New FF: Destiny's Child updated part 5 pg 5 - Page 2

The few months after leaving their house, Anjali saw everything in life, which was enough to last her her all days on this planet.

She saw her Maa begging for work in the high society houses, & getting almost kicked out of them by the stiff, upper-lipped servants. Anjali decided that she didn't like that attitude & she would starve rather than work as a maid when she grew up.

Her Maa felt sorry for her daughter for being a witness to her humiliation, but convinced herself that it was better if her Anju sees real life sooner rather than later. She couldn't leave her anywhere else & had to take her alongside.

Anju saw her Maa being groped in the dark alleys. Her 10- year old self didn't understand what was happening, but it was clear that Maa wasn't liking it. That decided it for her- if maa didn't like it, she didn't like it either, & it would help if she saw a way out rather than start crying. She picked up a nearby stone & hurled it at one of the attackers. She was more shocked than him that she had hit him right on the head. The man grabbed his friend & they ran- off into the night.

"Anju, tu theek to hai, na? Tune who patthar maara kya?"

"Haan, Maa! Ma, woh 'woh aadmi kya kar raha tha?"

"Anju, who wahi kar raha that, jo har mard karta hai- atyachaar. Tu jab badi hogi, tu samajh jaayegi."

This was just a few of the many incidents that hardened up Anju from the inside. The world was not a good place & you have to to fight to get a foothold here.

As they slept on the cold hard floor of the railway platform a year later, Kaanta looked at her daughter & felt proud of her. She was not missish & kept her head during difficulties. But how long would this happen? Anju was growing up. She needed a home.

The orphanage? Never- Anju had a mother & she hadn't survived hell only to dump her child into an orphanage & make her feel unwanted.

A boarding- school? Kaanta would give her life to earn that much money to get her daughter educated & away from this scum of a life. But what to do till the time she earned that money?

Kaanta could only see 1 solution. She could go to Usman Bhai- after 12 years. Would he accept her back? What price would she have to pay? She could get a roof above their heads & some money- but would she have to go back to her profession? They would go there the next day.

Kaanta apprehensively stepped into the den of iniquity which looked like a modest hotel in a broad daylight, but was a brothel during the night. She clutched Anju tighter to her side & almost stepped back outside, but thought again of taking a chance. She walked up to the cashier.

"Usman Bhai se milna hai."

"Wo yahaan nahi hai.Chale jaao yahaan se." he went back to his account books. Kaanat slammed her hand on the table.

"Mujhe Usman Bhai se milna hai ' abhi issi wakt. Unse kehna Kaanta Bai milne aayi hai."

The cashier reluctantly asked a manservant to go in & ask. The servant came bank, hurriedly.

"Bhai ne andar bulaaya hai."

Kaanta held Anjali's hand & went inside through a couple of rooms.

A man was sitting on a wooden chair smoking a cheroot. He was middle-aged, but tall & well built. The room was full of bodyguards with guns in their hands.

So this is what a gangster looks like, thought Anju. She looked at Usman Bhai sitting with the air of a nawaab & was immediately a bit fearful of what would happen if she disobeyed anything said to her by him.

"Kaanta Bai'''kyun tere pati ne tujhe chod diya kya?"

"Nahi meine usse."

Usman Bhai roared with laughter.

"Baat to ek hi hui. Tu aur teri beti akele hi pad gaye na!"

He pointedly looked at Anjali who was in one corner of the room by the round-table.

"Anjali ko kuch nahi hona chaahiye."

"Acha yeh baat hai? Toh tu kaam karne ke liye taiyar hai?"

"Nahi, Bhai, mein koi aur kaam karegi, par who puraana waala kaam nahi."

"Nahi karegi tu?"

"Nahi."

"Tu mereko nahi bol rahi hai? Usman Bhai ko? Shaayad to yahaan ka niyam bhool gayi- Usmaan Bhai ko koi naa nahi kehta. Chote, haat pakad isska." He got up & took out his belt & lifted it into the air.

"Maa ko haat mat lagaana." Usman stopped midway to look at that waif of a girl clutching a pistol.

"Kya boli tu?"

"Maine kahaa na, maa ko haat mat lagaana. Bandook chala doongi."

Usman was intrigued by this girl. He signaled all his men to lower their guns with a single nod & turned to her.

"Accha? Tu mujhe maaregi? Leki usmein goli bhi hai kya?"

He saw uncertainty flash into her eyes, which immediately replaced with anger & defiance.

The next thing he heard was a shot & realized that blood was seeping through his kurta.It didn't bother him much, he who had suffred worse wounds than a simple bullet

"Dekha? Bandook mein goli thi." He was even more surprised on seeing a slight twinkle in the girl's eyes. His decision was made.

"Kaanta bai, tu chal mere saath teri ladki ko lekar. Tu abse meri behen aur yeh ladki meri beti jaisi. Yeh ab mujhse seekhegi, samajhi?"

Kaanta couldn't believe her eyes. Her 11-year old Anju actually shot Usman Bhai?? Even the police was afraid to do that! By the time she recollected her wits, all she saw was Usman Bhai teaching her daughter how to check discreetly if a pistol was loaded. She wasn't happy with the kind of "education" her daughter was getting, but acknowledged that Anju's audacity had actually saved their lives today. She would force Usman Bhai to give Anju a proper education. She shook her head, looking at Anju listening intently. No, she probably wouldn't need to. Anju would ask him herself'''.