Justice At Court : Chapter 23

"Huh!? You twisted his hand!?" Jyotimani's jaws dropped and eyes almost bulged out while listening to the last night's incident.

"It was not my fault, Jyoti," Lavanya whined like a guilty kid. "Who asked him to come too close to me with that blanket?!" She huffed.

"Sister, he is your husband and it's normal for a husband to take care of his wife." Jyotimani chuckled while combing Lavanya's wet, long hair.

"Why would he care about me? It's not that he is deeply in love with me." Lavanya rolled her eyes while sitting on the couch.

"Sister, tell me something, isn't he your childhood friend?" Jyotimani asked while taking care of Lavanya's hair.

"Yes, he is," Lavanya replied interestingly.

"Then he is taking care of his friend. What's wrong with this?" Jyotimani asked?

"I feel bad for him." Lavanya pouted while feeling guilty for twisting her husband's hand. "I should have opened my eyes first but I just twisted his hand. After all, he was trying to help me."

"Well, did you two sleep together after that?" Jyotimani asked excitedly while trying to dry her hair.

"I slept on the bed and he slept on the couch," Lavanya informed while her fingers ran through her half wet and half dry hair.

"Why?" Jyotimani wailed as if all her beautiful dreams went in vain.

"What why?!" Lavanya glared at Jyotimani. "Still now I didn't forget about our first night's incident. He asked me neither to show my face nor get closer to him." Her expressions turned into a grim one. "Do you expect me to forgive him that easily? He didn't even say sorry yet."

"Huh?!" Jyotimani's jaws slacked after listening to Lavanya's words. She thought everything was going to be alright after their mission but she never expected that Lavanya was so stubborn. "But princess, didn't you say that he took care of you, he caught you and protected you from falling, he wrapped with you with his cloth? Then...why are you saying that you didn't forgive him yet?"

"Jyotimani, you still don't know how politics work," Lavanya replied in a serious tone while her facial expressions turned into a cold one. "When partners work together, they should take care of each other and avoid offending each other otherwise the mission won't succeed. You already know prince Virendra is very good in politics and he is called the god of war due to his strategies. So he used this move here." She turned towards Jyotimani and looked at her sharply. "Otherwise how can he suddenly change from so rude to so caring just in two days?! That day he behaved rudely with me and now he acted as if he cares for me. It only makes me confirm that he is really very clever while planning his next moves." Her lips curved upwards forming a complacent smile. "And I think I like this quality in him."

"Sister...your words are giving me goosebumps." Jyotimani gulped as an unknown fear appeared in her heart.

"You don't need to be scared, Jyoti." Lavanya chuckled. "This is how things work." She stood up from her seat and walked towards the window. Looking at the morning sun with tenderness in her eyes, she continued, "The world isn't as simple as black and white. Because...the grey color exists and its the most dangerous thing." She sighed and looked at Jyoti.

Why the princess is saying these words!? Yesterday Mahesh said that everything is alright and even prince Virendra is developing feelings for her, then what suddenly happened between them that she is saying these words? Jyotimani's brows got knitted together forming a frown since she couldn't understand the reason behind Lavanya's behavior. "Princess, if prince Virendra apologizes to you, will you forgive him?"

"Yes." Lavanya smiled. "First he needs to apologize to me, right? First, let him apologize then I will surely forgive him." With a sweet smile, she walked towards Jyoti. "With the temper and ego which he had gotten, he isn't going to apologize for any sooner." A chuckle escaped from her lips when her eyes fell on total stunned Jyoti.

"Princess, why are you smiling like that?" Jyoti uttered, being totally confused at Lavanya's changed behavior.

"Because it's going to be great fun." Lavanya wiggled her brows while she took the bangles kept on the table. "Prince Virendra already knows me the best since we are childhood friends. Back then, he always used to tease me and at the end of the day, he used to make it up to me. So he knows what he should do to make it up to me. Even though he became a cold and heartless prince, his behavior towards me is still the same- he loves to tease me." She explained while putting on her bangles. "It only indicates one thing - he is playing hard to get." A smirk crept on her face as she looked at Jyoti. "If he is Prince Virendra, then I am Lavanya. I am too not going to step back this time. Let's see how long this continues."

"Your highness, I thought you were upset about this matter," Jyotimani uttered while helping Lavanya to wear the jewelry.

"Jyoti, you need to find leisure in every situation, otherwise you will end up crying." Lavanya chuckled while putting on her mangtika.

"Your highness, I have a doubt." Jyotimani asserted while putting the waistband around Lavanya's waist. "What if the woman and the doctor deny that they didn't give those herbs and say that they don't even trust prince Virendra and you?"

"I think today we are going to see a nice drama at the royal darbar," Lavanya smirked. "Prince Virendra and I have already planned a beautiful gift for them that they won't escape without accepting their crimes."

"Your highness, sometimes I feel that I am lucky to have you." Jyotimani chuckled making a braid.

"I think we should go to the darbar hall now." Lavanya smiled.

"Prince Virendra and Princess Lavanya, I gave one day time to both of you to solve this case." The King said in his strict, authoritative tone. "I hope you found a solution."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Virendra and Lavanya said in unison with a gentle smile on their faces.

All the eyes of the entire people present in the royal darbar hall were focussed on Virendra and Lavanya. The man, his wife, his mother, and the doctor were standing in the middle of the massive hall while the man and his wife had sparks of hope in their eyes.

Virendra turned towards the doctor and looked at them coldly. "I am giving you one more chance to explain what exactly had happened. If I prove that you are lying, then you will have to face severe punishments."

"I don't dare to lie, your highness." The doctor bowed to the prince. "I did a checkup on her daughter-in-law last week and my medical knowledge tells that she is pregnant. Since then she has been showing continuous signs of pregnancy. It confirms the only thing i.e she is pregnant."

The man's wife shook her head vigorously while tears rolled down her cheeks. Her lips slightly parted to say something but before she could say anything, her husband held her hand tightly, telling her not to interrupt the prince.

"Well, how are you so sure that they are not symptoms of any underlying disease?" Virendra asked in a cold tone.

"As I said, I already check her health and she is fine. She doesn't have any disease." The doctor said confidently while looking into Virendra's eyes. "My medical knowledge can never be wrong, your highness. Moreover, she wasn't given any medicines or herbal extracts during that time."

This confidence! I hate this confidence in liars. They know that they are lying but still, they are so confident that makes me punish them severely. Virendra's hands were clenched into fists, trying to suppress his anger.

Lavanya glanced at Virendra and she immediately realized that Virendra was losing his temper. I have to interfere now otherwise things will go out of hand. He is already losing his temper. She quickly stood up from her place and walked a few steps towards the victim who was standing in the middle of the darbar hall. "So, do you have to say anything regarding this case?" She asked the man's wife.

"Your highness, I am not pregnant." The woman shook her head while her voice cracked due to excessive crying. "Y-yesterday prince Virendra came to our house along with the royal physician. She checked me and gave me a medicine saying that if I consume it and throw up after 30 minutes, then I am not pregnant. As she said, I threw up after 30 minutes. I am really not pregnant, your highness. Please believe me." She cried bitterly while her husband held trying gently, trying to console her.

"How dare you to lie, your filthy woman!" The man's mother shouted.

"She isn't lying, mother!" The man defended his wife. "Your highness, why aren't you saying anything?" He looked at Virendra with eyes asking for help desperately.

"The man and his wife are saying the truth," Virendra spoke. "I went there yesterday night and confirmed that she isn't pregnant."

"What?" The man's mother blurted out. "How come I didn't know about your arrival, your highness?"

"It's because we went to visit your daughter-in-law during late hours and you already fell asleep at that time." Lavanya asserted. "The royal physician who accompanied Prince Virendra was none other than me. I myself checked her and gave her the medicine which would prove that she isn't pregnant. Both prince Virendra and I waited for 30 minutes and the results showed that she isn't pregnant."

"You waited there?" The man's eyes widened when he heard the words. "But...prince Virendra left after the checkup."

"They had waited there." The man's wife said confidently and walked a few steps forward. "When I was opening the windows in the morning, I found a piece of cloth stuck there. The color of the cloth and the color of the saree which princess Lavanya wore yesterday were the same. At first, I didn't understand how a piece of woman's cloth was stuck there but now I understand that the princess was keeping an eye on us for the results."

"Yes." Lavanya's lips curved upwards forming a gentle smile. "Both prince Virendra and I had to keep an eye secretly on them but unfortunately my saree got stuck there and it left evidence that we visited her yesterday."

"There is no such medicine to prove that she isn't pregnant, your highness." The doctor said.

"Vaidh Ji, how are you so sure about this? I have heard that you are one of the best doctors of Maheswari. Then how come you don't know about this?!" Lavanya's facial expressions turned into a grim one as she walked towards the doctor. "Bring that herb." She glanced at Jyotimani and the latter walked towards her with a herb in her hand. "Thank you," Lavanya said gently and she took that herb. "Vaidh Ji, do you know this herb?" She asked, showing it to the doctor.

"This isn't any special herb, your highness." The doctor said casually.

"Wrong, vaidh Ji," Lavanya said while her piercing gaze was fixed on that doctor. "This is the herb which when consumed shows the symptoms of pregnancy, isn't it?" She glanced at the man's mother who seemed to look perplexed. With a smug smile, Lavanya averted her gaze to the doctor. "You are a learned woman. How come you don't know about this special herb?"

"Your highness, I have heard that you have no knowledge about literature. Then how come you know about medicine?" The doctor challenged Lavanya while looking straight into her eyes with strong composure.

"How dare you to challenge Princess Lavanya?!" The Queen stood up from her seat while her voice echoed in the entire darbar hall.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry." Lavanya turned towards the Queen and smiled gently. "I need to explain something." She said and turned her gaze to the doctor. "Vaidhji, I agree that I don't know anything about literature, but...I have studied medicine since I was a child. My mother had medical knowledge which is equal to a doctor. So I learned it from her. After my mother passed away, I had to learn medicine since I had to take care of my family. My father is the general of the army of Maheswari. So to attend his injuries, I had to study medicine." She explained with confidence in her voice which left each and every person awestruck who was present in the royal darbar. "Coming to the point, the man's mother gave the herbal extract of this herb to her daughter-in-law since a week. So she developed symptoms of pregnancy. Moreover, she told me that she has been eating sour items like tamarind, lemon more than her usual limit. So due to acidity, she may have thrown up a few times. But this woman and the doctor had assumed that she is pregnant." Lavanya's voice rose a bit at the ending of the sentence. "So, it is clear that the man's mother wasn't happy with her son's marriage. So she wants to destroy their marriage by showing that her daughter-in-law is pregnant with another man's child. Am I wrong?" She glared at the man's mother.

"Y-your h-highness, why w-would I do s-so?" The woman's voice trembled. "I-I didn't d-do anything. P-please believe me, y-your highness."

Lavanya narrowed her eyes a bit while her upper and lower teeth were pressed tightly, trying to control her anger. "Lady, did you bring what I have told you?" She looked at the man's wife.

"Yes, your highness." The man's wife eagerly nodded and took out a small bottle containing a green liquid. "Here." She extended her hands so that Lavanya could take the bottle.

"Thank you." Lavanya smiled and continued. "So, do you know this medicine?" She asked while holding the small bottle in front of the man's mother.

The woman's eyes widened as if they would pop out of her sockets which clearly showed that she knew what it was. "I-I d-don't know." She shook her head.

"Great." Lavanya chuckled darkly. "Let me help you to remember. It's the extract of the herb which you gave to your daughter-in-law in the morning. I already guessed that you would give her this medicine to her so I asked her not to drink but to bring in the royal darbar." Lavanya looked at Virendra and the latter understood her signal.

"Summon the royal physician to the court," Virendra ordered and within few minutes, the lady doctor arrived in the darbar hall.

"Greetings, your majesty." The physician bowed to the King and the Queen.

"Please do check the composition of the medicine which princess Lavanya is holding. We want the results as soon as possible." Virendra said in a deep voice.

"As you wish, your highness." The physician took the bottle if medicine from Lavanya's hands and went to her chambers.

Meanwhile, Lavanya and Virendra returned to their seats. After a few minutes, the physician came with the bottle.

"Your Majesty, this bottle contains the herbal extract which when consumed, it shows the symptoms of pregnancy." The physician explained.

Lavanya stood up. "Lady, how did you get this medicine?" She asked in a gentle voice so that the man's wife won't fear her.

"My mother-in-law gave this in the morning saying that it will give me strength. She has been giving this to me since a week." The woman said in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, it proves that the man's mother is giving this medicine since a week so that she would develop the symptoms of pregnancy." Virendra asserted. "This isn't a common medicine. Without the help of a doctor, it's impossible for her to give her daughter-in-law this medicine. It only indicates that the doctor is also involved in this."

"Vaidh Ji, what's your opinion regarding this?" The King asked the royal physician.

"Your Majesty, what prince Virendra is saying is right. Only those who studied medicine have an idea about this herb. Without the help of a doctor, it's impossible for her to give the woman this medicine." The royal physician explained.

"Will you still deny your crime?" Lavanya growled, making the doctor and the woman flinch.

"Y-your highness, please forgive me." The doctor fell on her knees. "I know I did crime by helping this woman. I gave her the herb which will show the symptoms of pregnancy when it's consumed. But I had no other option."

"Why you didn't have an option?" The Queen asked while annoyance was clear on her face.

"M-my son is ill and my medical knowledge isn't enough to cure him." The doctor cried. "I tried everything to cure him but it's not working. He is my only son and my husband died years ago. I was crying over my fate when this woman came and told me that she would give me huge money for the treatment of my child but I have to help her. At first, I didn't agree with her..." She hiccupped while continuing her words. "But as a mother, I couldn't control myself but accept this offer. I am regretting now. I am sorry."

"How should I believe your words?" The Queen inquired of the doctor. "The one who confidently lies can make stories very well."

"Your Majesty, please believe me." The doctor cried bitterly.

"She is saying the truth." Virendra interfered. "I did a background check on her and what she saying is truth."

"Won't you surrender?" Lavanya glared at the man's mother. "Your partner already surrendered and accepted her mistake."

"No! I won't surrender because I know what I did isn't wrong." The woman bit back. "This woman isn't suitable for my son. She didn't give any dowry while getting married and even my son opposes me now. She is an evil witch."

"Mother!" The man shouted. "You already did a big mistake by trying to separate me from her and now you are criticizing her!?"

"Silence!" King growled, making everyone go silent.

"Your Majesty, it's proved that the woman is not pregnant and her mother-in-law is the real culprit behind all this," Lavanya said in a gentle voice.

"Queen Gayatri Devi, what do you think about the punishment?" The King looked at the Queen.

"Please, Your Majesty...please spare me." The doctor cried.

"The title of doctor should be removed from her name and she should stop the practice of medicine." The Queen said in a firm voice, indicating that she wouldn't change her decision no matter what.

"Your Majesty...how will I survive then? Please don't give me such a high punishment. I have to look after my son." The doctor sobbed.

"I didn't finish my words yet!" Gayatri Devi snarled. "She will stop the practice of medicine but she will start teaching to the children who are interested in learning medicine. She will be given enough gold coins for the treatment of her son but she won't receive any help from royal physicians." She looked at the crying doctor. "Starting to teach isn't an easy task since you don't have any student and you have to find the students all by yourself." She averted her gaze to the King. "I think this punishment is enough for her."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness. I promise I will go away from this city and will lead a simple life as a teacher. Thank you so much for thinking about my son." The doctor bowed repeatedly.

A smile appeared on the Queen's face. "Your Majesty, I think you should do justice now."

The King nodded a bit before averting his gaze at the culprit. "This woman will leave the house forever and will live somewhere away from the couple." He declared.

"Your Majesty! Please don't..." The woman blurted out, unable to bear the shocking announcement. "Please don't keep me away from my son. I cannot live without him. I love him very much. Please have mercy on me."

"Well, I will ask your son then." The King said without any expressions. He averted his gaze to the man. "What punishment should we give to your mother?"

"The punishment you gave to her is indeed less." The man gritted his teeth. "I thought you would lock her up in the dungeon."

"What are you saying? She is your mother." The man's wife interfered. "Your Majesty, I agree with your decision."

"Your Majesty, I too agree with your decisions," Saanvi said in an expressionless way followed by Karthik.

"Do the courtiers accede to my decision?" The King asked in an authoritative voice.

"We agree." The courtiers said in unison.

"Great." The King uttered. "So this is the punishment of this woman. The court is adjourned."

The King looked at the courtiers and then walked out of the gall in a majestic way followed by the Queen. Soon everyone left the Queen except Lavanya, Virendra, and Karthik. The couple looked at Lavanya as if she was their savior.

Lavanya walked towards the couple and smiled at them. "Keep supporting each other. This is one of your toughest tests to prove your love and I am glad that both of you succeed in this." She looked at the woman. "I am happy that your husband didn't leave you alone in this tough situation."

"Your highness, your husband too didn't leave you while helping us." The woman smiled, making Lavanya look at her with surprise in her eyes. "Why are you so surprised, your highness. Yesterday I guessed that the royal physician is you but I wasn't sure."

"H-how did you guess?" Lavanya's jaws slacked listening to the woman's words.

"Because prince Virendra is known for being cold and heartless. But the way he behaved with you was different since he never allowed any woman near him but he was walking side by side with you yesterday." The woman explained with a genuine smile. "Moreover, a simple doctor cannot climb up the walls and stand beside a window to wait for the results."

"I thought you were not paying attention to outside things," Lavanya said while feeling extremely unprepared.

"Your highness, I was waiting eagerly for the results and then I felt someone was there at the window. So I asked him to have a look and he closed the window." The woman said.

"I am glad that we proved you innocent." Lavanya smiled and looked at Virendra who was standing beside her.

"Thank you so much, your highness." The man bowed to Lavanya and Virendra. "We will never forget your help."

Lavanya smiled and nodded a bit. "I will excuse myself then." She walked out of the room along with Jyotimani.

The man and his wife bowed to Virendra and Karthik before leaving the hall while Virendra stood there watching Lavanya walking away.

"Ahm..." Karthik faked a cough. "It looks like someone has lost himself while admiring someone secretly."

Virendra looked at Karthik and quirked his brow. "Are you teasing me, now?"

"Ha? No no! Why would I tease you?" Karthik said acting as innocent as a lamb. "I am just saying that someone is admiring someone. Maybe the couple is admiring sister-in-law or...may be I am admiring the beauty of the darbar hall. It can be anyone. Why are you feeling like I am aiming for you?"

Virendra glared at his brother while Mahesh chuckled silently, unable to hold his laughter anymore.

3978 words...

Sorry for a bit short chapter. Actually, I thought of adding the next case here but I thought it will increase the chapter-length much more.

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