this relationship is just a restraint now. I cannot live my wife according to my wish because I am still married.”

The lawyer spoke on Surekha’s behalf. Surekha nodded at his words. The judge observed her before turning her attention to Vishesh.

“Do you have anything to say in this regard?”

Vishesh looked at her. His lawyer spoke up.

“Yes mam. I want the divorce as soon as possible. She had committed adultery. Right in my house. When I was in my room. I don’t think there’s any point in dragging these proceedings any longer when the outcome is clear from the beginning.”

The judge’s eyes snapped to Surekha, directly addressing her.

“Is this true? The allegation of adultery?”

Surekha stepped forward and nodded.

“Yes mam.”

The judge looked at her with a raised eyebrow. The audacity was new to her.

“You accept the allegation. You accept that you destroyed the sanctity of your marriage.”

The judge stated and Surekha gave a displeased look at Vishesh before speaking.

“Yes mam. I accept. Aur kya krti mai? Look at him! Look at his condition! Apni marzi se hil bhi nhi skta ye aadmi. Kaise apni life iske saath nikaal du? Meri shaadi hui thi toh kuch dreams the mere…but everything was shattered when he got into this condition. I also have needs. Jo ye na toh ye puri kr saka aur na hi kr skega. I didn’t want to ruin my life by staying with a cripple!”

(And what could I have done?.... This man cannot even move at his will. How can I spend my life with him? I had dreams when I was married….Which he cannot fulfil and will never be able to.)

She hadn’t realized how much she’d spoken. Nishtha’s grip tightened on the handle of the wheelchair. Vishesh felt numb. Even the judge felt angered.

“Mind your words, Ms. You are standing in the court of law. There is a discipline and a code of conduct that has to be maintained.”

Her voice was stern, containing a warning. Surekha was pulled back by her lawyer.

“Apologies mam.”

He apologized on her behalf and indicated to her to keep her mouth shut.

The judge looked ahead, towards the court and pronounced her judgment.

“This being an exceptional case…I am forced to announce the judgment and grant the divorce.”

When she saw a little smirk on Surekha’s face, she added.

“With this divorce decree, I also impose a cost of ₹50,000 on the Respondent to be paid to the Petitioner for speaking undignified words for the Petitioner in the open court of law.”

Surekha gasped and started to say something when her father pulled her back. The judge continued.

“The court also orders the cost of the entire litigation to be borne by the Respondent alone. The respondent will not be eligible for any alimony or maintenance by the Petitioner. Dismissed.”

Nishtha smiled in satisfaction. 

“Nishtha?”

She heard Vishesh’s soft whisper. She immediately leaned to his level to listen to him.

“Take me home.”

He whispered. She nodded and wordlessly wheeled him out. The drive back home was too silent.

Nishtha helped Vishesh on the bed. His parents looked at him in worry. 

“Vishu?”

His mother called. Vishesh hummed with his eyes still closed.

“Tu thik hai kya beta?”

(Are you okay son?)

He opened his eyes, looked at his mother and smiled.

“Mai thik hu. Aap log tension mat lo. Aaram se ghar jaao. Nishtha hai mere paas mujhe kuch chahiye ho toh.”

(I am fine. You don’t worry. Go home. Nishtha is here if I need anything.)

His father started interrupting but Vishesh insisted. His parents patted Nishtha’s head and asked her to call if anything was required before they left.

She went out to see them off and lock the door. She came back and sat beside him. He smiled at her and she looked at him worried.

“Vishesh?”

He hummed.

“Aap sach mai thik hai?”

(Are you really fine?)

He stared ahead and sighed. A sigh of relief.

“Sach batau…accident ke baad…aaj pehli baar aisa lag raha hai ki mai kitna relieved hu. Aisa lag raha hai ki mere upar se ek bhut bada guilt, bhut bada bojh utar gaya. I’m not saying ki wo bojh thi…”

(Honestly…after the accident…I feel relieved for the first time. I feel like a big guilt, a burden is lifted off me. I am not saying that she was a burden…)

Nishtha sat quietly, listening to him and letting him express his emotions.

“I know usne jo kia wo galat that but…shayad isme puri tarah bhi galat nhi thi wo. I mean tum khud imagine kro na. You just got married. You have dreams about your life aur ek din achanak se tumhare husband ki ye haalat ho jaaye. Anyone in her place would do what she did-”

(I know what she did was wrong…but maybe she was not completely wrong. I mean you imagine. You just got married. You have dreams about your life and one day, suddenly your husband is in this condition….)

“No!”

She cut him off. Her fists were clenched by her side. She looked at him with fierce determination.

“I would not do what she did. Maine pehle bhi kaha tha…mai phir se keh rhi hu. Jo insaan sirf khushiyon mai saath de aur mushkil waqt mai saath chhod de wo jeevan saath nhi hota. Wo toh dost bhi nhi hota.”

(I said this before…I am saying this again. Someone who only stays together in happy times and leaves in difficult ones is not a life partner. He is not even a friend.)

“I understand. But hamare beech mai kabhi wo bond hi nhi bana-”

(But we never had that bond-)

“Aur isme kiski galti hai? Aapne koshish kri thi na? And what did she do? Stop justifying her actions, Vishesh! Stop seeing the good in everyone. Har koi deserve nhi krta. Uss aurat ko zara si sharam nhi aayi. Pehle toh usne wo sab kia…in your house, right under your nose. Aur phir aaj court mai apne hi actions ko justify krne ke liye aapke liye wo sab bola.”

(And who was at fault? You tried, right?....Not everyone deserves it. That woman did not feel even a little shame. First she did all that…in your house, right under your nose. And then she said all that in the court to justify her actions.)

She took a deep breath and said.

“Mai maanti hu usse haq hai apni life apne hisaab se jeene ka. Wo agar tameez se aane divorce maangti toh galat nhi hoti. Lekin ye! By cheating and then acting as if she did nothing wrong! Ye kabhi sahi nhi ho skta. Never. Aapko gussa kaise nhi aa raha uspe? Jabse maine usse padka hai mera khoon khaul raha hai. Aur aap usse justify kr rhe ho?”

(I understand she has the right to live her life according to her wishes. She wouldn’t be wrong if she asked for a divorce upfront. But this!....This cannot never be correct. Never. How are you not angry at her? Since I have caught her my blood is boiling. And you are justifying her?)