RECAP

Sandhya heats the water so that Kaya could have a bath. Suddenly, she hears Murali, a taxi driver and Chitra, a prostitute in the neighbouring brothel abusing each other. Murali often used to get customers for them. He and Chitra were fighting over the share of money. Sandhya somewhat ignoring them goes to Kaya’s room and finds her holding her blood-stained salwar. She innocently asks if that is her child’s blood. She is deeply affected and is not reacting to anything. Sandhya wants her to cry so that she is relieved of the pain coagulating inside her. Rajni assures Sandhya that she will recover soon.

CHAPTER 10

Nearly two weeks had passed since Kaya miscarried the child. She was recovering at a good pace, though she still was emotionally affected. The young girl of fifteen whose laughs had a tinkling of anklets, whose smiles could brighten up the darkest of nights, probably died with her unborn baby. Everyone in the house wanted her to come back to her old self. Her nutrition was given utmost attention. Malini was surprisingly gracious enough not to let any customer could close to her, as copulating could affect her health. Sandhya still shared her room with her, so that she could be available to her at any hour of the day or night.

Tonight, as usual, she was sleeping next to Kaya on the same bed. She was completely exhausted and drained. After all, she satisfied five customers in a row. As soon as she lay on the bed, sleep blanketed her.

After a while, she had a very strange dream. She and Bhargava were walking through a garden. Rose petals were adorning their path. Bhargava was holding her hand.

“Why did you never profess your love for me?” Bhargava asked.

“We’re not allowed to love, Bhargava ji. And, how could I forget who I’m?” Sandhya replied.

“Why? What’s wrong with you?” Bhargava asked further.

Sandhya smiled and said, “I’m a prostitute. I’m the one who sells herself for money.”
Bhargava gently touched her shoulders and said, “Don’t abuse the woman I love, Sandhya.”

“Bhragava ji!” she looked into his eyes.

“Yes, I love you,” saying this Bhargava enfolded her into his arms. Sandhya forgot the whole world and started listening to his rhythmic heartbeats.

“Is this my child that you are carrying?” suddenly she heard Kaya’s voice. She was chasing a white shadow holding a newly born in its arms. Sandhya separated herself from Bhargava to look at Kaya. Her kameez was besmirched with blood.

“Give my child back to me,” she was running after the shadow leaving a trail of blood behind her.

“Kaya! Come here! Don’t follow that shadow,” Sandhya called out to her. But Kaya had gone deaf.

“Bhargava ji! See, she’s not listening to me. Why don’t you call her?” she turned to Bhargava for some help. And to the greatest extent of her astonishment, the butcher of the meat shop was standing in place of him. He was carrying a large piece of beef, but it seemed as if his eyes were fixed on Kaya.

“Quite a juicy chunk of meat!” the butcher said.

At this, Sandhya woke up with a start. She was sweating profusely. She roved her hand on the bed to feel for Kaya, but could not find her.

“Kaya!” she called her.

No answer she got.

“Kaya!” she repeated. Still no reply!

Now she got up from the bed and switched on the light. Kaya was not in the room.

“Where are you, Kaya?” Sandhya began to look for her everywhere.

“Are you inside?” she knocked at the washroom door.

Suddenly she heard a loud sound of something falling from a height followed by the whimpers of Kaya. She shivered from head to toe. Somehow infusing energy into her limbs, she rushed to Kaya’s room.

Kaya had fallen on the floor. A dupatta was hanging from the ceiling fan and there was an overturned chair besides her. Sharada’s golden yellow sari was on fire. Sandhya instantly understood the whole story. She had tried to commit suicide by hanging herself. Probably the noose was not tight enough. It got loose and she safely landed down. But yes, she had made a bonfire of her mother’s sari. And the girl who had not shed a single tear from the past two weeks was now crying bitterly. Maybe it was her way to get rid of all that she was holding so dear till now – her unfulfilled dreams, illusions, memories and tears. This time Sandhya did not console her. She left her on her own.

                                                                                          To be continued....