RECAP

Sandhya goes with Murali to the NGO Agni to see Dr Sanjeevani Aggarwal there. She happens to meet Chitra, a prostitute at Reshma bai’s. She tells her how she was sold to someone who wanted to cast her in porn movies, how his car had an accident, how she escaped and finally joined that NGO. She feels grateful to them for giving a new dimension to her life and make her self-dependent. Sandhya meets Dr Sanjeevani Aggarwal, who sympathises with her and urges her to send Kaya to them as soon as possible. She also asks her to join that organisation. But, Sandhya chooses to stay at the brothel and save other girls from the grim world of prostitution. However, there is yet another issue. She does not know how to make Kaya escape from the sharp eyes of Malini. She seeks Murali’s help, who demands twenty thousand rupees for this work.

CHAPTER 21

Sandhya was in a fix. Two days had already passed in considerations and reconsiderations. The castle of golden dreams that she built for Kaya was on the verge of collapsing. She knew not how to arrange for money. Barring Murali, she could not think of anyone who could take Kaya to that NGO.

“Show me the way, God! Show me the way,” she offered her silent prayers to the Almighty.

“Sandhya! Can you lend me your brown lipstick?” suddenly Rajni broke into her room.

Sandhya, without replying, headed towards the almirah and started looking for her box of cosmetics in it. She took out a lipstick and gave it to Rajni. As she was keeping it back, her hand hit another box. It was the same wooden box in which she used to treasure the currency notes she would get from Bhargava. She opened it. It was full of notes up to the brim. She took them out and started counting them. This was the first time in the past so many years that she had bothered to count them.

“Oh my! Fifteen thousand rupees!” her eyes sparkled with surprise.

“Now just five thousand more,” she thought pulling her neckpiece.

Suddenly, she realised that what she was pulling was her mother’s wedding necklace that she wore on karwa chauth when she observed a fast for Bhargava. She took it off and looked at it.

“It’s made of pure gold. It will easily fetch me five thousand rupees,” she contemplated.

She felt on top of the world. Not only was she helping Kaya escape, but she was also unshackling herself from her irrational love that was taking her nowhere. She was now free, liberated from the fetters of her false dreams.

She stuffed the money in her purse and triumphantly made her way to the jeweller’s shop.

“Where are you going?” Malini asked as she saw her heading towards the staircase.

“To the jeweller’s.”

“What for?”

“Oh di! I’ve broken the clasp of my gold earrings. Let me get it mended.”

“Hmm… okay, go.”

Sandhya reached the shop and showed the wedding necklace to the jeweller.

“Quite a heavy necklace! And, pure gold too. But a bit worn-out,” he said inspecting it, “I can give you forty-five hundred for it.”

“Come on, bhaisaab! You’re underestimating its value.”

“Behenji, it’s worn-out. That’s all I can offer you.”

“I don’t think it should fetch less than five thousand,” she bargained.

“No! Five thousand won’t be feasible. Forty-seven at the most!”

“Alright! Forty-seven is okay,” she settled the deal.

The jeweller gave her the money. She counted it and kept it in her purse.

She now entered a public booth and dialled the number of the NGO.

“Hello! Could I speak to Dr Sanjeevani? I’m Sandhya. I met her on Tuesday,” she told the receptionist.

“Yes! Yes!” it seemed as if she recognised her, “Let me connect you to her.”

“Yeah, Sandhya,” she heard Dr Sanjeevani’s voice after a while.

“Madam! I just called to inform you that I’ll try to send Kaya to you by 6 in the morning.”

“Great! We’ll be waiting for her.”

“Thank you, madam,” she put down the receiver.

Then she thought for a moment and called up Murali.

“Murali! Sandhya here. Where are you?”

“At the taxi stand. Why?”

“Stay there. I’ll see you in ten minutes.”

Sandhya caught a rickshaw and reached the taxi stand in no time.

“Yes Sandhya! What brought you here?” asked Murali.

“I’ve arranged the money. Have it,” she gave him money, “It’s short by three hundred bucks.”

“That’s okay! But I wonder how you arranged for such a huge amount in just two days.”

Sandhya remained silent.

“Hmm… so tell me, what do you want me to do?” asked Murali.

“I’ll bring Kaya to you tonight. You’ve to take her to that NGO.”

“But where should I wait for you? And, at what time?” questioned Murali.

“Err… err… Kali Mandir is close to our brothel. That will be fine. All the customers leave latest by 1. So we’ll see you at 3 in the night.”

“Okay, then. See you at 3.”

“Aye, Murali! I’ve given you the money. Now what’s the guarantee that you won’t blurt out this secret to Malini di?”

He kept silent for a minute. Then, he said, “I know, you don’t trust me. Why would you trust a pimp?”

“It’s not that, Murali.”

“Let me speak, Sandhya. You know, I’ve just had a baby girl. I swear upon her that I won’t tell this to Malini bai.”

“No need to swear, Murali. Had I not trusted you, I would never have thought of sending Kaya with you. It’s just that I wanted to clear my doubts,” said Sandhya.

“Why do you think I’ve asked for such a big amount?” Murali was more interested in giving an elaborate explanation, “I’m planning to move away from here. I’ve seen a house somewhere. I can have it for rent. But for that I’ve to pay for the security deposit and buy some household items. I need money for everything. Trust me, I’ll go far away from this place.”

“But, why do you want to go, Murali? Any issues living here?”

“Sandhya, I don’t want my daughter to grow in this area and end up being a prostitute. Heavens forbid, if I’ve to be her pimp some day. I would rather die than do such a thing. Sandhya, this won’t be just Kaya’s escape, but my escape too.”

Sandhya smiled, wished him luck and went back.

On the way, she thought, “Who’s happy to be here? Everyone wants to escape. I just hope Kaya reaches there safely.”

                                            To be continued.......