3 3.TRAPPED

Raghav came to court before time as he didn't want to miss the opportunity which was given by the Judge and fixed a special time for hearing. His wife was also tense and got up early to make breakfast and appreciated the use of black coat to encourage his morale. Black coats were mandatory while pleading a case before court. But she was unable to appreciate the burden on the mind of husband who was losing health day by day. He was to remember facts logically and place before the judge which should make sense and also impress him to pass a favorable order.

People particularly other advocates outside were critical of this arrangement as they felt Raghav was being given undue importance. Such thefts were very common and none got worried so much. They also didn't like his privilege of sharing so much time and trying to alter the process of proceedings.

Advocates never wanted judges to pass early judgments which reduced their income. They faced great difficulty in catching clients and trapping them in cases. They also provoked small-time criminals to commit crime so that they could seek help from them. Many of them thrived only on making affidavits in which their fees were fixed and two to three gave them an earning of one thousand or so which they shared with others in court. In these applications they were not supposed to share any amount with presiding officers in court or with clerks or babuls. This became a serious problem at times as these advocates were poor in pleading and copied from standard drafts available with court clerks. They also paid money to peons who brought old papers to be copied and added new facts. They made drafts which generally needed corrections by court clerks.

In substance, the standard of working was pitiable in many ways and presiding officers never mind throwing applications giving direction to the clerk to get them corrected for understanding. In all this client was being forced to spend money every time and time ticked away. Interestingly this also gave opportunity to fix hearing dates for long while clients gradually suffered monetarily and mentally. But the law is blind and these sentiments and emotions hardly changed the way of working.

Raghav reached court half an hour before and silently sat there gathering his thoughts. But it was disturbed by advocates loitering there searching for new clients.

One saw Raghav and spoke, "It seems you are not having family to care for or your wife kicks you out of the house early morning. She must be bored by your sad and drawn face which is so repulsive. Is she planning to divorce and you could plead your case even then?"

'Why are you so keen to know about family? You should bother yourself and don't disturb me now. Are you definite about your wife being at home and not enjoying being with someone else. How can you check this? I won't reply to other quarries," rebuked Raghav.

"Go to hell and god will surely take you there. You are snatching our bread," angry advocate got ready to fight.

Raghav didn't reply. He knew things were against and anyone would like to drag him into controversy. Judge advised to keep away from advocates, who liked to create problems for new men and particularly respectable people like him. He was not baffled to have favor from the judge as a gentle person. He felt encouraged every day.

He entered the court and sat silently on one chair awaiting the arrival of the judge. Time was ticking and none turned up. His time was running out and he could hardly get now half an hour to put forward case points. The peon came and announced that the judge will be coming late as he was in a meeting with the District Judge.

Raghav became sad and thought his preparations would go to waste. He got up and went outside. In order to remove frustration he entered a small tea stall and ordered tea. The owner of shop came forward and asked,

"It appears that today the judge didn't come to court. It's usual. He must be busy in meetings or in some party thrown by advocates to celebrate birthdays. It happens regularly and this is the way they have picked up to entertain judges to get favor either in date fixing or favorable judgment for clients," told elderly shopkeeper.

"Does it mean that one is made to suffer even if he comes from a long distance spending money?" Raghav queried.

"Why do you worry and get surprised? Why should a judge bother to inconvenience anyone? After all he has to spend life doing this work only which is as mundane as other work. He must get time for entertainment that is too free of cost. Lane 22 operations of under table payments are the favorite of these people engaged in boring duties."

In this country citizens are given last priority everywhere. You must be moneyed to get preference. I am told you have been an honest person all your life. Now at the end you are caught in a theft case. Generally people abandon stolen cars in police yards and buy new one. You can find hundreds of these in police junkyards. These are auctioned later and sold to scrap dealers." Tea shop owner explained.

"Why did you decide to come to court? You could have bought a new car and forgotten the stolen one for a long time. Later you could have claimed from the insurance company. It seems someone followed your case sincerely and you are in big mess." Old man surmised.

"Many in connivance with police stations get removed costly parts to be sold separately and recover money. They can't get paid for total loss. Even engines and gearboxes are bought and sold in the market and realize money leaving only the body. Later it is auctioned by police after permission of the court and in some cases orders are finalized," shop owner educated him.

Raghav felt that it was a wise suggestion and also hinted at it by a policeman in the station when he was making a hot chase to get the car released. He spent money to make a car and now got stuck in a legal battle. He had limited money he received after retirement. But still he bought a new car to satisfy wife to suit her choice. He became romantic at this age and has to face this music. What a pity? After every hearing he had to answer many queries from wife Sunita who invariably remained dissatisfied and made bitter comments. He wanted to run away from conjugal life often which was still more difficult in this country.

"Your problem is that you want to do all things yourself. You could hire an advocate to get a verdict fast and they know how to get it done. They all want money which you consider unethical. Life also runs with unethical practices. If poison develops in the body, it is neutralized by another poison namely medicines. Sushama, a member in the kitty party, was telling how her clever husband managed the case without much harassment. All judges want money to enjoy and their salary payments can't satisfy family needs particularly if there are one or two fashion loving daughters. This money is paid through advocates and you don't have any. I don't know when you learn," was a volley of criticism from my wife.

"Why do you want me to become a corrupt man? Even if I lose case fighting, it will be satisfying to me. Are you in any trouble? You always get food, clothes and money to have parties. Let me be as I am," Raghav was angered.

"My brother rightly said that you can't be corrected and you would remain a headstrong and obstinate person always making me suffer. A wife needs something more than money. I don't remember when you kissed me in the last six months or more. What type of man are you who forget the necessary body hunger of a wife? Why did my father pick you and give my hand to a hard stone with no soft feelings? It is my bad luck. My younger sister is lucky who has been flourishing constantly," his wife started shedding tears by now.

This weapon she often used to get work done. But today he was in a bad mood to entertain her. He was having a headache and preferred to walk out of the house, his normal way of getting rid from mental agony. He met his friend Robert who took him to his house and asked Sally to serve drink to him. He joined and shortly got drunk. Sally slept in a compromising position and Robert caught them together. He left late at night and the next day Robert showed him recordings. He started blackmailing him and threatened to show this to Sunita. Now he was in a bigger mess and he obeyed Robert.

Raghav kept silent as he didn't want to tell the truth about how he was trapped by Robert. He couldn't say that it was his game when he used wife to earn money. He became furious and decided to murder Robert and his wife to finish the story. He bought a gun from black market and went one evening to accomplish the plan. He rang the bell. Door was opened by Sally who was not alone. Someone was in her bedroom and Robert was away. She stopped him from entering the room and he forced his way. He found Sunita sleeping with an unknown man. His anger knew no bounds and shot his wife on the spot. Sally and the man tried to catch him and he shot the man also. He pushed Sally and ran away.