EK Duje ke liye'.
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Naku gave a sigh of relief as she entered the basti/chawl (slum), taking a deep breath she walked towards her kholi which she shared with her ayi, baba and bhai'.though she lived in a chawl it made her feel secured, like any other chawl most of the inmates struggled to make a decent living in the expensive city of Mumbai. Most of the women here worked as housemaids while their husbands did various odd jobs like security guards, drivers etc., and many of them were engaged in various illegal jobs surviving in the city did give many opportunities not much choice on your ethics.
Naku entered the kholi to find her mother cursing her father Ganpat who lay drunk of the floor'.it was not an uncommon sight, happened in Naku's place quite often, her father had no regular income, whatever odd jobs he did was spent towards his 'daru''.it was so true for her neighbouring 'kholis' also, same story, the families survived on the income of their women folks, often pushing them to compromise their situation too in order to feed their children'
Naku or Nakusha as she was Christianized picked up the towel and the soap calmly and came out once again doing towards the common bathroom'hopefully since she has returned a bit early today it will remain empty'on the way she meets couple of her neighbours, exchanges pleasantries how are you, how is work etc., reply as brightly as possible as everybody knew the truth, nothing to be hidden too, same story all over, Nakusha reached the washroom just in time, kamla tai was coming towards it but Naku managed to reach first, she banged the door shut midst of Kamla tai's curses 'areh kalmuhi abhi tu andar gayi, jab nikelgi apna kala sharir dhokar pura pani khatam karke' she went on'Nakusha did not pay any heed, humming a tune she opened the tap, scrubbing herself she closed her eyes in pleasure as the water washed her body'the fragrance of the expensive soap, the only luxury she indulgences in reached her nostrils, she smiled forgetting all her tiredness, the grime and the hardship she has endured during the day.
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Naku crossed the courtyard of the chawl to see her mother looking worried coming out of the kholi, must be going to buy some provisions, if the shopkeeper gives in credit'.Naku knew her mother would not let them go hungry in bed, it has never happened, she manages somehow to put something in their stomach, how she does it is something Naku often wonders'with a drunkard husband who has no qualms about stealing in his own house for his drink'.
Kya huwa ayi? Naku asked, kaha ja rahi ho'.
Tu a gayi nahakar'dekh maine khichri charai hai, see it does not get burnt nehi toh aaj raat'..She left the rest unsaid, listen I am going to make a phone call'.
Phone? Kisse? Naku frowned, her mother did not waste her hard earned money over phone calls'..
Ayi Sahib ka phone aya tha at Chavan's shop'he just now sent his boy to inform me'.abh Ayi Sahib jo kabhi phone nehi karti has called, mujhe toh phone karna chihiye na'
Ayi Sahib? Oh Ayi Sahib'of course of course'you go I will take care of the Khichri'.Nakusha quickly added'.
Her mother ran towards the kinara shop from where she would make her phone to Ayi Sahib'..
Nakusha entered to kholi to see her father still sleeping with his mouth open, snoring away while her brother tried to do his homework'.
Naku went to sit near the stove'.shaking her head and once again she took a resolution that she will live by herself and never get married'.watching her brother making faces at their father, she knew he too will be no different when he grows up, she has seen many boys in this slum following the footsteps of their fathers'.hawahi kharab hai idhar ka'.
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Babi put down the receiver, she looked at it quizzically wondering if she has heard right'wiping her face with her pallu, she stepped out of the shop'.not knowing if she should be happy or worried'
Those days Babi had got married and moved to Mumbai with her new husband Ganpat. Crops failed that year back in village and they were young, people suggested that they should move to the city for a better living. Ganpat those days was a different man, with dreams in his eyes and will to work hard he came to the city with his new married wife. They came to stay in a different chawl than this as recommended by a friend. While Ganpat went out to work, doing various odd jobs and looking for a good job, Babi joined the women's cooperative headed by Ayi Sahib'she lived with her husband and children in a nearby housing in the next locality and they were slightly better off compared to many others, her husband was a junior officer in a private firm having some extra income.
Ayi Sahib was a lady with wisdom, she guided and taught those young women who started life fresh how to support their family income and face their day to day problems'Babi soon became a great admirer of hers, having left her family in the village she started looking upto Ayi Sahib as her elder sister, seeking her advice and guidance. In the meantime Babi's family also started to grow, she had her first daughter, and Ganpat was turning out to be a different man 'he was frustrated easily not liking the jobs he was getting, drinking was becoming a regular affair'.Babi one day could not take it anymore went to the cooperative office to seek Ayi Sahib's help where she learnt that few days ago when they were closed for Diwali Ayi Sahib herself had lost her husband in a fight over a stake of cards with his brother'..his brother had pushed him and he had fallen from the terrace where they were playing cards to death'.
Ayi Sahib never returned to their cooperative again, she had become the sole breadwinner of the family and she needed full time job to support her growing family'.
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Naku looked up to see her mother looking puzzled'that was unusual as Babi all her life has been taking decisions, even with Ganpat around she was the man of the house as Ganpat has ceased to be one long back'.
Kya huwa Ayi'.Naku asked'..what did Ayi Sahib say?
Err Ayi Sahib'.you know what she said'..I mean I cannot believe her what she said'..
Kyu? Aisa kya keh diya unhone'..Nakusha stirred the khichri, checking the same she took it out of the fire'.
Ayi sahib wants me to take my family and join her family for the Ganapati Utsaav'
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Sleep eluded Babi, while her family slept she thought about herself'.she came to Mumbai with eyes full of dreams, Ganpat that time was so caring, Ayi Sahib always gave them optimistic views about life, trying to make their grim life a bit more cheerful '.Ayi Sahib's life took a drastic turn and they lost contact and in the meantime Babi also lost her elder daughter'inspite of years gone by Babi's eyes watered 'she was such a beautiful daughter, a princess in their small dark kholi, how old was she hardly 15/16 when ''.when 'Babi swallowed, from that day she has never had a peaceful night sleep always worried for Nakusha, her unwanted daughter, yes she and Ganpat had wanted a son after their elder daughter instead Nakusha was born, though they were upset with the birth but like all parents they too overcame it and accepted Naku, now Naku is the constant source of worry for her mother, Babi no way can allow Naku to meet the same fate of her elder sister, no way as long as Babi has her blood running through her veins'
Ayi, eh Ayi, Sethji, her son was sitting up'.sach me we will go to celebrate Ganesh Chathurti with Ayi Sahib'..it seemed he was unable to sleep with excitement'.
Babi swallowed to see Nakusha lying next to him was also watching them'
Naku uth, mujhe kuch kehna hai tere se'.babi coaxed her daughter'..Naku stretched herself, she was tired and she wanted to sleep'.
Uth Naku it is important, see I have no one to discuss other than you, tera baap toh'Babi shakes her head in dismay'
Bol Ayi, Nakusha sat up'
Come this side'aur sethji tu sow ja'.hum ma beti abhi kuch baate karenge'.
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Naku wore her costume, it was humid and stuffy but it was her job, she wore the costume of mickey mouse and stood in the entrance of big shopping mall exclusively for children. It was one of the biggest malls in Mumbai meant for children and their needs'Naku and few others like her dressed as various cartoon characters roamed around the mall entertaining the little ones while they shopped'.while her fellow colleagues cribbed about the stuffy costumes, Naku never complained for it provided the security she always craved for'.
As they took their position, Suchitra the girl who was dressed as Minnie Mouse whispered I hope we get our bonus today'.I have planned to buy presents for the family tonight before entering the house'.
Yes I hope too, Naku looked at the Mandap across the road already decked up waiting for inauguration'.Bappa please ensure the bonus is paid today'.
Yesterday night when the mother and daughter sat for discussion Babi told her apprehensions'see Ayi Sahib has invited us to her house for the first time, yes I must confess that many a times I borrowed money from Ayi Sahib to meet my expenses and she is very much aware of my condition, lekin kisi ka ghar me jana, puja ke liye udhar rukhna'.matlab'khali haath kaise jayu and also we do need at least a set of new clothes''
Aap unse paise udhar leti thi'I thought you always went to her for guidance aur unhe kaha se paisa milega, didn't she meet with a great tragedy'.
Areh beta that was long time back, now her children have grown up and must be doing well'.waise Mumbai ane ke baad se I must confess I had the best time of my life in that basti but then with your father's erratic income and growing family we could not stay there as the landlord would not keep us anymore without rent, tabh se is chawl se us chawl ghum rahi hu, till we settled here and now that you are working too, lekin 5 saal pehle ki baath, when you were not working and I had no money, nobody was willing to give me a loan even, I was worried what to put in front of you, how to return home without food'.Ganpat par toh koi bharosa nehi kar sakta hai na, I was walking aimlessly when I realised that I was walking past the old basti, patah nehi kyu aur kisliye, maybe my destiny as for the first time I went in there after I had left'I walked towards the cooperative office wondering whom to meet and what to say and how to ask to my surprise I saw Ayi Sahib after all this years, she looked happy, well dressed with her usual cheerful face'she was happy to see me'as I spoke to her I told about my trouble she gave me money and her phone no'she said few years in between she did not come to this cooperative, now she has time and she does not need to work anymore, mera beta bada ho giya hai Babi, he takes care of his family'..this cooperative was close to my heart and the ladies were happy to have me back'.I come here more or less everyday'..
So whenever I needed money after that day, I always called her up and collected an envelope kept in my name from that cooperative office'
Ayi tu chinta maath kar, tomorrow before we close for Ganesh Chathurti we will get our bonus'.
Ha lekin tujhe paisa milte milte sham dhal jayega beta'.
The shops will remain open whole night, tomorrow is the last day before Ganesh Chathurti'tell me what to get, I will buy everything before coming home'..
Beta agar bonus nehi mile toh?
Naku sighed'mother and daughter stared at each other'.
Oh my god so much security'Naku observed as she watched some hefty men scanning the area'.do you have any idea who will inaugurate this Mandap today'she asked Suchitra'..
Hmmm Dutta Bhao'.
Dutta Bhao, who is that?
You have not heard of Dutta Bhao? Suchitra sounded surprised'..
Err no'who is he? Naku asked'.
Well the biggest don of Mumbai'.
Hai hai kya jamana a giya'Now Bappa is in the mercy of dons of Mumbai'Naku commented a bit sarcastically'.
Well if reports are to be believed than he is one of the biggest bhakts of the Bappa'.
People had already assembled around the Mandap and within next few minutes 3 -4 SUVs came to a stop in front of the Mall'.few security men ran towards one of them'.Naku was standing up the stairs having a good view, the door opened, a young man got down, wearing a jacket over his jeans, the diamond stud in his ear sparkled under the sun rays nearly blinding Naku, she closed her eyes for a second only to see the back of the person walking towards the Mandap in long strides followed by two armed bodyguards ''
Oh my god'so this is Dutta Bhao'oh my god'exclaimed Suchitra next to her'.
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