A Slumdog Heir

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

"Are you denying these allegations?" The judge had asked 

"Yes, I am" Colin answered, almost in a whisper 

"Then we have no option than giving you a weightier punishment" the judge had declared.

"A weightier punishment? Why?" Colin had asked, already knowing the answer. 

He should have known better, that he was fighting a lost cause and his would be no different. 

"You know why. You have refused to admit your crimes to reduce your sentence" one of the members of the families gathered had said 

"There was no crime in the first place, this is all a setup" Colin had objected 

"Do you have any proof?" Catherine had asked and Colin went silent. 

There was no way he could prove what he had just said. 

The text message she had sent to him, the cousins had made sure to delete. 

There were photos of him holding her inappropriately. 

They had too many thongs to prove that he did what he did. 

Any judge in a court of law would readily accept the evidence before him. 

It would be foolish to go against the top five families. 

Especially because of the words of one man and not just anyone, but someone as insignificant as Colin. 

Surely, he didn't stand a chance. 

"I thought so" Marissa's mother had said, smiling satisfactorily after Colin had shaken his head as a no. 

"Seeing you have nowhere else to go, you would die of starvation" Marissa had chipped in 

"I move that he be not offered any job when he leaves this place" one of the cousins had suggested 

"Yes, seeing how ungrateful he is. People like this should be cut off from society itself" another had agreed 

"That is true, it is terrible to allow such a man to get back into society again" the judge had agreed. 

"What do you suggest?" Marissa had asked 

Colin still could not fathom how all this while, he had never seen this side of Marissa. 

He had always thought that she loved him. 

How could he ever love after this? 

This was beyond betrayal, he just couldn't find the right words to qualify what she had done to him. 

"Marissa? Are you under a spell?" Colin had asked one last time, just to be sure that this, standing right before him, is the wife and woman he married, Marissa. 

"Under a spell? Why would you ask that?" Marissa had queried 

"I am just surprised, women are indeed creatures not to be joked with" Colin had said 

"Perhaps, next time, you would not be so foolish to want to sleep with your wife's sister" she had sneered and turned her face away from him. 

"My family is in charge and controls everything that has to do with logistics in the city, we would ensure he doesn't as much as become a delivery man" one member of the first five top families had said 

"Who knows what he could do when asked to deliver goods?" The mother-in-law had agreed. 

The top five families had nodded in agreement encouraging the rest to come up with ideas like that too. 

"Our family on the other hand manages and controls everything that has to do with cleaning in the city. We would make sure he doesn't get to be a cleaner anywhere in the city" the representative of another top family had assured. 

"This is true justice" The cousins had cheered, encouraging the remaining three top families to go on. 

And on and on, they went. 

Each family said what they managed and controlled offering to make sure Colon could not get to work in their organizations or their city. 

And by the time they were done, Colin had found out that there was nothing else left for him in the city. 

They had planned that by so doing, Colin would not be able to survive living in the city. 

He would be forced then into ex-communication or death in the process of survival. 

Charles Darwin was never wrong in his theory of survival of the fittest. 

"I have a suggestion to make," the judge said bringing all attention to himself 

"Let's hear it then" they encouraged 

"I do not think it will be fair to let me pass judgment on this case.." He had started 

And then, there were loud whisperings from the family, all wondering if he was deciding to back out now. 

He just might not know what he was up against. 

"Let me finish" he pleaded 

"I am not done yet, allow me to explain" he added and the room became silent again, all eyes on him, waiting and expectant. 

"I think the judgment should lie with the family" he continued and only then did they begin to nod in agreement 

"No matter how I try to see it, what Mr. Colin has done to your family is unforgivable" 

"As such, I ask the families to see reason with me" 

"And to ensure equity in this, let the 

family of the victim decides how they would want to punish him" the judge finished. 

A loud ovation had risen from the families, leaving the judge in shock, he wasn't expecting that. 

"You have spoken like a true judge" Mrs. Williams had said, happy that things were turning out in the family's favor. 

She was quite skeptical about how tonight would have turned out should there be any loopholes. 

So far, it was going better than expected. 

"However, my family being the very kind family we are known to be would pass on this" Mrs. Williams started 

"I believe the families have passed his judgment well, reducing his work in aspects of the city" 

"We are thankful for this immense support" 

"And we only ask for one thing, that his marriage to our daughter, Marissa be terminated" 

"She has enough trouble already just thinking about this" Mrs. Williams finished 

"Is that all?" One asked and she nodded

"You should be thankful for a family like this" Another had said, turning to Williams 

"What are we waiting for? The marriage has been terminated" the judge had finalized.  

Colin could only shake his head, perhaps in disapproval or disappointment in the system. 

This was the justice system, the so-called "big five", how very disappointing. 

"Mr. Colin, you are ordered to pack your things and leave this vicinity, never to return" the judge had said to Colin

"He has nothing. He brought nothing when he moved in" Mrs. Williams had been very quick about that 

"Oh, forgive my ignorance" the judge apologized, correcting his statement. 

"Mr. Colin, you are ordered to leave this vicinity, never to return" 

"A restraining order would be issued and you are to be seen nowhere within two meters of this building" the judge warned. 

"He wouldn't dare" the cousins had assured 

"Guards!" Mrs. Williams had called out 

"Take this man out of here" she had ordered 

And with that, Colin was pushed out of the house, with nothing, save for the clothes he had on. 

"Did you forget something?" One of the guards had asked when Colin would not move from where he was thrown. 

"No, I just want to take one last long look at this building so I never forget it" Colin had answered. 

So much for trust and love, Colin thought and gave a wry smile. 

Just then, when he was about to go see what to do with his life, his phone rang.