"ishq teri aakhon mein likha
padhne de zara"

AUTHOR'S POV

Ishan and Janhavi were sitting in the court room, waiting for the judge's arrival. They had not talked with each other since previous night and had to come to the court in separate vehicles as suggested by their lawyer. Janhavi eyes were fixed on her lap, while Ishan was stealing glances of her. Shubman was sitting behind Ishan and was looking at both of them suspiciously.

"Thik ho tum?", Ishan asked Janhavi is her ears.

Janhavi nodded in reply.

The judge entered the court and all of them stood up. Generally judges are aged people, but this one would be not more than 30. He gestured everyone to settle down.

The lawyers present in the room greeted the judge.

"Big fan sir", he said to Ishan before sitting down.

Ishan nodded and thanked him.

"So let the case begin. As I can see, both of you want mutual divorce. Is that true?" he asked.

Both of them nodded.

The lawyer got up to say something, but the judge gestured him to sit down. "Gupta ji pehle main usne baat karlu phir aapko jo formalities karni hain wo karenge". The lawyer bowed down and sat.

"How did you guys get married?" He asked.

Ishan looked at Janhavi before speaking, "Actually she was supposed to marry my elder brother. But he eloped before the wedding so we got married instead", he said solemnly.

"Janhavi..Kishan.. so you want to get married to his brother after divorcing him?" the judge asked.

Janhavi nodded her head in a no. Infact she hadn't even thought about Raj in the past few weeks.

"You and his brother were having a love marriage?"

Janhavi again nodded for a no.

"So instead of marrying one stranger, you married another haina? Then why do you want a divorce?" He asked.

Janhavi looked too nervous and was sweating. She had no reply to this question.

"Does he ill-treat you or has an affair with anybody else?"

"No sir", she replied.

The judge's eyes fell on the dark red hickeys which were visible on Ishan's neck. Janhavi had wrapped a dupatta around her neck in this scorching heat. Something was wrong about these two.

"Both of you live separately?"

Before the lawyer could warn them, Ishan said "No, we live in the same house"

"Same room?"

"Same room"

The lawyer swatted his forehead in disappointment.

"So you want a divorce within six months of your marriage, which is obviously not six months because you guys married just a month back. Big fan uk", he said grinning. "It's clearly a case of backdate registry. But I'm not interested in that. I've seen a few couples who have accidental marriage and they literally hate each other. Atleast they do not sleep in the same room. Sachmein aapko divorce chahiye ya phir yuhi you're going with the flow?" he asked being confused.

Getting no reply from both of them, he continued "Did the accidental marriage and it going viral harm your image in any way? That's why you're having this divorce?"

"No no no it's nothing like that!" Ishan said hastily.

"Okay, both of you please give me one proper reason for which you have filed this divorce", he asked smirking at them.

Ishan looked up at him, opened his mouth to reply but then closed again.. not having a proper reply.

Janhavi spoke up, "We have contrasting characters sir, I do not fit into his glamorous world. I like things to be simple"

Nodding slowly he asked again, "So he forces you to fit into his glamorous world?"

"Nothing like that", she replied faintly.

"I've been harbouring a question in my mind for a while, Ishan are you sexually active?"

Before Ishan could reply, the lawyer spoke up, "Sir obviously you would know better than me but I don't think this question is at all necessary or appropriate inside the courtroom"

"Gupta ji, I'm the judge of this courtroom and I'm the one to decide which is inappropriate and which is not"

"Yeh aaj kal ke judges. Kuch aata hi nahi hain inlogo ko", muttered Gupta ji.

"Haan to returning to what I asked, Ishan are you?"

Ishan replied, "No"

"Obviously you won't have a coitus with her but you're sure that not with anybody else?"

"No sir", Ishan replied again being a bit irritated.

"So how did you have those marks on your neck? Don't tell me some insect bit you at so many spots? And the way your wife has wrapped her neck, she seems to have them as well", he said smirking.

Ishan and Janhavi looked at each other and then looked away, without having any reply.

"The court is ready with their decision" the judge stated.

"But sir you didn't even listen to me?", said a frustrated Gupta ji.

"Is their a need? The court does not grant divorce to Mr Ishan Kishan and Mrs Janhavi Kishan. The court also prescribes them to visit a marriage counselor."

"The court is dismissed", and saying so the judge walked out.

Janhavi remained seated, her eyes glistening, while Shubman ran to Ishan to hug him. Ishan sighed in relief. He has not lost his home.

The lawyer walked to Ishan, "Sir you should have answered wisely. Nevertheless, if you want to appeal again then please call me" he left the place in disappointment.

"I'll make sure he deletes your number", muttered Shubman.

"Janhavi?"

"Hmm?"

"Ghar chale?"

"Hmm", she replied sniffing her nose.

"Tum log niklo main bas aata hu", said Shubman and rushed out of the courtroom.

Janhavi got up and tripped on the side of the seat. Ishan reacted quickly and grabbed her hand.

"Laga?", he asked.

"Nahi"

"Always there to hold you", Ishan said bowing in a funny manner.

Janhavi chuckled.

"Haath chodo?", Janhavi said pulling her hand from his grip.

"Aur kabhi nahi", he said tightening his grip.

Both of them came out of the courtroom, holding hands.

On the other hand, Shubman was sitting inside a car with the judge.

"Bhai kya phasaya tune!", exclaimed Shubman.

"Thank you thank you, tere dosto ko samjhana dono pure gawar hain. Aakhon se hi pata chalta hai ki ek dusre ke pyaar mein pagal hain" said the judge.

"Mujhe pata haina, unki baat chodo. Par Ayan dil se thankyou bhai tu nahi hota to kaun judge rehta inhe sachmein divorce karwa deta",said Shubman hugging Ayan.

"Bohot mushkil se mujhe leni padi case, Mishra sir de nahi rahe the",he said smiling.

"Ab bachpan ka dost judge ban gaya to kuch fayeda to lunga na?", Shubman said laughing.

"Thikhai ab tu ja unlogo ke saath"

"Haan Haan, kal 10 baje milna hai. Yaad haina?"

"Bilkul, ab tu ja"

And then, Shubman got out from the car, looking for Ishan and Janhavi.

When he found them standing infront of the court premises holding hands, he couldn't help but smirk at them.

For those who might think it's a very illegal thing, I must say that it's a rule that the couple who demand for a divorce need to stay in separate houses atleast for an year before filing for a divorce. Any judge would have denied the divorce after hearing that they stay together.
Lawyers often lie and makeup things, because obviously the judge won't go and check if they were staying together or not.

Here, the judge being Shubman's friend didn't let the lawyer speak and hence the truth came out. There was enough reason for the divorce to get cancelled. Divorce cases also take place in small courtrooms and the situation in their is not that intense when it's a mutual divorce. So judge often ask questions directly.

I've written this after doing my research so please do not make hate comments 🥲