Part 4
Umrao: I kept getting entangled to these expensive items. Just imagine a girl who did not think of anything beyond her simple living & the eatables that her father gives gets the expensive items, how it would be. It is natural for her to go mad.
Bua Hussaini & Moulvi gave me so much love that I didn't get the feeling of my parent's absence. I have made friends like Kusum, Kumari & Kabir.
I had developed a burning desire to be like them.
Umrao was setting up the bed.
Husaini: You should never set the bed in which its leg faces outside. It is a bad omen.
Umrao: What will happen?
Moulvi: It is set like that when somebody expires.
He sets the bed. Hussaini, "This is the way we set."
Moulvi: Today I will teach you some rituals & traditions. Freshen up & come here.
Apart from the education they gave me, they appointed guruji to teach me sher & shayari. Bua Hussaini taught me how to mingle with people. Moulvi taught me sher & shayari. Days passed by. Childhood days went far behind and youth entered.
Flashback resumes
Umrao was combing her hair and was admiring herself in the mirror. Kabir comes and interrupts.
Umrao: Why are you coming in between? I am not able to look at my face.
Kabir: Good thing. Your face is so beautiful that even if your nazar can fall on it.
Umrao: Am I beautiful? Kusum and Kumari are more beautiful than me. They get expensive clothes and jewelry. The men also comb their hair Even when I go there by mistake they send me for some reason or the other.
Kabir: They are afraid of losing their men to you. No one would feel like looking at any other face after they see yours.
Umrao: That is all false imagination. I have to comb my hair all by myself
Kabir: I will comb your hair.
He touches her neck in the pretext of combing her hair. Umrao startles. She asked, "Why are you touching me like that?"
Kabir: Is this the first time I am touching you? I have touched you earlier.
Umrao: That was during our childhood days which is far behind. This is the adulthood.
Khannum comes. She confronts Kabir and said, "What is this cheap act?"
Kabir:; She gave me the permission to comb her hair.
Khannum: I know your tactics. You always run after other women. You dad is a nawab for name's sake but he is a goon.
Kabir: Don't bring my father in between.
Khannum: Get lost.
Kabir: You can do whatever you want. I am only living off you.
He leaves.
Khannum to Umrao: I have mixed feelings towards him. Sometimes I get angry at him and sometimes I feel sorry for him. How do you get into the trap of such persons?
Umrao: What to do? I am fed up of my hair. You don't have time for me. For that matter no one has. Not even you.
Khannum combs her hair: Don't get disheartened. Your time will definitely come.
The next day, dance class begins. All the 3 girls rehearse. After the session, Umrao feeds the birds. She gets teary eyes.
Moulvi: What is this? It is not good if your eyes get wet.
Umrao: I remembered my childhood days. I remember the song Agle janam mohe bitiya na ki jo.
Moulvi: Childhood days are far behind and your language is also gone. Come read this poem.
Umrao reads the poem
Aankhen teri chahe jise Deewana bana de.
Aankhen teri chahe jise deewana bana de.
Pathar bhi bi gir jaaye toh paimana bana de.
Moulvi: Awesome. If you substitute aankhen with nazrain, it is the latter that falls.
Umrao: Thanks a lot.
Moulvi: Saying thanks is not enough. You have got to help me just as I did.
Umrao: Are you asking me to help you?
Moulvi: Why not?
Umrao: Tell me.
Moulvi: I need your help to fill the lines of a poem but not getting the second line.
Humne chhoda tha zamana ko jinhe paane ke liye
I am not getting the exact second line.
Umrao: Humne chhoda tha zamana jinhe paane ke liye
lo wohi chhod chala hume zamana ke liye.
Moulvi: Awesome. You are very intelligent. I should reward you. Tell me what you want.
Umrao: I want the eatables which my dad used to get me.
Moulvi gets dull
Umrao: What happened?
Moulvi: I am very much indebted to you. If life is faithful to me, I will always be there for you.
Umrao: So you won't get those eatables for me?
Moulvi: Of course.
He takes out his ring: Take this ring. It will always protect you.
The next day Hussaini conducts the dance test for the girls to see how much they have learned
Kusum (Bismillah) dances.
Then they call Kumari (Khurshid). She too dances.
Hussaini: Wow. Both of you are the gem of our kotha.
A client comes there & approaches Hussaini. He said, "At Nawab Saras's place there is a wedding. So he wants an entertainment from the best courtezan to dance for that occasion. He is ready to give whatever amount you charge."
Khannum: Tell him that we are ready.
Kumari & Kusum are eager to dance so they can present themselves before Saras
Hussaini: Whom do you select?
Khannum: It is Umrao.
Hussaini is happy.
Umrao is shocked. She goes to Khanum & said, "The entire Lucknow will be there & this is my first presentation."
Khanum: It is good for you. This is the best time for you to prove your worth in whole Lucknow. A diamond's worth is known outside.
Both Khannum & Hussaini bless her.
Umrao goes to her room to get ready.
Kusum (Bismillah) is dismayed. She goes to Khanum & said, "I am sorry to say this but I am disappointed that you have selected Umrao for this occasion though we are your own daughter."
Khanum: There is no place for relationship & emotions in this profession. I consider everything before taking a decision. If Umrao goes she will earn a lot of name, fame & wealth which will be beneficial to our kotha & you will enjoy all the luxuries.
Flashback pauses
Edited by kavsy - 7 years ago
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