Remembering My First Court Case, Part Five

...........So I waited. And exactly after two days, I got a court directive from Paro Court instructing me to proceed to Thimphu court "without fail" the immediate day. I was further directed to make my appearance in the Bench II of the Thimphu district Court.............

Continued.......

I took the order very seriously. I took it as my fundamental duty of upholding the law. Upholding the law in any case, as I knew was a serious affair and I thought any degree of complacency would not be tolerated. So I made it a point that I observe every formalities with strict adherence. 

That day, I was prepared to face the truth and justice and therefore I was more eager than ever to move out from my house.  As I grabbed the car key and my kabney, Kinley wished me good luck. I took a day off by telling a white lie to my supervisor. -a lie that won't harm or create any disharmony. With an air of optimism, I told her that, I needed to go to Thimphu on a very urgent personal errand and that I would be back in the evening. She was swift in granting a day off for me. 

So I reached to the said court in time. I showed up to the clerk and he told me wait for my turn. As the hours passed by, the number of people in the court's vicinity swelled. Surprisingly, I came across many people whom I knew personally. I felt embarrassed to admit my case and so were they!

Towards afternoon, I was called inside along with the plaintiff. It was by far the most overwhelming feeling.  But to my realization I sensed that the fear and anxieties I had for so many days, have suddenly evaporated. I sensed myself becoming bolder and braver. The adrenalin of much needed courage and confidence seem to be exploding in me and I felt the lawyer in me kicking thunderously! I felt happy at the fact that I was finally moving to set myself free with the aid of justice and law and not through pleas.

So I entered the court room for the first time in quest for the justice. It was dimly lit room where the total silence prevailed. We were made to stand in front of the judge who was perched on the throne even bigger than the Kings'. I had to raise my head to actually see the face of the judge. There he was with his mouth reddened with the stains of doma. With his green scarf and long sword, he appeared more majestic than the word Majesty itself. Below his throne, there was a Rabjam and with him was a clerk.

I took a step forward and bowed towards the Judge in reverence to the law and the justice he embodied. As to the ward Lady, -the plaintiff, she simply stood blind and blank, like a stick, completely useless and arrogant as ever. I didn't think she could be that dull. She displayed no respect to the law.

Once we were all settled, the clerk then read out the complaint submitted by the plaintiff (on top of his voice). I listened  to the complaint with both my ears, with full concentration. The complain was meticulously written  in best of the Dzongka that for once I doubted about the Dzongkha moving towards extinction. However, I soon lost interest listening to it.

The contents were outrageously exaggerated that I found it totally unpleasant. I found the contents not worthy of being written in Dzongkha and that it was bitterly disgracing the language that represented  Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, -the ultimate truth.

To be continued..............................................................................