Chapter 2
Khushi a simple and a beautiful girl lived in the slums of Mumbai. She was God's favorite child when it came to showering sorrows and hardships on somebody. Her father passed away just a few days before she opened her eyes in this world, therefore she was considered inauspicious.
However her mother doted on her and for her khushi was her priceless possession. Thinking that khushi needed father's love as well, she married once again to shashi and that was the biggest mistake for which not only she but her daughter also paid later on.
Shashi an alcoholic and jobless gambler did nothing to earn a living and only survived on the earnings of his wife. Khushi grew up seeing her step father fight and beat her ailing mother. He was a heartless and shameless man who would spend money on his drinks instead of buying medicines for his wife as a result one day she too left khushi's side. Her world fell apart still she managed to gather herself and continued living a lonely life.
The only things that kept her going were talking to the stars at night hoping that one of them were her mother and remembering her mother's words that one day someone really caring and loving would definitely come in her life and take her away with him. Other than these things she loved listening to music especially romantic songs on her age old radio. The love and romance in the songs would take her to a different world where everything was nice, sweet and perfect. She lived happily in her dream land waited for her prince charming to come and sweep her off her feet like any other young girl. In her dreams she would see herself embracing someone closely, listening to his rhythmic heart beat, feeling his warmth around herself but could never see his face, still she was in love with her dream and truly believed that one day it would surely come true, after all she wasn't asking for the impossible.
Thus with a smile on her lips and faith in her bappa she faced everything that came her way, be it the wrath of her father or the abuses that were hurled at her at the places where she worked as a house maid.
However one day life took an imaginably new turn when her father was put behind bars for cheating on somebody. He'd borrowed Rs 7000 which he eventually lost in gambling. Although she was never loved by him and didn't have the much needed money still she couldn't let him rot in jail so went to the police station to get him released somehow and that's when Shyam, the cop got smitten by her beauty. He agreed to free and repay the debt on behalf of shashi but on one condition that he got her daughter married to him.
Shashi without blinking his eyes said yes, didn't even care to think that in the absence of khushi how would he survive, after all she was the only one earning, the sole thing that he wished was to be out in the open at that point of time hence the very next day for a meager sum of seven thousand rupees khushi was sold, nope married off to shyam.
So was shyam her dream man? No, how could he be? He was a leach a monster who craved only for her body. Every morning she'd wake up with a blistering body ache and puffy eyes questioning, would these traumatic and forceful nights ever end? With every passing moment she was dying a slow death and one day everything killed inside her when her husband who had been married several times and who after sucking as much pleasure as he could from her left her in a brothel , again for money.
Music was still part of her life but not the way she'd wanted. Now every evening she danced in a beer bar to some raunchy song being played in the background. As far as talking to the stars was concerned that was out of question, nights were spent in a different way, satisfying lustful and sensual needs of men.
In no time she was reduced into nothing but a money making lifeless piece of flesh. She no more dreamed, how could she? When sleep hardly invaded her eyes and the desire of being loved eluded her completely when her heart stopped beating after witnessing the harsh realities of life.
Its said that there is light at the end of the tunnel, maybe god thought of sparing her for some time when destiny came knocking at her door.
One day shalini , a rich powerful yet dejected wife approached her.
" how much do you end up making in a month?" shalini asked crossing her hands in front of her chest.
"hmm around 20,000." khushi replied with her chin held high, she earned the maximum amongst all the girls around and she was proud of the fact.
" what if I offer you one lac for a month and ten lacs for ten months?" shalini said titling her head slightly.
Khushi's eyes popped out and her mouth formed a perfect 'O' on hearing her offer. She had indeed pressed the right button, shalini thought and continued further," in these ten months you'll only do what I'll say."
Still in a state of shock, khushi nodded her head and hoped that the lady standing in front of her told her what she was expected to do, for ten lacs she would do anything.
Shalini paused for a moment then added," I want a baby."
Khushi looked at her carefully, she seemed to be a married woman with vermillion filled in her parting and mangal sutra dangling around her neck.
" listen madam if you want a baby then ask your husband not me...nonsense!" she blurted. Shalini went quiet and her eyes scattered the floor.
" what? Can't you guys even manage a baby on your own?" she chuckled in amusement. Shalini didn't enjoy being laughed at, still gathered her courage and told the entire plan to khushi that she wanted her to carry her husband's child, till delivery she'd stay with them and afterwards leave the child and go away with her sum of ten lacs forever.
Always been accused of breaking homes, today a wife herself was inviting khushi to sleep with her husband, she sniggered at the thought. Ten lacs wasn't a small amount and considering that money till date played such a crucial role in her life as she was married off for seven thousand, then again sold off for money and every night she made nothing but money so money was all over the place, the lack of it ruled her life but now with ten lacs in her kitty, who knows she might get an opportunity to live on her terms in future. So without thinking twice, she agreed to the proposal.
"so when do I get started?" khushi asked eagerly.
" tonight..however you'll only have one night to conceive." Implying she was required to spend just one night with him.
" just one night? What if I don't get pregnant?" she was confused and touched her belly at once.
Sighing deeply shalini replied," then you get nothing."
It was a gamble, if she got pregnant then well and good but if not then she would be back to square one.
" oh my god, it's like a twenty twenty match. Either a six or clean bowled." She laughed at her own joke and then rubbed her hands in glee before declaring," but I'm ready."
shalini nodded her head and took her to a clinic to ensure that she wasn't HIV +ve and was capable of bearing a child, she didn't wish to take any chances.
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From a slum to a wife abuser's house then to a brothel and now Raizada mansion , life was no doubt long and unpredictable for khushi. Her first encounter with the mighty gangster and godfather of Ratnagiri was not like the one she'd expected it to be. He was rude and enraged on seeing her in his room. She'd dismissed his whole behavior as a pretence, as per her he was just trying to portray a goody goody husband's image in front of his wife. She'd dealt with countless men in these three years and knew them inside out therefore ignoring how he'd reacted in the day she took a shower, wore her skimpy blouse and skirt, did her loud make up, pouted in front of the mirror before deciding to approach him as soon as he returned home late at night.
Without knocking at the door she barged inside his room, he was startled and furious to see her again.
"how dare you enter my room? Get out. Now!" arnav growled like a raging tiger. She smirked inwardly, he was simply playing hard to get. Coiling the loose strand around her forefinger she batted her eyelids ," you know this angry look on your face makes you all the more desirable?" then took a few steps towards him, she raised her hands to touch him but he backed off. She smiled naughtily and sat on his bed.
" tonight not in a mood? Never mind. But at least let me look into your dark pools and drown myself. " She said stretching her legs exposing a good amount of them to his already infuriating eyes.
In one frenzied motion he grabbed her hand, dragged and threw her out snarling," next time if I see you here I swear I'll break your bare legs." Fallen on the floor with astounded eyes she watched him slamming the door shut on her face.
Thanks for reading
Rose
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
CID
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