Waqt

One year later

August, 2025
Udaipur
District Courts

The court had just ended for the day.

The lawyers eagerly exiting the court, bustling cars on the street, loud noises of honking in the air.

And in one corner of the court stood
Adv. Armaan Poddar in his uniform.
It wasn't unusual to spot him there but what was new was the scene that was playing out.

Armaan Poddar was bent on his knees in front of a little girl, talking animatedly. He pulled out a chocolate bar out of his pocket for the little girl who took it after giving Armaan a big hug.
The scene was being observed by another man, Advait Mehta, who was standing right next to them and looking at his little baby with affection and love in his eyes.

He lovingly caressed his daughter's head, who was already busy eating her chocolate while Armaan stood up.

The case was completed.
They had won.

Advait had gotten the full custody of his daughter. The past few months had changed the relationship that the businessman shared with his daughter, Adya.
They were closer than ever now.

Adya looked at her father as if he had hung the stars and the little girl had her father wrapped around her little finger.

Armaan had seen the changes happen first hand, he had seen how hard Advait had worked to get closer to his daughter and that had made him certain that fighting this case had been the right decision.

The little girl, Adya had also gotten very close to her Armaan uncle, who always seemed to have a chocolate for her in his pocket. She was very adorable.

As Armaan stood up to his full height, he locked eyes with Advait Mehta. An unsaid understanding passed between the two men.

Advait, nodded at the man in front of him and thanked him before immediately passing him the sale deed of the resort.

Armaan accepted the papers with a thanks and looked at the resort documents with a lump in his throat.

He had done it.
He had gotten his Abhira's home back.
His wife's home.

Yes, she was still his wife.
The family and he had expected the annulment to come through once the judge came back but that hadn't happened.

It was found that their signatures were smudged, most likely due to their tears when they had initially signed the documents.

Sanjay, in his hurry hadn't really checked the papers before submitting them. An error that Armaan would forever be grateful for.

The judge had asked them to make the papers again but Armaan had refused and considering that Abhira wasn't around, the annulment was out of the question.

So, they had taken their plea back.

He was incredibly grateful to still be able to call her his wife.
But the fact that he hadn't found her until now, felt like a stab on his chest.

He had tried, he was trying but somehow all his efforts seemed to be falling short. He didn't know what to do anymore.

Not wanting to show his vulnerability in front of his client or his colleagues in the court, he thanked Advait, bid a goodbye to Adya and then left towards his car.