I am in Love with a Criminal

It was the mid of February. She was sitting in her office on the 5^th floor. Again it was raining and for the umpteenth time, she wanted to go out, inhale the petrichor and dance in the rain but as soon as she opened the windows, the omnipresent piercing stares of the staff from the opposite building welcomed her. She shut the windows back. Plunging into her swivel chair, she looked around her office. On the left side was rack full of books. On her left was a water dispenser. A calendar was hanging on the wall with a few red circles marked. On the front wall, there was a wall clock which always reminded her of her being getting old. The door was on the left side opposite her and 3 chairs arranged neatly opposite her table. The table was an expensive looking piece of furniture which she bought in a bargain store. On the table, she had put her prized possessions. In a tray, her files on which she was working. Then a telephone set, and the latest novel by John Grisham. In fact, there was a complete collection of John Grisham novels on her table. And then there was the book that changed her life, her favourite, Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon.

Her father was a junior officer in the civil bureaucracy of the country. He wanted her to follow suit and prepare for the exams. She had just cleared her 12^th grade exams and she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. And then she read this novel and from that moment onwards, she always wanted to be a lawyer. Reading, eating, sleeping, walking, everything she was doing she imagined herself as Jennifer Parker. Her father gave up and allowed her to pursue her career in law. She wanted to be successful in law while her mother wanted her to be successful in her in-laws. And then she was betrayed in love during her university years and she decided not to love anyone ever. She did bar-at-law and in 3 months time, she realized it was very difficult than what she had ever read.

Some three years ago, a doctor was accused of creating this epidemic which killed more than 200 in the city. If convicted, he could be hanged till death, for 200 times! And by the look of things, his fate was sealed. No one was willing to take his case. She read the news and suddenly, the Parker trait got back into her mind. She decided to take the case. Until now, her days were consumed by the routine women rights and divorce cases. She wanted something more challenging and with all the media focus, she could become famous overnight. Or fall spectacularly. The indictment date was a few weeks away and she met with her client many times. Even though she took pride when it came to her self control in being attracted to men, the doctor was irresistible. He was in his early 30s, neatly dressed, dark hair with a few greys just above the ears. He was every bit of what a doctor is not. And then his sense of humour which she would enjoy for hours without being aware of the time.

One day, they were sitting in the restaurant. He was starving. She ordered orange juice. He could not contain and told her to order something more for him. "I am feeling like Joey. A turkey will do". Astonished, she asked, "Last week you said you hated F.R.I.E.N.D.S.?". "But you said you loved it so I watched all 10 seasons this week", he replied. She blushed. Sipping her orange juice, he was staring at her. “What is it, doctor?” she asked. “I was just admiring the combination of your 25000 genes”. “Shut up”. Both of them laughed.

“So what do you think of my case?” he asked expectantly. “I have been studying it for the past few weeks and I am very hopeful. You should trust me. After all, I am the proud member of the largest bar council in Asia”.  After a long pause, he said: “I have trust in you but I am not a big fan of this judicial system. It reminds me of the story of the old man and the king”. “What story?” she began to listen with interest. “Once there was an old man who was planting a date palm plant.  A king was passing by, seeing the old man, he asked the old man that he was old then what was the point in planting a tree which would bear fruit long after he would be dead. The old man smiled and replied that his grandfather planted such trees and he ate fruit from those. Now he was planting and his grandsons would enjoy the fruits.” She understood what he meant. All she could say was this. “Don’t lose hope. Everything is going to be all right”.

After three years, she was sitting on her chair, she opened the file No. 84 and shuffling through pages, she reached page 10. There was a little thank you note from a doctor.  And at the end of the note, something on her own handwriting:

Case closed.

She closed the file. Peeked through the windows and it was already dark outside. It was time to go home.

(P.S. Although the story is based on fiction, the character is inspired by my friend who is a lawyer. 

P.S to her: If you like it then thank me, but if you don't then it is just fiction and not related to you :P)

P.S.S. The idea was again put into my mind by Fatima who is always an inspirational and creative being.