I am not a gentleman, Harshavardhan C [book reader for pc txt] 📗

but you cannot presume and predict the mindset of the defendant and simply reveal his opinion hypothetically you know”

“I am sorry Madam Justice, what I want to impress upon the Honourable Court is about the respondent’s callous attitude; and that he has no guts to face the accusations, hence I am submitting to give ex parte decree for divorce. Anyway there will be stipulated time for filing an appeal, if he is really not interested to be divorced” The learned advocate suggested.

“But it is against the principles of natural justice, and why should he forgo an opportunity to represent his stand? And there might have been various other reasons for his absence. Otherwise he would have represented through some other advocate. I don’t think that getting divorce so urgently at this age of fifty plus for her is so important my learned lawyer? Anyway I am adjourning the case finally to next Monday for the appearance of the respondent” She said politely.

Mr. Rahul and Mr. Laxman paid heavy fees to their lawyer. They also bribed heavily the lawyer engaged by Dr. Jasmine on behalf of Mr. Gentleman. In fact they purchased the other side advocate only for absenting himself and not to represent on behalf of Mr. Gentleman, and thereby get ex parte divorce at once in his absence.

But all their efforts went futile.

 

Chapter: 20

It was 2200hrs. Mr. Gentleman was still remaining in the towers. He was smoking cigarette after cigarette. He called the office boy and gave him money and gave list to him to bring Scotch liquors and soda.

The office boy went and brought the liquors, soda, cigarettes and some food stuffs and arranged on a tea table in his suit room.

Mr. Gentleman started consuming liquor. He heard the sound of somebody knocked the door.

“Yes come in” He said irritatingly.

He saw Dr. Jasmine on opening the door.

“Hello doctor, it is already ten O’ clock in night, who asked you to stay back in the office till late night? Why have you not gone home? I mean to your hostel?” He was feeling guilty.

“It does not matter for me whether it is late night or early morning sir. I am a doctor and tuned to my profession which has no fixed timings for serving the patients. Now I have a patient, and hence I have been here sir”

“Who is that idiotic patient, troubling you at this odd hour’s doctor?”

“Sorry sir, please never say it again. He is a perfect Gentleman” Dr. Jasmine said firmly.

“Then you must have been either an Angle to serve a devil; or you must have been a divine, thrown into a devil’s paradise”

“Sorry sir why are you always belittling yourself unnecessarily?” She asked him rather painfully.

“Because of the accusations dear, blessed are the who die peacefully, but I doubt I am not. The police, the public and the media. Even my better half, and the children are suspecting my integrity, conduct and character, then how could a man of fifty five years old bear the insult and humiliation Dr. Jasmine?” He said quite painfully.

“The human life itself is a challenge, and nobody is an exception to comments and criticism. And all human beings are social beings. You and I am also no exception sir. Anyway it is only an accusation, but it is not at all a conclusive proof. Let the investigation be carried on and the truth will come out sir”

“Dr. Jasmine do you believe that I have slept with the minor girl and trying to beget a child, and in fact, she is in the age of my granddaughter you know?”

“Sir, she will speak out the truth, when once she gets conscious”

“But how can I bear this humiliation?

And how long will I be prone to bear that I have committed the most heinous crime? What shall be my family’s name and our MNC’s reputation?

And I think have you ever noticed the reaction from public Dr. Jasmine? Our shares have gone down drastically; I do not understand how the public think of the share market? How could an accusation against the character of an individual would affect the shares of his group of companies, which are constantly going in profits?” Mr. Gentleman was off his moods.

“What you said is true in normal course and for normal people sir, but now you are a celebrity; and public always expects the celebrities should be a role model and icons to them in the society. But anyway, when once the girl gains conscious things will go better and your character and integrity will be known to the whole world. But till then, there is no chance of overcoming and we have to bear these types of comments and criticism. You are not the only person facing unnecessary accusations in a most heinous crime, but also a great many and noble people even went to behind bars sir. Anyhow, I am so confident that ultimately truth only triumphs sir”

“Thank you. I once again thank you for your support Dr. Jasmine. Driver please drop her at hostel?” He instructed the driver.

“Sir, my sincere request rather advise to your good self is please don’t spoil your health by succumb to habits, consequent to the temporary ups and downs in life; and I request you to go home first sir; and later I will leave our office”

“What do you mean? Do you think I have a home Dr. Jasmine?

You will be surprised to know that a billionaire, who does not have a home in this world, is the one and only the unfortunate Mr. Gentleman”

“You have a home and a big family sir”

“Where is it?”

“I will accompany you sir”

“Sorry, I have no home. Do you think that I would be happy at that home? There were not only days, months but also some decades I used to stay in my office only all through these years; and that house it is an orphanage for me”

“What sir?” she was annoyed on hearing his comment about his home as orphanage.

“As you are a new comer you may not know much about me and my home. You better leave me alone or otherwise, you will also be cornered”

“If you feel comfort in staying back in your office, then it is okay sir. And I remain here till you stop consuming liquor and go to bed”

“Why are you feeling or me dear? No one heart fully feels about me and truly I am an orphan do you know?”

“I truthfully believe that you are a perfect gentleman and those who fail to understand your kind and generous heart only orphans’ sir, but not you, there might be selfish people here and there but that doesn’t mean that the world is selfish sir”

“Sorry I don’t agree; and I truthfully feel that I am not a Gentleman, though my name is gentleman, and also it is a misnomer and mismatch that my parents might have named after me by mistake” He consumed more than his capacity and unable to speak perfectly.

“Madam I will take care of sir; and I will drop you at your hostel or otherwise sir will become furious” The driver tried to convince her.

But she was reluctant to leave the MD alone as he was seriously hurt.

“Madam this is not the first time sir is feeling sad; and in fact there were days, weeks, months and sometimes years, he never had gone home. Now your presence may also create some new problems to him tomorrow. So please follow his instructions and better leave the office at once Madam; and rest I will take care of him”

The driver appeared to be a senior; put up more service and associated with the company since many years, besides he was an elderly man and hence she reposed confidence in him that he would take care of the boss.

She then left the office.

 

Chapter: 21

It was 1200hrs in the night. It was the bungalow of the chairman of the gentleman group of companies.

A grand dinner was hoisted by one of the directors and a partner of the gentleman group of companies, i.e. Mrs. BharathiDevi and her children under the close supervision of her son in law Mr. Rahul. In fact it was a family party, except the lawyers and selective police officers who were investigating the case of minor girl’s death, and also the lawyers who helped them in the civil cases only joined them. For them it was quite a jubilant moment, as the civil cases filed against Mr. Gentleman were admitted and the interim orders were passed in their favour.

It so happened very rarely when the head of the family was a habitual drunkard or gambler or having second family or extra marital relationship with another lady. But here in the case of Mr. Gentleman it was only merely a suspicision.

As an advance precaution his family had been taking care of themselves, which was not unbecoming of in some of the aristocratic families in the world. Such families may firmly believe in the growth of the value of their assets and shares; besides the name and fame of the family.

Most of the aristocratic families firmly believe in protecting their properties from the individuals at one stage; and whenever they suspect that their Business Empire was about to collapse, due to the unilateral decisions taken by an individual, the family would go to any extent without caring the individual.

 

*************

It was the bungalow of Justice Hasina. Though it was late in the night Dr. Jasmine went to her bungalow, and the former received her affectionately. “Is it any emergency dear?” Justice Hasina asked her with anxiety. Dr. Jasmine could not reply her immediately. “Anything wrong at hostel or at your office dear?” “Nothing about me aunty, but my only agony is about my MD. He has been under serious depression. I am worried about him. Can we do anything to console him at this stage aunty?”

“Have you tried honestly tried Jasmine?” “I tried heart fully to console him and I even insisted him to stop drinking; and I prepared to stay at office, till he goes to his bed. But he never allows me to stay there and sent me out through his driver” “Yes Jasmine that is why I call him a perfect Gentleman” Miss. Hasina said in all praise for Mr. Gentleman. “But we must do something to bring him back to normal world aunty” Jasmine pleaded her. “Your acquaintance with him is hardly a month or two, but I know him since my childhood Jasmine. He is what he is and he never changes himself simply for selfish ends. He helps others but he never take anybody’s help. He prefers to suffer rather than making others suffer. He sacrifices for others rather than for himself” While all about Mr. Gentleman, tears rolled in her eyes.

“You are telling everything about him means” Dr. Jasmine on hearing all praises and respects about Mr. Gentleman, was trying to understand their relation.

“Are you suspecting my bonafides dear?”

“I am sorry aunty I don’t mean by that”

“Then you would have asked me straight?”

“Okay Aunty as you inculcated in me that courage, now I can dare ask you; and please tell me honestly aunty do you love him?” Dr. Jasmine took liberty and suddenly asked her. “A good question, but you have asked me belatedly. I am still Miss. Hasina at the age of fifty plus means you might have got perfect answer to your question”

“Then why did you not marry him?” “Why are you asking me, why don’t you ask him?” “I couldn’t dare” “No I don’t believe it, you are speaking a lie; or otherwise how dare you are to come to meet me directly, unless he told you all about us?” “He only told me that you both are childhood mates and you are a well learned, a veracious reader, a philosopher, besides a good writer and a novelist” “I am not that talented what he said” “Then what was the great divide between you and MD?” She couldn’t bear the