His Favorite Verdict

The Truth Between Us

"Good."

For the first time since entering the room, Aarav Malhotra's eyebrow lifted slightly.

Swasti closed the file in front of her and leaned back in the chair.

"At least you're honest."

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable.

It was calculated. Two people studying each other. Measuring each other. Trying to figure out where the cracks were.

Most clients lied.

Some lied out of fear.

Others lied out of habit.

But every criminal lawyer knew one thing—truth was always more dangerous than lies.

And Aarav Malhotra had just admitted to k********g a man without a second of hesitation.

That alone made him difficult.

Dangerous.

Unpredictable.

Across the table, Aarav remained perfectly calm.

His fingers rested loosely against the polished surface while the city lights glittered behind him through the massive glass walls.

The entire room carried the scent of expensive leather, coffee, and power.

Yet somehow, the man sitting across from her seemed quieter than the room itself.

"You don't seem surprised."

His voice was smooth.

Controlled.

The kind of voice that never needed to be raised.

Swasti folded her arms.

"I've spent the last twenty-four hours reading your file."

"And?"

"And either you're guilty..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"...or somebody wants me to believe you're guilty."

For the first time, something shifted in his expression.

Not surprise.

Interest.

"You reached that conclusion already?"

"I wouldn't be sitting here otherwise."

Aarav stared at her for a moment before nodding once.

Almost like he had expected that answer.

"Fair."

The word hung between them.

Swasti opened the file again.

"Let's start from the beginning."

Aarav didn't speak.

Didn't interrupt.

Didn't argue.

He simply waited.

"Why did you kidnap Karan Mehta?"

The question landed heavily between them.

Most people would've denied it.

Most people would've hidden behind legal language.

Aarav did neither.

"Because the law failed."

The answer came instantly.

Without hesitation.

Without apology.

Swasti's jaw tightened.

"That's not your decision to make."

"Maybe."

"No."

Her voice sharpened.

"It's not."

Aarav leaned back slightly.

"You asked why I did it."

"And I'm telling you that your reason doesn't justify your actions."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Aarav's gaze settled on her.

Steady.

Unwavering.

"Have you read the victim's statement?"

Swasti nodded.

"Three times."

"And?"

She sighed.

"The girl's testimony is credible."

Aarav looked away briefly.

Toward the city.

Toward the thousands of lights scattered beneath the darkness.

When he spoke again, his voice sounded colder.

"He assaulted her."

Swasti remained silent.

"He threatened her family."

Silence.

"He paid witnesses."

More silence.

"He bought police officers."

The room suddenly felt heavier.

Aarav looked back at her.

"Do you know what happened when she reported him?"

Swasti didn't answer.

Because she already knew.

The file had told her enough.

"Nothing."

His voice remained calm.

Far too calm.

"The investigation disappeared."

A bitter smile touched his lips.

"Evidence disappeared."

Another pause.

"The witnesses disappeared."

The words settled heavily in the room.

Swasti lowered her eyes to the papers in front of her.

Because she knew he wasn't wrong.

The records supported everything he was saying.

The system had failed.

Again.

Just like it always did.

For a brief moment, an unwanted memory flashed through her mind.

Her mother.

A broken glass on the floor.

A locked bedroom door.

A frightened child hiding in a corner.

The sound of shouting.

The sound of crying.

Then darkness.

Swasti blinked.

The memory vanished.

Buried once again.

Exactly where it belonged.

Aarav noticed the change immediately.

Not the memory.

Just the shift.

The way her fingers tightened around the edge of the file.

The way her eyes darkened for a second.

But he said nothing.

Because everyone carried ghosts.

Some were simply better at hiding them.

Finally, Swasti looked up.

"So you kidn*pped him."

"Yes."

"You held him against his will."

"Yes."

"You threatened him."

"Yes."

The answers came one after another.

Without shame.

Without excuses.

Swasti exhaled slowly.

"Do you always confess this easily?"

The corner of Aarav's mouth twitched.

"Only when I'm telling the truth."

For some reason, that answer irritated her.

Maybe because she believed him.

Maybe because she didn't want to.

"You're impossible."

"That's what my sister says."

The response caught her off guard.

A sister.

Not exactly what she had expected.

She studied him carefully.

"The famous Aarav Malhotra listens to his sister?"

"Sometimes."

"Must be a powerful woman."

A faint smile appeared.

Small.

Barely visible.

"Very."

For the first time, the atmosphere eased.

Only slightly.

Just enough to remind them they were human.

Then Swasti closed the file again.

There was one question she had been waiting to ask since the moment she received the case.

One question she couldn't stop thinking about.

One question that made absolutely no sense.

"Why me?"

The room went silent.

Aarav's gaze met hers.

Directly.

Neither looked away.

"You have access to the best legal teams in the country."

Swasti continued.

"The richest lawyers."

"The most experienced lawyers."

"The most powerful lawyers."

She leaned forward.

"So why me?"

For the first time since the meeting began, Aarav didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he reached for a file sitting beside him.

A thin black folder.

He slid it across the table.

Toward her.

Swasti looked down.

Then froze.

Because printed across the cover was her name.

ADVOCATE SWASTI CHAUDHARY.

Her eyes slowly lifted.

"You investigated me."

Aarav didn't deny it.

"I prepared."

"That's a fancy word for stalking."

"Not really."

"You're making it worse."

For the first time, genuine amusement flickered in his eyes.

Then he opened the file.

"Gold medalist."

Swasti groaned.

"Oh God."

"Graduated top of your class."

"Stop."

"Youngest criminal lawyer to win three consecutive acquittals in the High Court."

"Aarav."

"Thirty-two victories."

He turned another page.

"Five settlements."

Another page.

"Zero ethical complaints."

Swasti buried her face in one hand.

"This is embarrassing."

"I'm not finished."

"Unfortunately, I know."

Aarav ignored her.

"Refused fifteen crore rupees because you believed the client was guilty."

His voice became quieter.

More serious.

"You refused political protection."

Another page.

"You refused media deals."

Another page.

"You refused positions people would kill for."

He closed the file.

The sound echoed softly through the room.

Then he looked directly at her.

"You cannot be bought."

The words landed harder than she expected.

Neither of them spoke.

Several seconds passed.

Then Swasti finally broke the silence.

"That's not a compliment."

"I know."

"Then what is it?"

Aarav's gaze never left hers.

"A requirement."

Something strange happened then.

For a brief moment, neither lawyer nor mafia king existed.

There were only two people sitting across from each other.

Both stubborn.

Both damaged.

Both unwilling to compromise.

And both recognizing something familiar in the other.

The moment shattered when a knock sounded against the door.

A man entered.

Mid-fifties.

Sharp suit.

Confident presence.

Warm eyes.

Vikram Malhotra.

Aarav's father.

"Am I interrupting?"

Swasti immediately stood.

Professional instinct.

"Not at all, Mr. Malhotra."

Vikram smiled.

"I've heard a lot about you."

Swasti raised an eyebrow.

"Hopefully good things."

His smile widened.

"Mostly terrifying things."

For the first time that evening, she laughed.

A real laugh.

And surprisingly...

Both Malhotra men noticed.

An hour later, the meeting finally ended.

The case file rested under her arm as she stepped out of the conference room.

The hallway felt strangely quiet.

Her mind was full.

Too full.

Questions.

Evidence.

Contradictions.

Possibilities.

Aarav Malhotra was many things.

But he wasn't what she had expected.

The thought irritated her.

She hated changing her opinions.

Especially this quickly.

The elevator doors opened.

A soft ding echoed through the floor.

Swasti lifted her head.

And everything stopped.

Her heartbeat.

Her thoughts.

Her breath.

A man stepped out.

Expensive suit.

Polished shoes.

Familiar face.

A face she would recognize anywhere.

Even after years.

Even after trying so hard to forget.

Rajveer Chaudhary.

Her father.

His eyes found hers immediately.

And then he smiled.

The same smile.

The same smile that had haunted her nightmares for years.

"Swasti."

Her name left his mouth gently.

Almost affectionately.

As if he had every right to say it.

As if he hadn't destroyed everything he touched.

The file slipped slightly in her trembling hands.

Her chest tightened.

The air suddenly felt too thin.

Too heavy.

Too impossible to breathe.

And somewhere behind her—

Aarav Malhotra stepped out of the conference room just in time to see fear take over the face of the woman who feared absolutely nothing.

And for the first time since meeting Swasti Chaudhary...

Aarav Malhotra hated someone on sight.