"Breaking News. Well known businessman and an Award winner Entrepreneur Abhimanyu Kumar is accused of corruption and malpractices"

"The new infamous scandal in the country.. The sole owner and CEO of the Kumar group and industries is accused of illegal exchange of money or should we say black money."

"All the evidence and proofs are against him. Kumar industries and Enterprises has been collapsed. As the owner of the company has misrepresented , manipulated and falsified their accounts over Three Thousand crore, in front of its stock exchange, investors and other stakeholders"

The media reports are flooded with the recent infamous corporate scandals of the country. Abhimanyu Kumar is accused of illegal exchange of money.

"Abhimanyu Kumar, the well known businessman had lost some of the important deals and projects in the last two years. His company was not in good condition to compete in the auction held for the Amphitrity Island. As the cost of the Island was immense. Still he won the bid. That too by a humongous amount of thousands of crores. Since then we have had our eyes on him," said Fayaz Ali. The head officer of the Financial and Economical department of the country.

The 30 year old, honest and diligent officer, Fayaz Ali is addressing the media.

Fayaz is known for exposing the corrupted, white collar criminals and scammers. Whether it is a politician, businessman, mafia or even a high positioned officer from his own constituency. He never hesitated to put them behind the bars.

He is afraid of nothing. That's the quality of him that makes him a true hero in public's eyes. The coverage from the media on his bravery and honesty is just icing on the cake. Now again he became a 'Man of Courage' as he put Abhimanyu Kumar, the new conman of the county behind bars.

"Your department has still not been able to find out the sources of the money from which he bought the island. Why is that? " asked a reporter.

"And why is he getting punished if you haven't found any solid evidence against him in this particular deal?" another reporter asked.

"We are investigating the Island deal. Yes we weren't able to find solid evidence against him in this deal but don't forget the evidence and proof we have against him in other charges and that is enough to start his trial. About the unknown sources he got money from, we're sure that it's illegal. Otherwise he would not have been adamant on not disclosing the financial source, that itself clears the picture here." Fayaz said. It was one of the most complicated cases for him. He had got every answer from Abhimanyu.

Denying as well as accepting the accusation.

Denying the accusation of corruption, black money.

Accepting the accusation of, yes he had hidden his true financial accounts from the other shareholders of his partnering companies.

But the one question. "From where did you get financial support for the Island bidding?".

Silence..

That's what Fayaz is getting every time he asks this question to Abhimanyu.

And it's irritating him. It's irritating him very much, and now the same question from the media has only irked him further.

"Then he has a fair chance of getting a bail," said one of the reporters.

"No. We will make sure that he doesn't get a bail. We have to do a proper investigation on this case. And the other charges filed against him are significant" Fayaz said as he got up from his seat.

He nodded to the media and left the conference hall as his assistant further dismissed the conference.

All that left was a constant murmuring from people discussing the recent events of new controversy.

As Fayaz came out of the conference hall. He again tried to recall each and every word of Abhimanyu. Still he was not able to solve this puzzle.

"Why is Abhimanyu not defending himself? Who is he trying to protect?"

It surely was the most difficult case for him.. Not only because he is not getting answers from Abhimanyu. No, it's nothing new for him.

Silence is the best answer you can give when you are accused. It's the rule of wealthy people who hide their illegal activities under the pretense of charity work.

The thing that makes this case difficult for him is that now he has to put his best friend behind the bars. Now he has to prove that Abhimanyu is the culprit.

Abhimanyu was Fayaz's best friend. Abhimanyu owes his life to Fayaz as once he saved and protected Aadya when he was not with her.

Fayaz smiled sarcastically, recalling the day when he last met Aadya. The girl surely hates him now.

....

Thinking that it's Abhimanyu on the other side of the door Aadya opened the door with a smile but her smile vanished when she saw Fayaz standing there with few other officers behind him.

The big scar on Fayaz's left cheek made her shiver in fear as she remembered the dreadful day. Her face lost all the colour as she relived the dreadful memory of the past again.

Seeing Fayaz after a long time has surely brought back some not so forgettable memories.

Fayaz was a well built man. Standing in the height of 6'5" may be he is the tallest man she had ever seen in real life. His dark brown skin reflected the hard work he had done under the sun. He was a handsome gentleman. His features are beautiful. He was an angel for her.

But when someone looks at him, the first word that comes out of their mouth is monster. All because of the big scar on his face which he got while saving Aadya that day.

Aadya will always be thankful to him for that day.

Fayaz will always be prideful remembering that day, as that day he got a mark on his face which always reminds him of his bravery. It is a battle scar for him.

"Aadya,"he called, bringing her back from the memory lane.

"Fayaz.. Why are you here? That too with the officers," asked Aadya. 

Her intuition was telling her that something was not good.

"Aadya we have a warrant against Abhimanyu. He is involved in illegal money transfer, he has falsified his income not only to his partners and company's stakeholders but the government too," Fayaz announced as he entered inside.

"I don't have time for your pranks and shit Fayaz. You can go now," Aadya said, holding the door open. She knew it was a kind of joke. Him and Abhimanyu are best friends and she was sure Fayaz was playing a prank with her.

Fayaz was taken aback by her words.

She looked strong and unaffected li his words didn't affect her even a little bit.

"It's not a prank Aadya. It's the truth so accept it. Abhimanyu is accused of scamming thousands of crores. He is arrested on charges of fraud," he explained as calmly as he could.

Hearing him, Aadya couldn't control herself and laughed loudly.

She walked to him and looked him in the eyes, pointing a finger at his chest, she said. "Are you hearing yourself Fayaz.You and I both know that he is not a fraud or a scammer."

"That's not what the proof and evidence says,” Fayaz deadpanned.

"Abhimanyu is in our custody. We have to interrogate him regarding all the money transfers and income sources. We are here to seize this property, as it's under his name,” he spoke every word calmly as if he was afraid she would break into tears after finding out the new truth.

“No, I can't believe this. There is something wrong in all this. I don't believe you. There is another truth my brother can't do any of these of which you are blaming him,” Aadya exclaimed, more than him telling herself that maybe all these things are nothing but a web of lies.

She suddenly looked at him, her eyes coating with glass of tears,“You know him, Fayaz. He can't do any of these things. You are his friend, don't do this.. please fight for him.”

"I am not here as your or Abhimanyu's friend. I am here as officer Fayaz Ali, Aadya. Let me do my job,” Fayaz spoke, blankly.

"Do your job or raid my home?"Aadya seethed.

Her fist clenched on her side,her voice heavy with sarcasm as she smiled her all so famous kind smile.

"Believe me Aadya. I don't want to do it."

"Then don't do it,” Aadya said, looking at him in his eyes.

All the fear she had after looking at him flew away as she heard about Abhimanyu being accused of something that he could never do.

"I have to," saying this Fayaz and his team started searching each and every corner of Aadya and Abhimanyu's home.

It looked like the officers in Fayaz's team had a personal grudge against Abhimanyu as they were literally throwing away and destroying all the valuable things of their house.

Seeing her once beautiful, personal haven getting demolished and raided by the officers. Her eyes brim with tears, her vision blurred. A lump in her throat making it difficult for her to even speak and tell them not to be this merciless to all the small things that hold so many memories in her heart.

She saw how her favourite photo frame which holds a photograph of her and Abhimanyu got broken into tiny glass pieces as one of the officers removed the photo frame not so delicately.

She took out the picture from the broken photo frame. A little piece of glass piercing the skin of her index finger. It was the photo they took on her high school graduation day. Seeing the prideful smile of Abhimanyu, her heart sours thinking how he is now.

"Are you okay?" Asked Fayaz. Concern latching his voice.

Anyone who knows Aadya knows that she is very sensitive, however she never cries in front of people. She likes to cry alone, where no one can witness her weak self or just explode her emotions in front of her brother but now he is not here to hear her emotional rant.

"I am fine. Just do your work" she sneered, her voice thick with emotions.

"We need to seal all of Abhimanyu's Property and it includes this house as well,” Fayaz spoke, though he was finding it hard to say it.

"Go for it,” Aadya whispered. 

.....

Fayaz saw the storm before the silence in her eyes. She will do anything to save her brother.

Anything.

Meanwhile, Aadya was waiting for her brother in the visiting area.

She was tapping her fingers on the old wooden table, anxiously.  Her green blue eyes were keenly watching the lizard on the corner of the dirty wall. It was hunting down its prey.

The small insect was totally unaware of the lizard's hungry gaze on it. Her eyes followed the slow steps of the lizard's limps as it moved closer to its prey. The small insect still has no idea of lizards preying on it.

Her stare on the insect and lizard's little game broken by the creak of the door. There stood her brother, Abhimanyu. He was escorted by an officer.

"You have fifteen minutes to talk," the officer said before leaving the chamber.

She looked at her brother, his eyes were tired, dark circles around them. The officers must have interrogated him for long hours.

"You look like a shit," she said, biting back a teasing smile.

"I feel like a shit,” Abhimanyu groaned like a small kid as he plopped down on the chair.

"What happens when you touch it ?" Aadya teased, attempting to touch his hair which looked like a bird's nest.

"Don't," Abhimanyu warned, annoyed. 

Aadya giggled at the condition of Abhi's hair. This man was possessive over his hair and seeing the condition of his hair now she couldn't control herself from laughing.

Abhimanyu smiled seeing his sister laughing. After two days of torture interrogation it was all he needed.

Soon he also joined her and laughed freely.

Their laugh echoed in an old dark visitor's area. People standing outside wondered if this pair of siblings is retarded.

As their laugh came to an end suddenly her eyes brimmed with tears. That's all she wanted, to see him laugh, to see him smile.

Abhimanyu saw the look on her face, he knew she was controlling herself. All she wants is to cry in his arms but she is controlling her tears. She was  trying to be strong only for him. His throat tightened seeing the braveness of his sister who was more like a child to him.

"I love you," her voice cracked as she uttered the three words.

"I love you too," he said, as a single tear fell down his cheek.

"I promise you, I will take you back. Everything is going to be fine. We will go to London for next year's summer vacation. I promise you by then no one will remember these false accusations on you. We will do lots of shopping and click many new pictures and in all the pictures you will look like a buffoon that you are," she said as she wiped a lone tear from his cheek.

Abhimanyu smiled seeing his Aadya's optimism.

"Heyy," the small smile on Abhimanyu's face vanished hearing the word buffoon while Aadya giggled again.

"Why don't you tell them from where you get the money for the auction?" she asked him after a few minutes of silence.

"It will bring danger to you..i can't do that."

"And what about you ?"

"Don't worry about me. All the allegations against me are false and pre planned by my rivals. It's about time. I am sure the truth will prevail.And about the case of unannounced income and its sources. I will take all the punishment if it means your safety."

"So you are taking all the blame for me"

"Yes and remember what you promised me. Never forget that. You swore you will never tell. It's our secret."

"I knew.... I always knew these secrets will only bring misery for us. And it did.. All because of me." Aadya whispered looking down, she knew  she was the only reason for Abhimanyu's misery.

"Hey sweetheart, look at me," he said, seeing her brooding face he knew what she was thinking.

She was thinking bullshit. She can never be the reason for my misery,never, Abhimanyu thought.

"As you said everything is going to be fine. Just remember the promise you gave me. Just remember the promise you gave to our deceased parents,"grabbing her hands he spoke softly.

Aadya sniffled and nodded back to her big brother.

"Anyways, tell me where are you living right now after they seized our house?" Abhimanyu asked her, concerned.

"As you know, I have spare keys for Anokhi's apartment. So I am taking shelter there. She is out of the country though. You know, for a social campaign," she assured him that she is okay and handling the situation very well.

Abhimanyu nodded, he was satisfied with her answer.

"As soon as you are proven innocent by the court. I will file a defamation case against Fayaz and his department and you will not stop me,"Aadya said, anger evident in her words.

"He is just doing his work, sweetheart,” Abhimanyu sighed, he knew sometimes his Aadya can be hard headed. 

"No. Don't defend him. Let me be angry with him," she spoke, showing him her palm.

Before Abhi could say anything, the officer entered the visitor's area and informed them that visiting time was up.

Abhi and Aadya looked at each other. Conversing through their eyes.

Aadya got up from her place. She again glanced at the corner of the wall. The small insect was nowhere to be seen, only the lizard. The innocent insect was trapped by the lizard.

"I swear, I will prove you innocent. Free you of all the accusations. I'll do whatever I have to do for you," she promised him and without saying a thing started walking out of the room.

"Aadya," he called her.

She halted at her step and slowly looked back at him.

Her emotions were all over the place. If he says one more word she will end up crying. It will become hard for her to leave him behind.

"Please send me a bottle of shampoo that I use. I can not tolerate this nest of hair, " he said, grimacing as he touched his rough hair.

Aadya smiled, a teary yet real smile.

“Sure,” she said, shaking her head at her big brother.

....

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