Everyone stared at her because rarely anyone could
resist her charm. The slender waist and the ghaghra wore dangerously low, the
ample bosom and the non-existent choli. She knew they all stared but she was
past the point of caring for the world. The world that had abandoned her and
showered hostility in abundance. At a very young age, she knew the weapon that
her body was, especially after that brief incident in the dumpster when that
ugly smelling police inspector “punished” her. Initially she wondered why and
then she concluded men need it all the time. People called her a randi, whore,
dyan and she laughed out loud when she heard it. Dogs drool over meat when they
are hungry. Then why blame the meat? She haughtily decided that logic does not
work with people. So be it. She dressed to scandalize, walked to seduce and
used her mouth but rarely for speaking.
She had been sensing the change in the city for a while now. The goras were supposed to leave and the people seem to have heated discussion about partition, whatever that meant. The nights were all the same anyway. The landlord’s son had been patronizing her for a while. She did not mind that. He was one of those idiots who drooled after her but at least he was rich and that always helped. But the problem was she was growing to like him. He barely spoke, he came and went as he wished, did not ask her questions and there was rarely conversation. It was clear he drooled over her as the evidence was the surprising number of jewellery she had started to wear. She loved this arrangement and the rich idiot did not seem to mind either.Yesterday was a particularly disturbing night. She dreamt of human carcass, pool of blood and blood thirsty men. The dream was like the scene she had seen in the marketplace the week before and the week before that. When she woke up in cold sweat, she heard screams. She went out and saw men bawling on the streets. Drunken idiots she thought. Next morning, while enjoying the lustful stares, she also heard the latest. Ram colony has been burnt down. That news sent shivers down her spine. The rich idiot. He must be fine. No, he has to be fine. But he did not come last night. She crashed into someone or was it an electric pole? How does it matter? The rich idiot. That’s what matters.
In a numbing haze she found herself in front of a sprawling mansion in shambles. A part of the mansion has been burnt down. She marched inside. What was his name again? Rajeev? Rajesh? Oh god. There is deathly silence and the unmistakeable stench of kerosene. She stepped on something. Burnt wood? Oh wait. It has fingers. She held the nearest wall for support and stifled the rising scream. He lay there. Yes that is him. She ran and checked for breathing. Yes he was breathing. She shook him awake. He could barely open his eyes. He murmured something. “Save her” he said and pointed his finger towards a room. “Save her please” and the angst did not betray his weak voice. She ran inside the room inwardly cursing herself. Why was she saving “her”? She decided this is the last favour she was giving the rich idiot. Inside the room lay Her. Her had her hands tied back and mouth gagged. She hurriedly untied Her and thought she would immediately leave with the rich idiot. He was fine after all.
A stone shattered the remnants of the glass on the window. Then followed a shower of stones. Big ones. Small ones. She had to escape with the rich idiot. She decided he will make it out alive. She could see that was he was struggling to stand. A bunch of men were walking inside the compound all drenched in blood, theirs and others. Unsheathed swords and weapons of destruction were their accompaniments. This did not look good. The air was heavy with the intent to kill. “Don’t worry about them, I will handle those men and you escape with Her. I will follow you later”. She did not wait for his answer and walked out. Because she knew men needed it all the time. She cannot quite explain what followed next expect that the dumpster incident was being repeated with quite a few number of policemen.
The local newspaper reported this incident the following day:
“Rajeev Singh, the son of landlord Manmohan Singh showed immense bravery by saving his young sister Vimla Singh despite suffering major second and third degree burns. The entire Singh family has been rescued and relocated to an undisclosed location and are rumoured to stay there till the riots are subdued. Two individuals have been reported to be dead. One of them is their loyal servant Ghansyam and an unidentified body.”
She had been sensing the change in the city for a while now. The goras were supposed to leave and the people seem to have heated discussion about partition, whatever that meant. The nights were all the same anyway. The landlord’s son had been patronizing her for a while. She did not mind that. He was one of those idiots who drooled after her but at least he was rich and that always helped. But the problem was she was growing to like him. He barely spoke, he came and went as he wished, did not ask her questions and there was rarely conversation. It was clear he drooled over her as the evidence was the surprising number of jewellery she had started to wear. She loved this arrangement and the rich idiot did not seem to mind either.Yesterday was a particularly disturbing night. She dreamt of human carcass, pool of blood and blood thirsty men. The dream was like the scene she had seen in the marketplace the week before and the week before that. When she woke up in cold sweat, she heard screams. She went out and saw men bawling on the streets. Drunken idiots she thought. Next morning, while enjoying the lustful stares, she also heard the latest. Ram colony has been burnt down. That news sent shivers down her spine. The rich idiot. He must be fine. No, he has to be fine. But he did not come last night. She crashed into someone or was it an electric pole? How does it matter? The rich idiot. That’s what matters.
In a numbing haze she found herself in front of a sprawling mansion in shambles. A part of the mansion has been burnt down. She marched inside. What was his name again? Rajeev? Rajesh? Oh god. There is deathly silence and the unmistakeable stench of kerosene. She stepped on something. Burnt wood? Oh wait. It has fingers. She held the nearest wall for support and stifled the rising scream. He lay there. Yes that is him. She ran and checked for breathing. Yes he was breathing. She shook him awake. He could barely open his eyes. He murmured something. “Save her” he said and pointed his finger towards a room. “Save her please” and the angst did not betray his weak voice. She ran inside the room inwardly cursing herself. Why was she saving “her”? She decided this is the last favour she was giving the rich idiot. Inside the room lay Her. Her had her hands tied back and mouth gagged. She hurriedly untied Her and thought she would immediately leave with the rich idiot. He was fine after all.
A stone shattered the remnants of the glass on the window. Then followed a shower of stones. Big ones. Small ones. She had to escape with the rich idiot. She decided he will make it out alive. She could see that was he was struggling to stand. A bunch of men were walking inside the compound all drenched in blood, theirs and others. Unsheathed swords and weapons of destruction were their accompaniments. This did not look good. The air was heavy with the intent to kill. “Don’t worry about them, I will handle those men and you escape with Her. I will follow you later”. She did not wait for his answer and walked out. Because she knew men needed it all the time. She cannot quite explain what followed next expect that the dumpster incident was being repeated with quite a few number of policemen.
The local newspaper reported this incident the following day:
“Rajeev Singh, the son of landlord Manmohan Singh showed immense bravery by saving his young sister Vimla Singh despite suffering major second and third degree burns. The entire Singh family has been rescued and relocated to an undisclosed location and are rumoured to stay there till the riots are subdued. Two individuals have been reported to be dead. One of them is their loyal servant Ghansyam and an unidentified body.”
