Chapter - 32
Shivanya ~
I woke up before the alarm and for a few seconds, just laid there, breathing in the calm. Then I turned my head and there he was.
Vihaan was still asleep beside me, lying on his side, one hand tucked under the pillow, his face softer than I ever got to see when he was awake. The crease between his brows had smoothed out, and the faintest hint of stubble shadowed his jaw.
I couldn't help but smile, my heart doing that quiet, stupid flip it had started doing ever since we got married. He looked so different like this. So calm, unguarded and almost boyish.
For a moment, I let myself watch him. His breathing was slow and even, and a strand of his hair had fallen across his forehead. I had the strangest urge to reach out and brush it back, but I stopped myself. Instead, I shifted carefully so I could sit up against the headboard. The movement must have disturbed him because a moment later, his eyes fluttered open.
"Morning," I said.
He blinked, as if remembering where he was, and then his gaze settled on me. "Morning, Sunshine," he murmured back, voice low and warm.
"Sorry," I said softly. "Did I wake you?"
He shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I would rather wake up to you than the alarm."
That single line made my chest tighten in the best way. "It's still early," I told him, though I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
"Does not matter," he whispered, eyes still half‑closed. "Stay, please."
Neither of us moved for a while. Then, slowly, he reached for my hand under the blanket, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles.
"Big trial?" he asked, voice still rough from sleep.
"Yeah," I nodded, my heart beating faster at how gently he was holding my hand. "Medacare this morning."
"You are brilliant, just remember that." he murmured, his eyes steady on mine.
"And you?" I asked softly. "Your meeting?"
He nodded, still not letting go of my hand. "Long, probably. But let's not think about that yet."
I glanced at the clock, then back at him, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the day could wait.
"I should get up," I whispered, trying myself to move out of the bed to begin the day.
"Not yet," he said, giving my hand the slightest tug until I settled back beside him.
For a few more minutes, we lay there, facing each other. His hand rested against my wrist, warm and steady, and I let my eyes trace the line of his jaw, the way the morning light softened his features.
Finally, he shifted, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face. "Go win your case, beautiful." he said, voice low and sure.
"And you," I whispered back, "go win the rest of the world, Mr. Raichand."
His mouth curved into a slow, sleepy smile. "Only if I get to come home to you."
I felt my face warm at his words, but I didn't look away. "You will now, always." I promised and then stood up.
In the mirror, I caught a glimpse of him stretching, his hair still messy from sleep. For some reason, just watching him do something so ordinary made my chest feel oddly full.
I went to the bathroom to freshen up and took a long bath because I had the time and by the time I walked out in my changeover kurti and salwaar, there was a mug of coffee waiting for me on the nightstand.
I took a slow sip when Vihaan walked back into the room, talking to someone over the phone.
"Thank you." I mouthed.
He gave me a small nod before walking to his closet and I walked outside to see Mom and Dad.
"Good morning." I said, sitting beside Maa who was on the couch, reading the newspaper. Dad was in the kitchen, probably making tea for the two of them.
"Good morning beta. Tell me, what would you like to have for breakfast?" She asked, setting the paper aside.
"Nahi Mom, aaj aap log mere haath ke aloo ke paranthe khaoge. Mujhe waise bhi court late jaana hai." I said and got up, ignoring her stopping look and joined Dad in the kitchen.
(No, Mom, today you all will eat the aloo parathas made by me. Anyway, I have to leave late for court.)
Dad looked over his shoulder when he saw me walk in. "Arre, why are you here? Go sit, beta," he said, though there was a small smile tugging at his lips.
"I want to cook today, Dad." I insisted, already tying my hair up into a loose bun. "And besides, you look like you could use some help."
He chuckled softly, handing me the bowl of boiled potatoes. "You know your mom will still hover behind you to check the salt," he teased.
"That is okay," I laughed, rolling my sleeves up, "she will remind me of Radhika but I'm still making them."
I kept the potatoes to boil and began kneading the dough and once both of that was done, I mashed the potatoes, mixing in chopped onions, chillies and masala.
When I began rolling out the first paratha, I caught Maa watching from the corner of her eye. "Aloo thoda aur dalna, beta," she murmured, and I nodded, smiling.
(Some more filling, beta.)
By the time Vihaan walked into the kitchen, he was already dressed in one of his usual dark suits, crisp white shirt perfectly tucked in and cufflinks. His tie was still loose around his collar and his hair was slightly damp, just out of the shower.
He paused at the doorway, his gaze landing on me as I rolled out the last paratha.
"Aaj tum apni biwi ke haath ke parathe khao." Dad said and I immediately looked away from him.
(Today, you eat the parathas made by your wife.)
Mom dragged him and Dad to the dining table and Vihaan had just finished setting the plates while I brought the casserole out and served everyone.
"Shivanya beta isse tasty parathe maine nahi khaaye aaj tak." Dad said, dipping it in dahi.
(Shivanya beta, I've never had parathas this tasty before.)
"Sach mein beta, itne tasty toh mujhse bhi nahi bante, mujhe sikhaogi?" Mom asked and now I felt a little embarrassed.
(Truly, beta, even I can't make them this tasty, will you teach me?)
"Please Mom, aap jitna tasty khana banati ho, mujhe seekhna hai aapse." I replied, meaning every word of it. She really is a great cook.
(Please, Mom, I want to learn from you. The food you cook is so much tastier than mine.)
Vihaan, who'd been silent until now, whispered next to me while Mom and Dad were busy talking about something, "Aap toh aadat hi bigaad dengi meri, Shivanya. Ab roz toh mai apke haath ke aloo parathe toh nahi kha sakta na."
(You will end up spoiling me, Shivanya. I can't eat your aloo parathas every single day now, can I?)
"You'll survive, Mr Raichand." I whispered back, trying to sound teasing.
"Accha Shivanya, beta, I was thinking that we should adopt a dog. What do you think?" Dad asked, out of the blue.
For a moment, I froze. No one had ever asked me this question, ever and this was my favourite one ever to be asked.
"Really? Really dad?" My voice came out higher than I intended, "Yes! Yes, oh my god, yes! I'd love that!"
Dad laughed. "Look at you! You really do want one, don't you?"
"I've always wanted a dog," I said, unable to keep still, "A big one or a small one it doesn't matter! They're all so sweet. I used to beg Maa and Papa to let me bring one home when I was little and I would stop and try to pet every single one on the road! They used to scold me so much for it but I couldn't help it!"
Vihaan looked at me, surprised at first, and then an amused smile spread across his face. "I have never seen you this excited, Sunshine." he murmured, eyes warm.
"I am! I really really really am," I said, turning quickly to Mom too. "Can we really go this weekend? To the shelter? Please, Mom?"
Mom couldn't stop smiling either. "Of course, beta. If it makes you this happy, then why not? But promise me it won't be one of those huge dogs that sheds all over the sofa," she teased gently.
"I promise! Well....maybe. I mean, they're all cute..." I added, my excitement spilling into a laugh.
Dad chuckled, "Done then. Saturday morning, we'll go together. And you two...." he nodded at me and Vihaan "...will pick."
Vihaan, still half-laughing at how animated I was, leaned closer. "Looks like I will not be getting any attention once this dog arrives."
"You won't!" I teased breathlessly, still grinning so wide it almost hurt. "But I'll let you pet him sometimes."
"So generous of you," he murmured back, his tone dry but his eyes, fond.
At last, Vihaan stood, checking his watch. "I should go," he said, grabbing his jacket from the chair.
"Best of luck, beta," Mom said before she and dad walked off to their room.
"Ji, Maa." He smiled, and then turned to me. "I will be getting to the office after this meeting so which I know will not end before lunch so just send a text to me that you have reached back?"
"Will do. Bye!" I replied with a smile.
And then, just before stepping away, he did something I was totally not expecting. He bent slightly, his hand brushing a little against my shoulder and said, "Drive safe, Shivanya."
My breath caught, but before I could answer, he was already stepping back, adjusting his cufflinks and headed to the door.
My heart was still fluttering, but I forced myself to look at the clock. Medacare. Big trial. Focus, Shivanya!!
I walked back to my room and opened the wardrobe, reaching automatically for my white shirt, black formal trousers and the black blazer I wore on every trial day. In the mirror, I fixed my hair into a neat low ponytail, checked the symmetry and then straightened my collar band.
I bid mom and dad goodbye and left. Vihaan had left the keys to the car he had got for me which I hadn't even seen yet on the dresser but I was totally not going to drive a new car when I was nervous, even if slightly.
By the time I reached the court, it was already fifty minutes past ten. I parked in the lot reserved for advocates, draped my black robe over my shoulders and walked toward Courtroom No. 4.
Outside, waiting by the wooden bench under the neem tree, stood Ananya, a final-year law student interning under in the firm for the past six months.
"Ma'am!" she called, standing up a little too quickly, nearly dropping the bundle of papers in her hand.
"Good morning, Ananya," I said, smoothing the robe over my shoulders. "Everything ready?"
"Yes, ma'am," she said, a little breathless. "I've kept the annexures in order. Plaint copy, written statement, rejoinder, list of documents and the medical reports. Also, I marked the judgments you wanted to cite in yellow and the ones we might need for rebuttal in pink."
"Good," I nodded, taking the file from her to check. "And the second copy of everything?"
"Here," she said quickly, handing me another set.
I smiled, just slightly. "You're learning."
Then we walked inside. She relaxed a bit, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Thank you, ma'am."
She whispered, "Ma'am, should I go sign the appearance memo?"
"Yes, and give it to the reader before the matter is called," I said. "And tell the client representative to keep his phone on silent."
She nodded and hurried away.
I stepped forward, adjusting the band under my collar and placing the file on the table before the judge's dais. The stenographer was setting up, and the court master sorted through the day's cause list.
The judge was in within ten minutes too.
The court master read aloud, "Item No. 14, Medacare Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra & Others."
I stepped forward. "May it please Your Lordship. Shivanya Raichand, learned counsel for the petitioner."
Mr. Khanna added, "Shailesh Khanna, learned counsel for Respondent No. 2."
The judge nodded. "Yes, Adv. Raichand. Please proceed."
"My Lord, this is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, seeking quashing of the FIR registered against the officers of Medacare Pharmaceuticals in relation to alleged contraventions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The FIR, we respectfully submit, is malafide and an abuse of the process of law." I emphasised.
I flipped the file open, the yellow tabs crisp against the paper. "My Lord, at page 42, we have annexed the central lab report which clearly shows that the disputed batch of medicine met all required standards. The entire prosecution is based solely on a complaint from a single distributor with whom there was a separate civil dispute."
Justice Sharma raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying the criminal process is being used to settle a commercial dispute?"
"Yes, My Lord," I said. "In State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, the Hon'ble Supreme Court laid down illustrative grounds where an FIR can be quashed, including where it is manifestly attended with malafides and has been instituted with an ulterior motive."
Mr. Khanna rose, "My Lord, if I may?"
The judge gestured. "Yes, Mr. Khanna."
"With respect, the petitioner's argument ignores the statutory procedure under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The prosecution is based on samples collected and tested in the government lab. The report the petitioner relies upon is a private report and cannot override the statutory report."
I interjected gently, "My Lord, the statutory report was itself contradicted by the retest the investigating officer failed to conduct, despite specific request, which is mandatory under Section 25(3) of the Act."
Justice Sharma leaned back slightly. "Let me see that request."
I handed it over. "At page 67, My Lord. The request letter dated 14.02.2025, which was never replied to by the investigating agency."
Mr. Khanna flipped through his file, frowning.
The judge read silently, then looked up. "Mr. Khanna, the right to retesting is indeed a statutory right under the Act. Non‑compliance can vitiate prosecution."
Mr. Khanna hesitated. "My Lord, I will need to seek instructions."
Justice Sharma nodded once. "Very well. List this matter on next Friday for further arguments. In the meantime, the investigating officer shall file an affidavit explaining why the request for retesting was not acted upon."
He glanced at me. "Adv. Raichand, you may file a brief synopsis before the next date."
"Much Obliged, My Lordship," I said, stepping back.
This was going to be a long case.
"Ananya, I was you to summarise everything happened today and mail it to be by the end of the day." I said as she sat in the car and I drove to work.
She nodded, her expression still half‑excited, half‑relieved. "Okay, ma'am."
Back at the office, I pushed the cabin door open, set my black robe neatly on the back of the chair, and placed the bundle of papers on my desk. There was so much to do, finish up the merger draft proposal, work on the notice, work for the Friday's arguments and what not.
Without thinking, I switched on the laptop, opened a new document and started typing.
One page turned into three, then five. I made corrections, moved paragraphs around, checked the citations twice and then after a quick lunch, I got back to typing again.
When I finally did look up, stretching my neck, the sun outside had already begun to set.
And then...I saw him and yelped a little due to shock.
He is so so sneaky!
Vihaan, sitting silently across my desk, jacket off, sleeves folded to the elbows, tie loosened. Hair still perfectly in place, but his eyes were fixed on me like he had been watching for a while.
"Aap kabse yahan baithe hain, sir?" I asked, unable to mask my surprise.
(How long have you been sitting here, sir?)
How did I not realise that he had come in and was sitting right opposite me!!
All he did was give me a smile and said, "kya fark padta hai, Shivanya? Maine socha aaj dekh loon ki aap saans liye bina kitni der kaam kar sakti hain."
(What difference does it make, Shivanya? I thought I'd see today how long you can keep working without even stopping to breathe.)
"Aap bata dete na ki aa gaye hain." I replied, tucking a loose strand of hair at the back of my ear.
(You could have told me that you were here.)
"Where would have been the fun in that, Sunshine? At least, I caught you by surprise." He said, now sitting up straight.
I shook my head, "It's not very interesting to watch someone stare at a screen."
"It is," he said, his voice low. "Because it is you."
"Sir, why do you keep flirting with me in the office? You do know that you are the boss here, right? That's not very professional." I couldn't help but ask myself.
"Neither is thinking about you all day," he said, his words quiet but sure. "But I still do."
I blinked a few times as I looked at him and then, away, in a desperate attempt to hide my face that was turning a little pink in front of him.
I cleared my throat, still not meeting his eyes. "Medacare went well today," I blurted out, a little too quickly.
He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching but he didn't press, only leaned back in the chair, arms folded, still looking entirely too amused. "And the client? Satisfied?"
I nodded.
Vihaan's gaze softened a little. "Of course they were. You argue very well."
I felt my lips curve into a small, involuntary smile. "Thank you."
"Tell me more." He pressed and I was more than happy to fill the details in.
I was almost done when his phone went off. Vihaan silenced the call without even checking who it was, then looked back at me.
"Sorry. You were saying?"
"It's okay," I murmured. "I was just finished, anyway."
He then pushed back his chair, standing up. "I have to go now, there is a client waiting." he said, adjusting his watch. "And before you start scolding me for wasting your time."
"I wasn't going to...." I began, but he only smiled.
"I know," he murmured, voice warm. Then, leaning just a little closer, he added, "Tell me when you are ready to leave, Sunshine."
I nodded at him, again.
With that, he slipped his suit jacket back on and headed for the door.
Just before stepping out, he paused, hand on the knob, and glanced back.
"Shivanya?" He called out my name.
"Yes?"
"You did change the topic. But that is okay, I have a lifetime to flirt with you now." he said, his voice teasing but soft, and before I could react, he was already out the door.
My lips curved into a helpless smile as I turned back to the open document on my laptop, though it took me a good minute to actually remember what I'd been typing before he came in.
At some point, Ananya knocked gently on the door, peeking in. "Ma'am? I've mailed you the summary," she said, holding her notebook close.
"Thank you, Ananya," I said, pulling my focus back to work. "And good work today."
Her face lit up just a little at the praise. "Thank you, ma'am. Should I head out for the day?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Get some rest. We have a long week ahead."
It was past seven when I finally stood, stretching my arms over my head. The muscles in my shoulders ached from sitting too long.
At the elevator, my phone buzzed. It was him.
Vihaan: Done for the day?
Me: Yes. Just locking up. You?
Vihaan: Waiting for you in the lobby downstairs.
I took the elevator down and there he was, leaning against the far marble pillar, hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers, jacket draped over one arm. The first button of his shirt was undone, and his tie hung loose, making him look effortlessly undone in a way that was.....terribly distracting.
He straightened when he saw me, his gaze warm. "Ready, Sunshine?"
"Yes," I managed, and walked towards him.
"Maa just called, she said that dad and her are going to a friend's place for dinner. So do you want you go and have dinner out too or would you like to order in?" He asked me and I laughed.
"Neither, Mr. Raichand. We go home and I cook dinner for both of us." I replied, shrugging as he opened the door for me to sit.
"Only if you let me help." He said.
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't hide my grin. "Fine. You can chop the vegetables."
"Deal," he murmured, closing the door softly behind me.
As he walked around to the driver's side and I still did not fight the smile off my lips.
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