My hands tremble as I reach for door handle and twist it open. They group stops talking and Rohan looks up and my expression must have told him what I was thinking because he drops his smile and gets up as he walks towards me.

"Tell me what I overhead was not what is looked like," I whisper as clutch his wrists.

"Of course it's not like that, you know I would never,"

"Then explain to me what it exactly it Ro,"

"Calm down baby, I'll tell you all the details, just calm down will you?"

It was when he mentioned that I realised I was shaking and I try to calm down as much as I can. Rohan settles me in a chair and kneels down in front of me, cradling my face as he leans forward until my forehead touches his.

"You okay?"

I nod my head and take a deep breath and leaning away from him, staring at the people in the room. Apart from the employees there's only one stranger, who must be Aarush. He offers me a small smile and turns away from me.

"Right, so Sanjana, meet my friend Aarush, and Aarush meet my wife, Sanjana,"

"Hi," I say.

"Why don't I explain the whole situation? It'll be much easier that way," Aarush offers and my husband nods his head.

"Right so, in my office, there's someone who's always liked me, her name is Kavyal, I didn't like her at all, well not like she's not beautiful but I didn't find my person in her so I've told her off on several occasions. She continued being touchy, even around my 4 year old daughter, Tanaya. She's even gone to the extent of telling my daughter that she's her mother. So when I found out, I confronted her for this and of course like all the other times, she was not happy with what happened, so imagine my surprise when the next day, I find her in my living room, with bare minimum clothes, bruises all over her body accusing me of raping her,"

"Okay I'm not even sorry for asking this, but how do I know you're not lying?"

"I have a camera in my living room, because I work a 9 to 5 job and my daughter stays alone at home all the time, I keep a camera in the living room and her room so I can monitor her, you know the fears of a single parent,"

"Can I see the footage please?"

He shows me the footage and it clearly looks like Aarush has passed out on the couch of their living room and she somehow magically appears in the living room.

"Urmm... pause that video for a second,"

"Yeah,"

"How did she get in?"

"That is what I've not been able to wrap my head around,"

"Aarush you do know how nonsensical that sounds right?"

"I know, God I know, but I really haven't done anything to her, I haven't touched a woman since my baby girl was born Sanjana, and if I want I would have given into her advances right? Why would I go to the extent of raping her?"

"She does look injured though,"

"That is the least of our concerns,"

"How can you say that Rohan? Maybe she was raped? This video neither proves Aarush to he guilty nor does it show that he's done nothing, so how can you trust him so easily? Just because he's your friend? And no Aarush I don't hate you, but I'm skeptical of everything, every man to be precise because it takes me a lot to trust men, so please don't be offended,"

"Sanjana, you do know that some women make baseless accusations on men,"

"And you just don't come to that judgement without checking all the facts right?"

"Sanjana stop being irrational, I know men rape women but not every time is a man guilty right? Some times there are false accusations too!"

"And on what basis have you justified that Aarush is not guilty?"

"He has a four year old daughter!"

"And? My rapist has a 3 month old child,"

"That's..."

"That's different?"

"Stop putting words in my mouth Sanjana, you know that's not what I wanted to say, and not everything is about a man being wrong! Just because you have encountered wrong men doesn't mean everyone is wrong,"

"Well then what did you want to say?" I ask, completely ignoring his piercing comment.

"I--"

"And how can you verify for the fact that his story is true and that there is no second side to the story, Rohan I thought you were better than this,"

"Don't question my credibility, Sanajna!" Rohan snaps angrily.

"I'm out of here Rohan, I really don't want to have a fight with you over a stranger, here's your lunch," I murmur as I place the lunch box on the table.

"And I'm sorry if all I've experienced is wrong men and if I can't help but question everyone's intentions, sorry for my trust issues Rohan," I tell him and his face crumbles as he registers my words.

"And you," I say, addressing Rohan's friend. "I'll be watching you and the moment I find anything fishy, you're dead, so better watch your back."

I am out of the room before anyone can even say anything. God fucking dammit. I really should have waited until everyone was out and Rohan had eaten his lunch. But I will myself not to feel guilty over being rational. I was rational, without proper proof, he couldn't really just agree to take on a case just because that Tom dick and Harry is his friend.

°

"Sanju! What a pleasant surprise," mom says as she tackles me in a hug.

"Nice to see you too mom," I whisper as I tighten my arms around her before releasing her, only to be tackled in another hug.

"Hi babu,"

"Hi papa,"

I hold him much longer than my mom. Mom clearly knows how much I appreciate and adore my dad because she let's me hold him for a few more minutes before joining in and ruffling my hair.

"It's so good to have you home, where's your husband?"

"Office, he has some work and I was planning to come here anyways,"

"Good you came here, I was missing you a lot,"

"I thought you were angry at me,"

"Right, ahem, of course I'm angry," dad says as he clears his throat and the crosses his arms over the chest as he tries to look angry.

"You can never be angry now can you? Anger just doesn't suit you," mom says as she shakes her head.

"Hey! I look angry, look at this,"

His sorry excuse for a scowl only makes us laugh as we take in his appearance. Dad pouts and stomps his feet before leaving us alone.

I laugh at his antics and then look at my mom, only to find her staring at me with narrowed eyes.

"What mom?"

"Why are you really here?"

"I missed you guys, I wanted to meet you,"

"The real reason Sanju,"

"Mom,"

"Sanju,"

"We got into an argument,"

"You chose flight?!"

"Mom, I really didn't want to fight with him, you know I don't like fighting with the people I love,"

"Was he right?"

"I don't know,"

"Were you right?"

"I don't know,"

"Will you atleast tell me?"

"Nahi,"

"You going to be staying over tonight?"

"I think so," I reply sheepishly.

She shakes her head and walks into the kitchen. I go into my room and lie down on the bed only to fall asleep as soon as I hit the mattress.

The ringing of my phone woke me up and I groan as I decline the call and get comfortable under the comforter. The phone starts ringing again and I grumbled as I answer the phone.

"What?!"

"You're coming to my hearing tomorrow right? Even though you've had an argument..."

"Of course I'm coming,"

"Sanju--"

"Monica, if you're about to lecture me please don't, I really don't want to listen to it,"

"Just answer one of my question okay? And then you can end the call,"

"Ask,"

"What is someone falsely accused Rohan?"

"Rohan would never--" I pause.

"I rest my case here Sanju, maybe you should take your own answer into consideration before judging everyone, and I'm sorry if I sound wrong,"

I end the call before I even say bye. Fuck.

I'm probably gonna go take a break again. I just haven't felt like doing anything and so haven't written any more chapter over the week for this book.

Asso, that's me and a dog on some beach.