Order in the Court

Having grown up on a staple diet of Earl Stanley Gardner novels, the courtroom always conjured up images of intrigue and mystery and high-voltage drama.

A couple of days ago I had a personal experience in a court like situation and man I was so excited at the thought of being there. Though I had scaled down my expectations, not expecting to see Perry Mason, yet I was a-flutter.

Reaching at sharp 10.30 a.m , my Lawyer was missing from the scene. Now even with my scaled down expectations, I hadn’t quite figured out a court without a lawyer, but here I was. When I called him on his phone, ha asked me to take a seat in room no. 2 as he would be reaching in a couple of minutes. So I sat down intrigued and mystified, curiosity building in me, why Room no. 2?

Suddenly the room started filling up and there were hush-hush tones and we all got up to welcome “Your Honor” who looked like he had just had too many mirchis and was having trouble with digestion. He was joined by a “Lady Your Honour” who swished in her neatly starched saree and the moment she sat down , expressed her disgust that the chairs had not been dusted well.

The case matter was forgotten and the lawyers there were already taking off their coats to wipe the seats when she settled the matter with a wave of her hands. I spent next three hours listening to the most vivid details of defected cars, insurance companies cheating on claims, delay in delivery of courier, a persons’ fingers being glued because the super glue he purchased did not come with a warning (man really needed a warning? ).After a while it was been there done that. I had heard all possible cases anyways before in papers (except the super glue one)

In between I would get up and call my lawyer who was always just a couple of minutes away and every time I realised it was getting difficult to get back into Room No. 2. At 1.p.m there was a lunch break and while everyone rushed out, my lawyer rushed in !!!!! He said he knew our case would not come up for hearing till 4.pm. but wanted me to hold on to a chair in Room No. 2.
Now I had to ask him. The reason why Room Number 2 was so crowded? Was it because the particular, “Your Honour’s” judgements were famous and people came from far way places to listen to his judgements? Taken aback with my question, he said “don’t you know the secret of fame of Room no. 2? Its the only room with an AC !! and thats why its always full !

Well, Ms. Embarrassment has been a faithful friend for years, and we are particularly known as twins, however, now it was now dripping from me like the water from that AC.

Finally keeping my mouth shut, I waited till our Lawyer was successful in getting us another date for another hearing two months away. Its like Sunny Deol said “tareekh pe tareekh pe tareekh”.

My experience has truly enriched me and now I know when I go for the next hearing, I must find a seat in Room No.2, must carry biscuits and believe me when I say this, “Perry Mason I’m done with you for life”.