Mobaroknama

Mobarok!

You're the devil!

Devil incarnate!

Suraiya.

From what we've heard so far

your life is really entertaining.

Got your hands on all the men around you.

First, your cousin, Sakib. Then Biltu--

Biltu is my best friend!

Best friend?

Then maybe I'm backdated.

Because my idea of "friendship" is very different.

Your Honour.

Suraiya had kissed Biltu in front of everyone.

Objection.

I knew you would object.

I was waiting for it, in fact.

But I can prove what I said right now.

Your Honour.

I would like to call Suraiya and Biltu's friend, Atashi

to the witness box.

Proceed.

Atashi.

It was 3rd June, 2019.

You were celebrating Biltu's birthday at your friend, Rajat's house.

Correct?

Yes.

At one point, Suraiya kissed Biltu in front of everyone.

Correct?

Cheers!

Biltu! Here.

Nope.

- Come on. - No point getting him drunk.

He's never even kissed a girl!

You haven't?

He's a virgin.

Come here.

Biltu!

Your dry spell is over!

Atashi, was Suraiya in love with her brother-in-law, Roman?

Just look at me.

Why are you looking that way?

You're under an oath to tell the truth.

I don't know.

But that's what we thought before Abida got engaged to him.

Why?

Well...

She looked like it.

Your Honour.

My learned counsel looks like the apocalypse is near.

Very little time.

So, she's rushing to wrap up everything.

She has lived abroad for so long that she's probably forgotten

that you need proof to win a case.

By proving the plaintiff's character as questionable

she can't prove a rapist's innocence.

I'm sorry to say this again, Your Honour but

Suraiya is a nymphomaniac.

According to Suraiya

she went to Roman's office for college work.

But she was smitten by my client, Roman.

And so, she created a situation where he was forced into friendship.

Your Honour.

There's a lot of talk about consent.

But when it comes to consent, women get priority.

Why?

Do only women have the right to consent?

Not men?

Why?

Even men have the right to consent.

But Suraiya does not care.

Her life, her choice.

She wants what she wants.

And to prove my point

I'd like to call my next witness, Suraiya's neighbour.

Keramat Ali, please come to the witness box.

Mr. Ali.

Did Suraiya pull your pants down in public?

Objection, M'Lord.

It's not important enough to be brought up in court.

Pants with drawstrings would solve his problem.

Order! Order!

Sabnin, please.

I'm sorry, Your Honour.

But it is the truth. But I'll rephrase it.

Mr. Ali.

Did Suraiya strip you by force in public?

Yes, she had.

It's true.

Sir.

I can't see very well.

Especially in the dark.

I was walking through an alley and then turned a corner.

That's when Suraiya suddenly pounced on me.

She accused me of leching at her.

Threatened to teach me a lesson.

Then in the middle of the road, she pulled my pants down.

It was so humiliating.

Sir, please punish her.

Or social decorum will be at stake.

Please punish her

so that innocent people like us are at peace.

Can you see, Your Honour?

Even an elderly man's consent doesn't matter to her.

So if her lover doesn't meet her needs she can easily bring rape allegations.

TALE OF MOBAROK

Let's get straight to the point.

The position of your legs during the rape?

Objection!

To ask a rape victim something like this

is to remind her of a traumatic experience.

This is mental torture.

The defense can to ask these questions.

Thank you for remind him, Your Honour.

He's been out of practice, so he's forgotten.

Right.

The position of your legs? Up or down?

Down.

Sure? You can't change your answer.

Yes, I'm sure.

Your position while lying down? On your back?

He had me pinned down.

Then?

I tried to stop him.

Did Roman eject sperm into your vagina after rape?

Yes.

How did you know?

Noticed while washing up.

How did you defend yourself?

Pushed him.

And?

Had my legs pressed together.

And?

I kicked him.

And?

And?

- Don't remember. - Don't remember?

You forgot something so big? How?

- For your own sake, try to remember-- - I was tired.

I was drunk. Didn't have enough strength to defend.

Point to be noted, Your Honour.

Suraiya was drunk and couldn't use all her strength to defend herself.

Sabnin.

You're in a huge rush.

Why?

What are you scared of?

You're interrogating her as if she is the rapist.

Your Honour.

With your permission, I'd like to question Suraiya.

Please proceed.

Suraiya.

When you tried to stop Roman, did he say anything to you?

I said no!

No!

I really love you.

I got really mad when he said that.

All my life, up until now

my mom never supported me but my sister always did.

My sister has done far more for me than my mom has.

So, I don't want my sister to spend her life with a rapist.

Good.

Very good.

No further questions, Suraiya.

Your Honour, I'd like to question the rapist, Roman.

Objection!

- Mobarok. - Sorry, sir. I realise my mistake.

But that's the point I wanted to prove.

We can't call someone guilty until proven so.

Similarly, neighbourhood gossip and rumours about someone

cannot be proof of anything.

I hope the defense will keep that in mind.

Roman.

How did you cut your hand?

Your hand.

The morning after, Abida had sent me to the market.