Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Ria is locked up in a cell. “Hey, you can’t just lock me up like this, aren’t you supposed to hear my own side of the story?” Ria asks the Sergeant who locks her up and scoffs before returning to his seat. Ria paces around in the cell, confused, sad, and angry at the same time.

Ria’s Pov

I have no idea what’s happening in my life right now, but I don't like it at all. I don’t know why this is happening to me. How could they lock me up without allowing me to explain or properly interrogating me?

Mr Garcis walks into the police station with a man behind him who Ria thinks is his aide or bodyguard. “Mr Garcia”, the police officer in charge of the station says as he stands from his seat to greet the man. “Inspector James”, Mr Garcia says shaking the inspector’s hand. “I understand you made a complaint about that woman in the cell harassing you?” Inspector James asks Mr Garcia, “Yes, i did, and I’m planning to sue her as well” Mr Garcia says, making Ria’s heart skip a bit out of fear. “Sue me?” she shouts from her cell. “Why will you sue me?, i did nothing wrong to you!, in fact you offended me by smacking me on my butt!” she yells from the cell the police officers look at her surprised Mr Garcia has an arrogant look on his face but doesn’t glance at her. Inspector James glances at Mr Garcia before clearing his throat “Miss Choudhary, you will do well to keep quiet in there, otherwise you’ll force me to keep you quiet. If you keep talking, you’ll be adding to your charges,” Inspector James says, and Ria is taken aback by the Inspector’s warning. “That’s how the world works, the rich always suppress the poor” Ria hears a voice from behind her, and she’s startled seeing a middle-aged woman in a cell beside her own. Ria is so exhausted that she decides to sit on the floor of the cell since there are no chairs or benches in the cell.

Ria’s Pov

God, is this how my life will end?. Ria asks God while looking at the ceiling of the cell. When will I finally get my happy ending? It’s been from one suffering and one trouble to the other,” she laments bitterly. “What do I do now? My mother… my poor mother, what will happen to her now? Who will take care of her?” Ria asks but gets no reply. Tears start to fall out of Ria’s eyes as she’s heartbroken.

“Miss Ria Choudhary, you’ll be given a lawyer before your trial, which is tomorrow”, Inspector James says to Ria, who feels a shrill go down her spine as she immediately starts to sweat on her forehead and on her palms.

“What?!” she asks in shock. “How?” she asks “I didn’t do anything wrong”, she says again. Mr Garcia finally stands from his seat and walks up to Ria’s cell. “I’ll make sure you pay dearly for hitting me on the cheek”, Mr Garcia sneers at Ria, who looks at him with tears in her eyes. “You forgot your place, you’re nothing but a lowly waitress who I wanted to have some fun with, and you decided to disrespect me by hitting me. By the time I'm done with you, you’ll be leaving jail when your hair turns grey,” he says to her with a sneer. “But I didn't do anything to you, you were the one who assaulted me”, Ria says, wiping her tears with the back of her palm. “Well, sweetheart, that’s not how the world works, you see. Justice is for the rich and not the poor,” he says to her with an evil chuckle that sends a cold shiver down her spine. “See you in court tomorrow, little fox” he finally says before turning around to walk away. Ria panics because she knows that she doesn’t have any way to defend herself and that a man like Mr Garcia could even go as far as bribing the judge in his favour. So she decides to swallow her pride and get on her knees. “Please sir… please forgive me. I’m sorry for offending you. Please, I apologize. Don’t sue me. I have a sick mother depending on me. Please sir, don’t sue me!” she pleads but Mr Garcia keeps walking until he walks out of the station. Ria finally breaks down with a loud wail that echoes throughout the station gaining the attention of everyone in the station. Some police officers look at her but continue with their work. Inspector James looks at her and almost pities her but looks away as he takes his seat again in front of his desk.