"Yes, Officer. Don’t listen to that guy over there, he is lying through his teeth!"
"Yes, I have recorded the whole thing! Every single second of it!"
"That guy definitely tried to hit her! I saw it with my own eyes!"
"And that security guard jumped in to protect her like a hero! What a move, I cannot get enough of it!"
"Yes! Did you guys see how he took that punch right on his arm!"
"It is all on my phone, officer! Clear as day! Ask anything!"
One by one, all of them began giving thier testimony. The officers moved efficiently, beginning to collect witness statents and requesting copies of the video recordings.
Raj; Kirti’s boyfriend tried to back away but found himself firmly blocked by police.
Kirti looked around frantically, realizing the situation had completely slipped from her control but still want to make her last ditch effort. "But he has been stalking ! For months! That is the real cri here, I am the Victim!"
"If that is true, ma’am," one officer said professionally, "you should have filed a formal complaint with police. Did you do so?"
"I... no, but—"
"Then we will need to investigate both claims properly at the station," the officer continued. "For now, we have multiple witnesses to an attempted assault that just occurred, for now you should worry about it."
------------
Alex walked over to where Yash and Anjali were standing, they were close to each other, closer than it should be. Yash was holding his arm because it was bruised while Anjali was tending his bruised arm.
"Are you alright?" Alex asked quietly, looking between them both.
"I am fine but...," Anjali said, though her voice shook slightly. "Yash took the hit."
Alex turned to his cousin, sensing sothing changed in him.
"Thank you for coming," Yash said simply to Alex, though he had many questions in his mind like, what Alex had been doing here? And how co he know Anjali, after all just now he sensed her shiver when his cousin ca to them.
He was only temporarily muddleheaded not a fool. But those could be asked later, currently he had far greater things to do.
So he instead looked at Anjali with concern. "Are you really okay? He did not hurt you anywhere right?"
"I am fine because of you," Anjali said softly, eting his eyes. Sothing unspoken passed between them in that mont.
--------------
The officers began escorting Kirti and Raj toward the police vehicles for questioning. Raj was still protesting loudly about his family’s influence, which only made the officers’ expressions harden further with disdain.
"We will need statents from all involved parties," one officer inford Alex. "Can you bring your cousin and the other witness to the station?"
"Of course," Alex agreed smoothly. "We will follow shortly."
As the police vehicles pulled away with Kirti and Raj inside, the crowd slowly began to disperse, still buzzing with gossip about what they had witnessed.
Alex turned to Anjali and Yash, his expression serious. "We should talk. All three of us. But first, let us get that arm checked."
Yash nodded, but his attention remained on Anjali. "I am sorry you got dragged into this ss. This is all my fault."
"No," Anjali said firmly, surprising even herself with the conviction in her voice. "This is not your fault. You made mistakes before, yes. But what happened today was not because of you."
She took a deep breath, feeling Alex’s knowing eyes on her.
"You protected when you did not have to. You stood up for . That ans everything to ."
Yash’s eyes widened slightly at her words, hope and confusion mixing on his face.
Alex observed this exchange with quiet understanding. His plan had worked, perhaps better than he had anticipated. But he could also see that it had beco sothing more than a plan.
"Co on," Alex said gently. "Let us get you both sowhere quiet. We have a lot to discuss today."
---------------
Three Hours Later - Police Station
The police station humd with its usual late afternoon activity. Officers moved between desks, phones were ringing constantly, and the sll of strong tea perated the air.
Yash and Anjali had given their statents in separate rooms, and now they sat in the waiting area.
Yash’s arm had been examined by the station doctor and properly bandaged.
The swelling had gone down, but the bruise has turned purple against his skin.
Alex stood near the entrance, speaking quietly on his phone. After a few minutes, the station doors opened and Sahil walked in with his characteristic confident style, carrying a leather briefcase.
"Mr. Carter," Sahil greeted with a professional nod. "I ca as soon as I got your ssage."
"Thank you for coming, Sahil," Alex said. "The situation is under control, but I need you to handle the legal aspects. My cousin should not have any complications from this."
"Understood," Sahil said, already switching into his lawyer mode. "Let speak with the investigating officer."
Sahil approached the front desk and requested to speak with whoever was handling the case.
Within minutes, he was escorted to Inspector’s cabin.
Alex remained in the waiting area, choosing to let his lawyer handle what he did best.
---------------------
Inside the cabin, Sahil took his seat across from Inspector.
"Inspector, I am Sahil Sinha from Khapar Law Firm, representing Yash Carter in this matter," Sahil began smoothly. "I understand there was an incident at Erald Gardens complex this afternoon."
Inspector looked up from his files, recognition flickering across his face at the ntion of Khapar Law Firm. "Yes, quite a ssy situation. We have statents from all parties and multiple video recordings from witnesses."
"Excellent," Sahil said, pulling out his own notepad. "Then you must have seen clearly that my client intervened to prevent an assault on a female resident. He acted in defense of another person."
"The video evidence does show that," Inspector hta admitted. "The boyfriend, one nad Raj, did attempt to strike the woman. Your client took the blow instead, it’s quite praisable."
"Indeed...So there should be no question about my client’s actions today being justified, right?" Sahil asked firmly.
"Not regarding today’s incident, no," hta agreed. "However, there are allegations from the female victim, Kirti, that your client has been harassing her for months prior to this event."
Sahil leaned forward slightly. "Has she filed any formal complaints with the police about this alleged harassnt before today?"
"No, we have not receivedany complaints before today." hta admitted.
"Has she provided any evidence of threats, unwanted physical contact, or behavior that would point out to criminal harassnt under the law?"
hta shuffled through his papers. "She has shown us text ssages of them. Many text ssages from your client. The volu is... excessive."
"Excessive perhaps, but criminal? I highly doubt that." Sahil leaned closer to the Inspector. "Inspector, I am sure you have reviewed these ssages. Did my client threaten her anywhere? Did he use any abusive language?"
hta was quiet for a mont. "The ssages are persistent and inappropriate, but not explicitly threatening. And according to the ssage history, she did respond periodically, which complicates the harassnt claim."
"Exactly," Sahil said. "What we have here is a case of poor judgnt and immature behavior between teenagers, not criminal harassnt.
My client made mistakes in pursuing soone who was not interested, but the response was consistent enough to create confusion."
hta sighed. "But I have interviewed several neighbors as well they have confird that your client took a job as security guard just to specifically to be near this woman. That level of fixation is concerning, Mr. Sinah."
"Concerning, yes. Criminal, no," Sahil replied. "Inspector, we are not denying that my client’s behavior was inappropriate.
However, there is a significant difference between being a lovesick fool and being a criminal stalker, also my client is young right now, a police case might end his career he should not be subjected under this cri."
"True enough," hta conceded.
"Furthermore," Sahil continued, "if you review the video evidence from today, you will see that Miss Kirti and Mr. Malhotra publicly humiliated my client in front of dozens of witnesses.
They made accusations without having filed any formal complaints. And then Mr. Malhotra attempted to assault a woman who was defending my client."
"I am aware of all that, no need to say the obvious, co straight to the point." hta said.
"Coming..ing so what I actually want to say is that," Sahil summarized his voice beca heavy, "....in a situation where both parties behaved poorly, but only one party attempted actual violence. I trust the charges against Mr. Malhotra for attempted assault will be pursued?"
"They will be," hta confird. "We have clear evidence aboit him, no one can deny that."
"Good," Sahil said. "Now, regarding my client, I propose a solution that will solve everyone’s problems."
hta raised an eyebrow. "I am listening."
"Issue a mutual no-contact order. My client stays away from Miss Kirti and Mr. Malhotra. They stay away from him.
Clean break, no further interaction. My client will also voluntarily resign from his position at the complex to ensure compliance."
hta considered this for a mont. "That seems reasonable. But I want assurances that your client will seek help for this obsessive behavior."
"Already arranged," Sahil said smoothly. "My client’s family has scheduled him for therapy sessions starting next week with a qualified professional. He will be staying with family during this ti, not at the complex."
hta nodded slowly. "All right, Mr. Sinha. I will accept that solution. No charges will be filed against your client regarding the harassnt allegations, given the lack of formal complaints and the ambiguous nature of the evidence. The no-contact order will be issued for all parties, that will be the best for both the parties."
"Thank you, Inspector," Sahil said, standing and extending his hand. "You are being very reasonable about this."
"I have been doing this job for twenty years," hta said as they shook hands. "I can tell the difference between soone dangerous and soone stupid. Your client is the latter. Make sure he gets the treatnt he needs."
"We will," Sahil promised.
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