Scene: Family Court. A quiet hum of the air-conditioning fills the room. Chairs line the sides. The Judge sits behind a polished wooden bench, flipping through the case file. On one side, the Wife and her Counsel; on the other, the Husband and his Counsel. The matter: husband’s failure to pay monthly maintenance despite court orders.
Judge (adjusting reading glasses):
“Mr. Tariq, the court ordered you to pay Rs. 20,000 every month. Records show you haven’t paid for two months. What’s your defense?”
Husband (hands folded, with a pious expression):
“Your Honour, I’m unemployed. The economy is in crisis. I survive on chai and hope.”
Wife’s Counsel (opening a folder):
“Sir, Yet, my client saw him last week at Centaurus Mall, enjoying steak and uploading a selfie captioned ‘Living the dream’.”
Husband (clearing throat):
“Old photo. Very old. From… 2018.”
Wife (calm but cutting):
“Interesting. Because the background has the new food court renovations from 2025.”
Judge (raising eyebrow):
“Mr. Tariq, is inflation affecting only your maintenance payments, not your dining habits?”
Husband’s Counsel (smoothly):
“My client is going through a difficult spiritual journey. Money is secondary to him.”
Wife’s Counsel:
“Yes, but somehow, imported sneakers, a smartwatch, and VIP cinema tickets are primary to him.”
Husband (defensive):
“Those were… gifts!”
Wife:
“From whom? Tooth Fairy?”
Judge (dryly):
“Mr. Tariq, the law doesn’t grant immunity from maintenance because one is unemployed. This is a courtroom, not a sympathy fundraiser.”
Wife’s Counsel (leaning in for cross-examination):
“Is it not true you operate an online car rental business under your cousin’s name?”
Husband (sweating lightly despite the AC):
“I… just help him. Out of family loyalty.”
Wife’s Counsel:
“And are you paid for this ‘loyalty’?”
Husband (reluctantly):
“Sometimes… yes.”
Judge (firmly):
“Mr. Tariq, loyalty is admirable, but not at the expense of court orders. You have ten days to pay all arrears. Failure will result in your next journey being to Adiala Jail — and that’s one trip with no return ticket.”
[The Wife smiles quietly. Husband’s Counsel scribbles in a notebook. Husband stares at the floor, mentally calculating how ‘family loyalty’ can suddenly become ‘maintenance payments’.]
Narrator:
Cross-examination — where excuses come to be politely unwrapped and truth is served fresh, under cool air-conditioning.
—
Disclaimer: This is a work of pure fiction and satire. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, or painfully familiar situations—especially concerning Centaurus Mall or Adiala Jail—is entirely coincidental and should not be taken seriously. The names have been changed to protect the hilariously shameless. The dialogue and events are for entertainment purposes only and are in no way a substitute for genuine legal advice, which we highly recommend you get before trying to pay your bills with “hope” alone. The only thing we guarantee is that our air conditioning works better than the one in this story.
