C7 A break from the past

Turning the wheel of time, Aastha recollects her times. Despite being the topper of the college scoring in first class, she failed to get a campus placement. Her endeavors and hard work failed to yield any result.

On being disconsolate, she visits an astrologer who predicts difficult times for her. He began - "It is in Mumbai where she will find her solace," he exclaimed.

In Mumbai, her struggle paved way for new experiences. She applied to various law firms for a job and visited them for interviews. One of such firm was the reputed Adam & Co. who specialized in domestic and international arbitrations and corporate practices. A panel of five lawyers interviewed her at the firm. Thereafter, they asked her to wait for their response. It was like an exam for which the results were awaited. She reminiscenced how on her way from Churchgate to Dadar Station, the local train stopped at Dadar for sometime where she met with a near death situation. The experience left the worst scar in her memories.

Before she could understand anything, she was pushed out of the train that was waiting for its passengers. However, no one was around her. A gush of air swept through her and she fell down when the train had just started off. By god's grace, she just received some bruises all over her face. Her spectacles broke. An inch saved her. Few ladies were horrified to see her in such a condition. They took her phone and dialed her maternal uncle's number. They called him to the station near their home so that he could escort her back home.

Soon before, she received a call from Adam & Co. who asked her to join them as an associate lawyer in their corporate department under Mrs. Jenny Gonsalves, which she readily agreed. She looks at the appointment letter and recollects how she worked with them.

Within a few months of joining, they gave her the task of managing certain arbitration projects and she was promoted to the arbitration department of the Firm. She recollects further how she would see visions of all sorts like that of an Aks (demoniac spirit) standing in her neighborhood hostel. It would be a figurine wearing a white kurta pyjama standing across the sheltered window that would disappear after sometime.

One of the most unfortunate events that occurred towards the end of the year 2008 was the Mumbai attacks. The 2008 Mumbai attacks (also referred to as 26/11) were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008. The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday 26 November and lasted until Saturday 29 November 2008. At the time, Aastha, sitting at a food joint in the Churchgate subway with her friend, was planning to visit Leopold Cafe. However, they returned to their hostel. At the hostel, they heard the news of a series of attacks beginning with Leopold Cafe. Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College. They attacked the Cafe immediately after they left Churchgate. Aastha considered herself fortunate to have reached the hostel before it all began. She was also witness to all the shooting that happened around the Metro Cinema.

In Mumbai, she resorted to alternative methods of earning money and for the purpose, approached a lady by the name of Bharani who ran a coaching institute at her flat. Through teaching opportunities, she allowed her a livelihood. She recollects how once, she gave a pomegranate juice to drink. On being thirsty, she drank some of it while she kept some for later use. At night, she developed a severe strain in the stomach and couldn't sleep. She cried in pain and couldn't speak to her mom so that she might get disturbed. The next morning, she found some help through a neighbor who gave her some medicine to chew that helped relieve her pain. Her wealth and health were being seriously affected.

In 2009, she came to know that her grandfather died his natural death at the hospital. Immediately, thereupon, she cancelled all her appointments at work and rushed to take a leave from the work. Her parents asked her to stay back in Mumbai till the time her uncle wanted.

Slowly, things changed at work. Her seniors at the office started showing disrespect for her work. Her clientele got affected. They did not give her new projects. The worst area to be afflicted was that of finances. In December 2009, heavy gossiping pressured her to leaving the office.

However, this was not the reason for leaving Mumbai. Aastha had to leave Mumbai and the office because she had to file a case against her uncle who, immediately, took the advantage of her grandfather's death and sent a notice through a lawyer for getting the will probated.

Amidst chaos and confusion, she reached Kolkata. She recollects how her family matter compelled her to leave a lucrative practice of over one and a half year at the firm.

To make problems worse for her, her uncle stopped release of their funds from the joint Hindu Undivided Family firm. She recollects how her parents were not happy to see her and wanted her to earn for the family while staying in Mumbai. There was no option left except to fight for the rights. Hence, she joined a firm in Kolkata where she would learn the 'ifs' and 'buts' of commercial litigation to enable her to file a case against her uncle. L &P Co. came to help.

At the firm, apart from learning all about commercial and corporate litigation, preparing various legal opinions, drafting pleadings, advising clients, handling and arranging various arbitrations, briefing senior advocates in various cases, Aastha sent a notice to her uncle invoking the arbitration clause in the deed of retirement.