This saying,“what happens in court stays in court,” unless it is funny, needs to be shared with the world. Here I, Mitali Ashok Malekar, am sharing my most amusing incident from the courtroom. I remember an incident from my early law school days when I was a Practicing Intern. Having so much interest in Criminal Law, I decided to do my first internship in criminal law in Pune District Court under my mentor’s Adv. Ranjeet Hande Sir.
Heading back to the story, I’d like to share the incident which happened during a proceeding regarding theft. Owing to my bad luck, the Judge’s mood didn’t seem so right. During the proceedings my phone rang, which wasn’t on silent. Being a sarcastic woman, I had saved my boyfriend’s name as Baby Shark with that irritating baby shark ringtone (shark heart emoji) way more like what today’s Kabir Singh’s bike wowooowoo tune seems like. Angrily looking everywhere as to who made the guts not to put the phone on silent, he finally made a way at me and asked to stand right in between of the argument.
Judge: “Lady ain’t you aware of court rules?”
Mitali: “Sorry sir, won’t happen again!”
Judge: “Kindly submit your phone and meet me once the court is adjourned.”
Well, I submitted my phone to him and yet this time, it started ringing again while the Judge was about to give his verdict on the case. But my boyfriend had got no chill; he had to call me and let the baby shark be displayed on the phone.
He made sure that the phone was silent so that the baby shark won’t disturb him again. After an hour, the judgment was given, which went in my mentor’s favour. Eager to take my confiscated phone back, I went to the Judge’s chamber while he was having tea. He saw me coming and (he being genuinely good at heart) ordered a cup of tea for me.
Judge: “Aao aao baby shark tumhara wait kar raha hai.”
Mitali: “SORRY SIR, it won’t happen again.”
After talking for an hour about my legal profession, he gave me back my phone. Interestingly he happened to be a relative from my mother’s side. Further, he gave me suggestions as to how to be a good criminal lawyer and left after our discussion was over.
One thing I would like to highlight from this incident is that no matter what life gives you; if you do good, you get right. I felt lucky by knowing such a beautiful person inside out. Today I see him as a mentor too and whenever I have some difficulties, he is always there, a typical GURU SHISHYA relation. I’m thankful this incident made me closer to the outside world where others just have a Judge & a Lawyer relation.