Chapter 9 // City girl
"We can do it for you Maalkin. Please let us do." The elderly worker requested me like all the other.
They were bugging me stil past hour. I mean it was just a tea I could do it. I didn't need their help.
"You have been doing it from past hour please let us-" I interrupted her in between being frustrated.
"I CAN do it! Sorry kaki but Let me do this pleaseee" I requested her and she shook her head in fear and left me alone.
I heaved a sigh and continued to stir the content inside of pot.
This morning I decided to do special special for since he gifted me and ghuni our seat in the best college.Wearing a yellow saree for him I started the day.
He was in deep slumber right now in his room, so I decided to boil tea for him. Then at night I will be wearing bikini dress for him.
Ghuni and I will be attending college on Saturday and sunday as instructed to us. We both are excited and looking forward for the future.
"Excuse me? Okay thanks...it means shukriya"
A feminine voice broke my lovely thoughts and I turned my back to see a beautiful tall and confident Woman.
She was speaking in english smoothly.
I have never seen her before here. She seems a relative.
Her lean legs were in show. They were smooth and without hair. I looked at mine covered with saree, they are heavy not lean and hairy too.
She was wearing a pretty pink dress with very pointed heels, her hair were very straight (deadstraight) not moving in front of face at all.
Her eyes raked over my body and she smiled with tight lip. With slow strides, making sounds from her heels she made her way tome.
"I actually need your help." She said in hindi to me. I nodded to be friendly.
"How much sugar does he takes?Actually he kept fluctuating the number of spoons." She chuckled at her Own words.
What is she talking about? I thought.
After Not getting a reply from me. She asked,
"Tsk..I am talking about Vikrant!Tell me."
I gasped at her. Did she really say his name. No one ever called him by his name. Who she was?
"who you are?" I asked in suspicion.
"I am his only friend from city. I miss him a lot. He usually stayed in village for maximum 2 days but when he didn't comeback I got worried. So..my sister Palak, daughter in law of this haveli...she said me to visit him here. And here I am."
Her words left be baffled.
Does he spend his night in city with her like he did here with me?
"I actually am preparing his favourite coffee for him. Palak didi told me you are his 'NewProstitute' for few days. So tell me?"
Her words cut through my ear, pinching at my heart.
New? Few days? Tears gathered in my eyes. So everything was fake? My mind debated.
I heard some laughs of different people from aangan. My eyes involuntarily moved to her. She was looking at me with a bad smile.
I Don't know about I didn't liked the way she was smiling and looking with her siren eyes.
"That's actually my parents outside. We came here to ... Talk about Our delayed marriage." She said, rubbing the reality at my face like a chilli on wound.
She didn't gave me any time to process the information. And pushed me aside by elbow with a little force.
"You are done right? Let me prepare coffee now. You go and wash dirty utensils...I will take care of him today... very nicely." She said.
I moved back from there still processing her words.
She placed the tea pan aside and starting preparing her potion.
With shaky hands I sieved the tea, not knowing who's gonna drink that now.
Taking the tea cup I moved to other side towards a maid to give her tea rather than wasting it or even worse embarassing myself in front of Vikrant jii.
My steps halted and at last a tear escaped brown my eyes at her words,
"I hope you have not think about yourself as special to him. Its very normal for men like him to have different girl every different night. You are just one of them."
Without replying her I gave the Cup to maid even after she said no.
I moved out of the kitchen to see a perfect family picture in front of me. Everyone was laughing and enjoying.
"Inayat ! Inayat ! Chai laao humari jaldi.
Kitna pyaar dalogi usme jaldi laao "
The masculine voice echoed as he moved down from stairs in black t shirt and grey joggers.
His eyes moved at people present there. Hard angry eyes. Vein popping. He was angry.
Soon enough he saw me and I saw the change in his eyes. They become so tender.
He made his way to me but that city girl came in between.
"Here is your coffee Agni" she said while grinning.
Why did she changed his name now? I minded.
"Tumhara naam bhi Inayat hai kya ? Aur haveli ke naukar kabse mujhe Agni bolne lage. Bade maalik bolo bey."
He said making me chuckle at dropped face of city girl.
He moved to me, ignoring her on way.
His warm lips landed at mine and we both moaned in touch.
I forgot the eyes that were watching us and got lost in him. He left my mouth with a loud smooching sound.
I looked in his eyes and he patted my hair like a kid. I removed his hand in annoyance, he gave a big smile at that.
"Toh humari chai kahan hai Baby doll?"
He asked and I felt bad.
"That-"
"Here, Bade maalik" the same elder maid cut me off and forwarded the tray to him.
She might have not drink it from fear.
"Hmm..bhot achi hai baby doll." His sipped and complimented.
He lied I knew because I have added chilli powder in it, for good colour.
I didn't say anything and smiled at his lie.
"Agni jii pranam." Our eyes broke as city girl's father spoke and folded his hand.
"Nikalo yaha se. Warna sirf abhi kangal kia hai, jeene layak nhi chordege."
His rude voice replied.
Suddenly the man fall on his feet and begged.
I didn't get what was even happening.
"Baba!"
The two daughters screamed and walked to him. The city girl moved deliberately from my backside pushing me in front.
Vikrant ji threw the cup to side otherwise hot tea might havel anded on me and Vikrant ji held me in his arms protective-ly.
"Kamini!" His angry voice boomed to her.
She ignored him and held her father.
"Please I beg you let us leave. Please I will die with no money and food. I beg you. We are here for your mercy please." The man begged making me realising everything her daughter said was false.
I felt anger, so much of it. She made me question Vikrant Ji's intentions.
"Your daughter should have think before doing bad to my girl! She is getting out of hand and you pay for teaching her things." He said ignoring the pleas.
Palak's red eyes were tearing up and she got up and pointed her finger at me releasing her words,
"This girl is the problem! She was supposed to be a one time thing and my sister should have been marrying you but no, you gave shelter to her like a dog she is."
"Enough! Dog? A dog right? I will show you what a dog does." He left me in cold air and walked with strong steps to some room and came back with a long chain like thing.
"Here!" He chained the neck of both woman one by one and they didn't say anything by stern eyes of their father.
He chained them like a dog.
He walked off to kitchen taking some food crumbs with him he threw them on grounds.
"Eat them. Eat them like a dog does. Do it or your father dies here." He ordered and pointed his gun at older man.
No one said anything.
They got down on knees and eat the crumbs from floor. I felt bad but they were bad too.
"Now I will send you both to brothel and you will see a difference between one night thing and life time thing." He declared as soon they ate everything.
The old man cried more, so did the mother. The husband of Palak was silent.
I moved to stop this cruelty now. I didn't want them to be punished so harshly.
Hugging him to chest, I noticed his laboured breathing.
I looked at his eyes, "please let them go. For me?".
He looked hesitate but then nodded.
He tucked gun at his back.
"Pack your bags and leave this village. None of you should not Caught my eye ever." He said to them and held my palm to move upstairs.
"Wait!" I left his hand and moved to them.
Removing the chain I threw it away from them. Their eyes were red from tears.
Clenching my fist, I opened it and tightly slapped both the woman. One by one.
They made me cry and lied. They deserved it.
I moved away from them and joined Vikrant ji's palm. He looked proud.
We both moved to his room.