The Traps of Black Swan

The large courtroom was filled. On either side of the door was the viewer gallery filled with rows of benches. The witnesses and the required speakers were sitting with the assisting legal team. Further inside, the section was divided by railings.

To the right, Nikun, Aarvi, and Aaron were sitting from the plaintiff's side. On the other side was the defendant, James, his assistant, and Leon were sitting. Further inside, there was a witness stand in the center, to the right, there was an empty jury panel, to the left, the cops were standing on guard.

Further inside, there were two tables for a clerk and court reporters and at an upper level, there was a wooden bench for the judge. 

Everyone stood up when a man with a head full of grey silvery hair entered the inside through the door close to the bench. Every wrinkle on his face seemed to be speaking of his experience rather than the age.

His eyes brushed over the crowd. His brows knitted when he saw a half of the view gallery had men in black suits. Shaking his head, he sat down and everyone took their seats.

The judge sorted some papers on his desk very intently. Aarvi was curious who would start first or when it would start. Anyway, she held back curiosity when the question was at the tip of her tongue.

Her eyes fell on her husband who was on her right. He was so serious as if something was going to happen. Her hand slid to his and held him, silently asking him to relax.

Aaron was about to look at her, the clerk stood up after the judge signaled him to start. "The case number XXXXX for the attempt to kidnap and attack is starting under Justice Rowlatt. Identify yourself for the record." The voice was loud and clear. The clerk held the paper and turned to the plaintiff's side.

Nikun rose from his seat, his expression was calm and he hurriedly followed the court session rules. He could feel Aarvi's gaze full of curiosity, just like when she was little and eager to learn new things. It didn't make him nervous, instead boosted him to do better. "Good morning, Your honor. I am Nikun Morris, on behalf of the plaintiff Aarvi Evans."

Then he sat down elegantly and glanced at the woman next to him. She seemed disappointed. He could guess it was because she was expecting something exciting or something she never could think of.

She dropped her shoulders and looked ahead before her face turned cold. Nikun followed her line of sight and noticed Justice Rowlatt nodding in a greeting to James Crawford.

He whispered, "Relax, they might just know each other." One would be a fool to favor another one when both the parties were strong as a rock.

Aarvi nodded in understanding while hearing James Crawford, "Good morning, Your honor. I am James Crawford on behalf of defender Leon Harmon." James took the seat.

The clerk noted down the details and gave the paper to the main judge. Two minutes passed when the Judge went through the allegations on Leon Harmon.

He pulled the microphone up and instructed, "Begin the session." He lifted his head, holding a pen in hand to note down the points.

Nikun stood up with a Pendrive in his hand, "Your honor, my client, Aarvi Evans's husband, Aaron Rivas found a tip-off on Friday night. To be careful and also doubtful, Aaron Rivas sought help from the chief of police for the safety of his wife, Aarvi Evans. Hence the cops were tapping Leon Harmon's mobile."

Nikun cued the court reporter to present the police evidence they had. There was a paper and an audio player. "Leon Harmon has received an international call in the night and the morning. The caller clearly instructed Leon Harmon to clean up when they kidnapped my client." Nikun went towards the court reporter as he continued, "We were able to fetch some video which clearly shows my client was being chased for a long time."

He handed the Pendrive and continued to brief the case, "The Chief of police had provided a lady officer to my client for her safety on the roads. Hence my client was able to escape and the cops caught the kidnappers."

Nikun's fingers played with another Pendrive in his hand and showed it to judge as he continued, "Well, it didn't end there, my client was attacked by Leon Harmon in the shareholders meeting while the cops were informing her it was Leon Harmon who attempted to kidnap her." He gave the Pendrive.

Then he concluded as he walked back towards his place, "Each proof has the actions of Leon Harmon against my client. It's crystal clear that Leon Harmon means harm to my client. I request justice to go through the evidence and bring justice to my client. Thank you."

The next ten minutes went silently while the judge went through each proof. Then the judge turned to the captain who was in charge of the case, "Captain, are these proof authentic?"

The captain who was in uniform stepped from and bowed, "Your honor, The proofs are authentic and Leon Harmon is caught red-handed."

The judge gave a nod at the captain and turned to James Crawford, "Does the Defendant side have anything to say?" He gave the green flag to start the battle.

"Yes, your honor." James Crawford stood up with ultimate confidence.

Nikun whispered to Aarvi, "All the best." He smirked. He wanted to see if James would still dare to call himself the master of words after facing Aarvi.

James Crawford started by stating a law, "Your honor, we have studied Newton's third law. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If we have to judge the reaction of my client, then we shouldn't miss the actions behind that reaction." He tried to set the mood right, which was very important.

Justice Rowlatt deadpanned, "Come to the point."

James didn't bother about it as he had expected, "I would like to ask a few questions to Aarvi Evans."

The clerk stood up after the judge gave him a signal, "Aarvi Aaron Rivas, please come to the witness stand."

Aarvi was surprised to hear her name and turned to Aaron with a bright smile. The latter rubbed her head, "Go…" He had promised her to give his name and Nikun had dealt with it just last Friday. Although she was still Aarvi Evans, legally, she could write her name as Aarvi Aaron Rivas or Mrs. Aarvi Rivas

In the viewers' gallery, Shawn facepalmed getting dog food everywhere.

Aarvi forgot the call and demanded, "I want to change the passport too."

Nikun: "..."

The clerk repeated by taking her maiden's name, "Aarvi Evans, please come to the witness stand."

Aaron stood up pulling her up with him. He guided her to pass through his chair as he whispered, "Yes. Cupcake." She happily went to the witness stand. 

The rest who had no idea couldn't understand what made her so happy. As if infected, many smiled looking at her, including Justice Rowlatt. If the session wasn't a criminal case, the justice probably would have asked looking at her happy in the courtroom, but he controlled.

The clerk asked her from his place, "Mrs. Rivas, Do you solemnly affirm that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, under pains and penalties of perjury?"

Nikun had already told her how the case might go and what James might be planning. His first plan was to prove her as a liar and put charges on her for lying in front of justice.

She swore a second thought, "I Aarvi Aaron Rivas, solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

The clerk sat down and James came forward, "Mrs. Rivas, how did you know the kidnap was planning against you?"

Aarvi answered the question, "My husband let me know."

"How did your husband get to know?"

"We would like to keep it a secret to keep the person safe from any kind of danger."

James turned to the judge immediately, "Your honor, how could we trust Mrs. Rivas's words? She might have planned the attack and trapped my client."

"I object, Your honor." Nikun's voice suddenly boomed behind her, almost causing her to jump due to his sharp voice.

"Objection sustained." Judge Rowlatt allowed him to speak.

Nikun warned James without batting an eyelid, "Advocate Crawford, if you don't have proof, you should be careful about your words. And coming to trapping your client, he isn't a child who doesn't understand. If he agreed to the kidnapping of my clients, it means he shares half the responsibilities of the mastermind."

'Oh ho, Brother Nick is so cool.' Aarvi openly admired him.

Sean in the viewers' section noticed her reaction to Nikun's counter. He was even more determined to work hard and earn her recognition.

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