After receiving all the information from Sinha Sahab, one question kept echoing repeatedly in the family's minds: how much bond money would be required for bail?
Ranjana had often heard the word "muchalka" in films and television serials, but she did not fully understand its meaning.
Sinha Sahab smiled and explained to everyone, "Muchalka means a written undertaking or bond that the court requires.
Sinha Sahab made the family aware of the reality: "We are not performing any magic, but our preparation will be precise and thorough. We must prepare in advance the arguments we will present before the court.
We will need to show what Arjun was doing at the exact time of the incident, and we will require the statement of a reliable witness. We must demonstrate to the court that Arjun enjoys a positive reputation in society—his character certificate should reflect and certify everything clearly. Along with this, we must convince the court that if Arjun is released on bail, he will not interfere with or influence any evidence in any manner."
When Arjun learned that Sinha Sahab had agreed to take up his case, he could not express any reaction. Inside, he felt a wave of fear and deep anxiety, yet outwardly he did not want to reveal his emotions to his family.
He believed that justice would eventually be served, but the process was uncertain. By the time it concluded, perhaps too much would be lost, and nothing would remain.
Sinha Sahab told the family, "Sometimes the court also fixes an amount, and it can be any figure. In certain cases, a specific sum must be deposited, or a professional surety may be required as security. It all depends on the circumstances of the case, the financial condition of the accused, and the court's opinion. Therefore, I cannot guess how much the amount will be."
This information increased the family's anxiety a little. Seeing their confusion and worry, Arjun's mother declared, "She would sell everything or mortgage it if necessary, but she would not rest until Arjun was freed—even if it meant they ended up on the streets.
For her, nothing mattered more than her son. For a mother, there could be nothing greater than securing her son's release."
Arjun's mother continued to visit the temple every day to pray. No matter what the world said, her unwavering faith and devotion to God never wavered. Ever since Arjun had been sent to jail, there had not been a single day when she did not go to the temple and pour out her heartfelt prayers. Each time she returned from the temple, a new ray of hope would light up her eyes.The family's hearts had grown somewhat calmer, yet the fear had not entirely left them. The next few days dragged by at a painfully slow pace. Every single day felt heavy upon them all.
Sinha Sahab had begun meticulously analyzing the evidence in his signature cerebral style. Wherever possible, CCTV footage was thoroughly scrutinized—every frame examined with painstaking attention. Hours were spent dissecting the videos. Phone tower data and every minor piece of evidence were meticulously gathered.
Due to his extremely busy schedule, he had entrusted all these responsibilities to his assistant, Suyash, who handled them diligently on his behalf.
From the very beginning, Sudhanshu had been assigned the task of keeping a close watch on Shreya's family. One of Sudhanshu's close relatives lived near Shreya's house, and the responsibility of monitoring her movements had been given to him.
United as a team, everyone worked with great dedication and energy to collect evidence. For the past few months, Arjun had been going through a difficult phase.
Yet, amid all the troubles, one thing had turned out to be a blessing: Ranjana's in-laws had stood by Arjun from the very first day, supporting him indirectly and making every possible effort to secure his release.
Sudhanshu was Arjun's close friend—the very person who had arranged Ranjana's marriage. At that time, their father had been battling cancer and desperately wished to see his daughter married to a worthy man while he was still alive. No suitable match was coming their way quickly, nor was the family in a position to celebrate the wedding with great pomp and show. Still, the girl's side was expected to bear a substantial expense for the marriage. On top of that, there were the costs of their father's cancer treatment and medicines. Because of his illness, he had been unable to work, and with no other source of income, Arjun had been forced to take loans from his uncle for both the treatment and his sister's wedding.
Until he repaid that debt, he had to endure his aunt's constant taunts day after day. His uncle would remain silent in the face of his wife's barbs, making Arjun feel that he had silently given his consent to his wife to blame them for the misfortune that had befallen the family.
With one foot in the hospital and his own work at a standstill, Arjun had been desperately searching for a job. In those trying times, Sudhanshu and his family had been his greatest source of strength and support.
The day Sudhanshu's family came forward to ask for Ranjana's hand in marriage for their son, Arjun's joy knew no bounds. He could not have found a better match for his sister even if he had searched far and wide.
Sudhanshu's financial situation was stable, and he had recently secured a job as a ticket collector in the railways. Dozens of marriage proposals had already come for him, yet he had quietly liked Ranjana for a long time.
When his parents learned of his choice, they raised no objection and happily welcomed Ranjana into their home as their daughter-in-law.Sudhanshu was their only child. His happiness and well-being mattered more to them than anything else.
Like wise and understanding parents, they had wholeheartedly accepted their son's choice as their own. They were already familiar with Ranjana and knew her nature and qualities well. She possessed all the virtues that anyone would desire in an ideal daughter-in-law.In the final chapter of his life, their father succeeded in entrusting his daughter to worthy hands before bidding farewell to the world.
Everyone said, "Perhaps he had been holding on to life only to see his daughter settled."After the marriage, Sudhanshu proved to be a perfect husband in every way.
Ranjana, too, dutifully fulfilled her responsibilities toward both families. Even after Arjun went to jail, she continued to take care of their mother. Sometimes she, and sometimes Sudhanshu, ensured that their mother was never left alone. Ranjana received full support from her in-laws in this endeavor.
Due to his extremely busy schedule—running between lawyers, managing family responsibilities, and handling his government job—Sudhanshu had never been able to visit Arjun in jail. Over time, Arjun began to feel that his brother-in-law had changed and did not want to tarnish his own name by associating with an accused.
He feared that mud might be slung at Sudhanshu's government job as well, and that was perhaps why he had distanced himself. Deep down, Arjun was haunted by the fear that because of him, his younger sister's married life might get spoiled and she might have to face taunts. However, nothing of the sort happened. Ranjana continued to receive complete support from her in-laws.
Arjun had completed his graduation and wanted to secure a government job, but the family's circumstances had forced him to join the Agniveer scheme.
©️ Copyright Pushpa Chaturvedi
All publication rights reserved