Chapter 12

Sunny goes to Jhanvi. He said, "Saras does not drink normally. He drank because he was depressed. He is leaving the place as his father threw him out of the house."

Jhanvi: I don't care where he goes. Let him go to hell. I still say one thing. Either you choose your friend or me.

Sunny: I cannot choose among any one of you. Saras has always stood for us in difficult times. So, now it is my turn to be for him. But if you want to separate from me for this reason, I don't mind.

Jhanvi: I guess you have got another girl. That is why you are talking like that.

Sunny: So, now you are doubting my fidelity too.

Jhanvi: Don't think I don't know anything. I know that you have spent time with Kumari in the kotha.

Sunny: Yes, I did but there is nothing between us. I only went there for Saras. You have got to trust me.

Jhanvi: There is a saying, "Birds of the same feather flock together." Rightly so. I don't want to keep any relationship with you. 

Sunny: Good decision. I am fed up with you for dictating terms to me. You are not even my wife & you are doing that.

Jhanvi leaves.

Saras & Kumud hug each other emotionally. 

Saras: Bye. 

Kumud: Bye.

Saras leaves.

Kumud goes to her room.

Khannum & Hussaini comes to the room. 

Khannum: What state you have made for yourself. Get ready & come down. Pramad is waiting for you

Kumud: But I only belong to Saras.

Khannum: Saras is only a dream. Forget him. A courtezan is not supposed to dream and build castles. Their job is only to make others dream, refresh people's mind and entertain others. Nothing more than that.

Kumud: Saras is not a dream for me. He is my reality. I love him.

Khannum laughs: Love? The luxuries which you are enjoying cannot be achieved with love. You can get these only with money.

Kumud: Fine, but I believe that Saras will definitely come with money.

Khannum: I don't know what will happen in future. But as of now, Saras is a pauper & Pramad is wealthy. You hold Pramad's hands. It will be good for all of us.

Khannum leaves. Kumud cries.

BH: You won't get anything by weeping. The circumstances have tied our hands and legs.

Kumud: You too.

She comes down and meets Pramad.

Kumud: The girl whom you have purchased has come near you.

Pramad: You are not a girl. You are a queen of my heart.

Kumud: A purchased person cannot be a queen of someone's heart.

Pramad: That is for my heart to decide.

Kumud: But no one listens to the decision of my heart.

Pramad: Why won't they listen. I will listen & will always listen. I will never leave the search for my happiness.

Kumud: The happiness which you are talking about is a living dead. A dead body is meant for burying. It is not worthy to be loved.

Pramad: For God's sake, please don't say that. You kill me but not my efforts. I will definitely get my happiness.

Kumud takes out the ring & wears it. She sings & dances. The song is

Pramad removes his pagadi & tries to get intimate with her but seeing her unresponsive behavior, he stops.

Pramad: You are right. Without love, you are a living dead but I will give life to it. If you are not mine, I will see that you don't unite with Saras.

He leaves.

Kumud sees the Kabir's chariot & stops it. She goes down & asks, "Any news about Saras?"

Messenger: The thing is his dad's friend has sheltered Saras.

Kumud: Is it Sunaina's dad with whom they want to marry her off with him?

Messenger: Yes, you are right. Bye.

Kumud: Bye.

She goes up. BH is dressing her up. Pramad comes in BH leaves. Pramad touches her hair but Kumud covers her head & makes him sit.

Pramad: On your insistence, I have left your madness & my desire for you. Can you do me a favor?

Kumud: It is my duty to do a favor to others.

Pramad: I am not even destined for your company.

Kumud: Who said that?

Pramad: Then come with me to Daulatabad. Not forever, but for one month. It is far away from this place. You will definitely feel some change.

Kumud thinks about Saras: I will come with you. You are right. I am suffocated here. But what about Khannum?

Pramad: When I am there, you need not fear Khannum or anyone else.

Kumud meets Khannum. Both hug each other emotionally.

Kumud: Can I get permission from you?

Khannum: I am sending you on your insistence to go with Pramad & I have got the amount I wanted. But I am very much afraid. The outside world is very bad & cruel. Our world is better in many ways. There is a lot of deceit in the outside world. I know that we are ill-reputed but whatever we do, we do it with full honesty. It really pains me to think what kind of life you will get in the outside world.

Kumud: God is great.

Both hug each other once again.