That One Case
Ana Florence
paced the garden that grandly decorated the front of the judicial court. If it
wasn’t for the case, she would have sat down on the bench and enjoyed this very
scene. But, right now, the only thing that played her mind was, this case. Her
lawyer, mercifully, had pretty much convinced the judge of her being guilty.
“I think it’s
time for us to go in”. Mr. Florence quipped, looking at his watch then at the
court’s entrance door, but not at his daughter. He just didn’t have enough
strength.
Ana looked at
her father, she had never seen him this depressed. He was the source of her
strength, but now he looked devastated, almost…. dead. And she was not going to
make him even more miserable.
She pulled out
her phone and dialed a number.
~*~
Half an hour
later, Ana, standing in the witness box, still looked guilty.
“Your Honor, Ms.
Florence does not have any proof that Mr. Baron really did attempt to harass
her. But it might be that Ms. Florence could be trying to exploit Mr. Baron of
his money, given his grandeur status. In conclusion, You Honor, I would like to
say that my client has been proven innocent and I would request the court to drop
all the charges applied against him”. Mr. Baxley bowed and concluded his
statement.
Ana looked at
the defendant… it was now or never….
“Your Honor, honestly
speaking, I have no idea if I could speak now or not, but may I?”, Ana asked faking
in a slight hesitation.
The judge looked
at Ana for a few seconds, but nodded.
“May I speak
directly to Mr. Baxley?”
The judge nodded
again.
“Thank you, Your
Honor…. Mr. Baxley, Do you own a house?”
The defendant
looked at the judge, confused and then back at Ana.
“Yes”
“And I take it
that you like-… sorry love your house?”
“Of Course, who
doesn't?”
Ana pasted a
smile and said, “Not many. Now, do have a family? Kids?”
Mr. Baxley
turned towards the judged. “Your Honor, these questions are irrelevant to the
case. We are-“
“My apologies, I
haven’t studied law, Your Honor. So, I wouldn’t know what to ask or how to ask.
I thoroughly apologize for that again. But, Your Honor, these questions are relevant to this case”
“Proceed”. The
judge mentioned his agreement.
“Thank you, Your
Honor. Now, Mr. Baxley?, Do you have a family or not?”
“Yes, I have. A
very happy one”, Ana smiled.
“Congratulations.
And you don’t have any problems sleeping at night?”
Mr. Baxley
started laughing. “No. I sleep soundly every night”
“Very nice to
know. Now, with your permission, I would like to place you in a hypothetical
situation, one, of your house getting burgled. Do I have your consent?”
Mr. Baxley had stopped laughing. “What is
this?”
“Its all
hypothetical, Mr. Baxley, you don’t have to worry. Do I have your consent?”,
Ana repeated her question.
Mr. Baxley
looked pointedly at Ana, but gave a nod.
“Thank you. Now,
if your house is getting burgled, what would you do?”
“I’d call the
police”
“Right, but the
thieves won’t be waiting until the police turn up, would they?. It would be
utter foolishness of them”. The court heard a few laughs at this.
“What do you
think, they would do, Mr. Baxley? Run? Stick around?... or murder?
“They would
obviously run”
“But you
wouldn't be alive when they do that, am I right?”
Mr. Baxley
shifted on his feet and said, “No”
“Of course not.
Now, since it’s a hypothetical case, let’s just say, you fought them as a hero
and somehow miraculously survived. The burglars ran for their lives, empty
handed. Later, the police come in and investigate. You have everything at its
rightful place, nothing has been moved nor have the doors been broken or any of
the glasses shattered, just you standing there with a club and a few injuries.
And for the sake of ease, we will keep your family at your mother’s house
happily enjoying their vacation. Now, if the police see you in such a
situation, what do you think they would say?”
“They will
surely ask what has happened. And I would inform them about the attempted
burglary”
Ana folded her
arms across her chest. “Huh. But what about the proof? If thieves really
entered your house, then why hasn't anything been taken? Why is it just you
with few injuries?”.
“I would have already told them. I fought!!”
The court room
had suddenly gone very silent.
“Of course, you
fought. But without proof, it’s just another story. When they enquire about
your family and find them on vacation, there is a tiny possibility that, they
think of you as a lunatic who is trying to waste their precious time”
“I was hurt!!
Why would I have injuries, if it wasn’t for a burglary attempt?”, Mr. Baxley
accused.
“A person with
mental problems hurts himself, Mr. Baxley”
“I’m not mental”
“Maybe, but as
there’s no proof…. it might all be in your imagination”
Mr. Baxley’s
point of patience had reached its peak.
“I’M NOT MENTAL.
DID YOU WANT ME TO SAVE MY OWN NECK OR GATHER PROOF ABOUT BEING LOOTED?”
Ana smiled, a
smile saying that she had heard what she wanted to hear.
“Exactly”
Mr. Baxley
looked at her confused.
“Doesn't seem
fair though? You wanted to “save your own
neck”, so you fought the crooks, without actually waiting to get any proof.
But, when I complain of being harassed, you wanted me to actually have some proof
rather than saving myself?”
And now, there
was no stopping Ana. Her face was lit with anger and disappointment at the
injustice being done.
“When Mr. Baron,
as per your statement, “graced” by,
you wanted me to pull out my phone and take a video of it instead of defending
myself?, A video, which so innocently, I hand in to the police, when I try to
lodge a complaint. A video, that worms itself out to the internet, despite my
phone getting sealed. A video, which people like you, expertly find it later”
“Watch your
tongue, Madam”. Mr. Baxley had become very serious now.
Ana scoffed and
rolled her eyes. She looked back at the defendant and opened her mouth to speak
again, but closed it. She tried again, but failed. The fury of injustice was
burning inside her. Finally, she controlled herself and spoke.
“You know what?
I understand. I understand completely about how this works. I become your
victim. I go to the police, who are nowhere interested in taking down my
complaint, but do so, just to show off their duties. And then I hire a lawyer,
who doesn't even try to fight my case and leave the case to people like you to
make me look guilty. And to top all that a judge sits there, who’s probably
been bribed to write the case against me. That way, I go back to my life, to
get treated as a cheap woman who walks the streets, while your client walks out
free… unscathed. See, I understand… Completely”
Mr. Baxley
looked at the judge, who tried to sit more comfortable in his chair and then
back at Ana.
“As you said,
it’s all hypothetical”. He went and sat in his chair.
~*~
After a break of
two hours, Ana and her father waited for the judgment in the court room, a
small ray of hope shimmering, now that she had fought her case thoroughly.
The judge
ordered for silence.
“After careful
evaluation of the provided situation, the court has come to a final judgment.
After listening to the statements and proofs provided by the defendant and the
prosecutor, this court has come to the conclusion that, Ms. Florence had indeed
over reacted to the situation and had attacked Mr. Baron. And as a result, she
would have to pay for all the medical expenses, until Mr. Baron has been
declared fit by his concerned doctor. Mr. Baron has been declared innocent and
Ms. Florence’s accusation’s mute. Case adjourned.”
Ana sat there,
motionless, unbelieving. Her father put a hand on her shoulder, but she neither
recognized it nor felt it. Her lawyer had walked up to her and said he was
sorry, but none of that fell on her ears. Is
this how the court system worked? Is there no place for justice? Is that fair
lady really that blind?
Mr. Florence
slowly pulled her daughter up and walked her out.
~*~
Judge Roland
reached his house, wiping a sweat off his brow. He was welcomed by a sweet smile
from his wife. She took his coat and bag and went to place it in its right
place.
“Where’s Lia?
Can’t hear her crying?”, he said with a smile dancing on his face.
“She’s sleeping.
It’s been quite a time, now that you mention it”. The pressure cooker’s whistle
was heard in the kitchen. The wife indicated the judge to look at the baby,
while she took care of the dinner. The judge smiled and went in to Lia’s room.
There in a small crib, lay curled under the blankets, his precious source of
happiness. He went closer to her, to see her lovely smiling face looking up at
him. But he couldn’t find her. He pulled the blankets a little lower, thinking
she might have curled up inside, but no… she wasn’t there either. Confused, he
pulled the blankets completely off…… but instead of finding his granddaughter,
he found a small neatly folded paper. The judge picked it up and read.
Hope she was worth the
bribe
