The Prejudiced Bunch
"Now I know where I have seen you before", RK got up immediately on sighting the flustered woman who stopped his shoot.
She had a twinkle in her eye and a prayer on her lips, pleading RK not to reveal more. Her sign language message was received and understood as RK shifted the topic of conversation.
"You are the girl in the painting", he now turned his attention to a confused Rishabh. "She is the girl in all your paintings, isn't she?"
"Yes, my new muse", Rishabh pulled her closer in with his arm, "and also my wife".
Bittuji sensed the tension in the air and decided it was best to leave when the sun was still shining.
"Theek hai chief. I will make arrangements for the painting shipment. All of them you said, right?"
"Yes, this red one is especially awe inspiring", he pointed to the nave attempt by Madhu.
"She is a quick learner", Rishabh was surprisingly generous with compliments for Madhu. She was in trance swaying her neck side to side, indecisive of whom to pay attention to.
"You want to help Bittuji, Rishabh?" RK asked to earn some time alone with Madhu.
Rishabh reluctantly followed the manager out trying not to let the business deal go sour.
RK had prepared a sermon for the battered girl if he met her again. And there she was, unruffled as ever. Her beauty uninterrupted except for the subtle discolouration of her makeup that gave away her tragedy. The potent sun and its mighty heat hardly spared anyone. Even the darkest of secrets could not be hidden 'neath the desert daylight. Perhaps, also the reason for Rishabh's lack of excursion outside the basement walls.
RK began with his ready made speech.
"Now you want to tell me you don't need rescuing. The man is using you like I use table lamps and trays and nightstands".
But with an opponent as formidable as Madhubala, things would not stay that way for long. To win, he had to dodge her comebacks, improvise and speak from the heart. He could only hope not to burn in the fire of her words.
She looked at him with glass eyes, teary eyes, a set of eyes that was hurting, hurtful, angry and magical; she had laser eyes that were as piercing as pierced. She was as emptying as empty. She could do to you what you think is the unthinkable. She speaks her mind unfiltered. RK was mortified with her pitiable response it, her desperation reflecting in every syllable.
"You have sex with furniture?"
She seemed to beat around the bush, to discuss anything but.
"Abuse, what he is doing classifies as abuse. You must get out of here".
"I have a smartphone, I know what abuse is. You big city bas***ds got your head up your ass, trying to educate a village girl. I may not have a college degree but I have read more books in one year than you have in your entire life. I despise humans who tell other humans how to live their life".
She shifted positions and faced away from RK.
"Your husband must top your list then", he stood right in front her, confronting her every excuse.
"There is nothing for me out there. I will only ever find another man who does the same thing. There is no way out. Atleast with Rishabh I know he loves me sometimes".
RK was pitying her now, not sympathizing nor empathizing: it was plain pity like she thought.
"I am here for you. I will make sure he does not come after you. I will take you to Mumbai. Everyone is free in Mumbai, money or not".
She looked directly at the proud Mumbaikar and shot another taunt, "says the man who was drooling over my body right along with my so called abusive husband. Who is to say you won't turn around and do the same thing? After all, my body is used to it.
He sliped a business card under the palm of her hand and whispered, "my personal and business contact. Whenever you are ready, give me one ring. You don't have to say a word and I will make sure that maniac suffers. Human rights, UN workers or whoever it takes, if he hurts you again, he will pay".
"I must be your charity project or what is it they call it these days? Right, innovative promotion. I heard your new film is all about saving the damsel in distress. My rescue would make for a great cover story, nahi? You name would be on every billboard as my knight in the shining armor. I know you own PR masterminds, media firms and lawyers: all waiting to cash in on a success story like me. Tell you what mister, I am no body's success story".
"But you are", he spoke in a tone all too familiar. "You are his success story. He is using you Madhu".
By now his hands had made their way to Madhu's shoulders, he nudged her out of the spell she was in. Her duppatta graced the floor as RK spoke one last time, "I would never'.."
"You would never what?" Rishabh was rather surprised by the scene unfolding in front of him. His wife and the man crucial to his success, stood too close for comfort, easing in a shared touch.
"I think you should leave now Mr. RK".
Rishabh hastily escorted RK up the stairs making sure to convey that his stay was no longer welcome. As an anxious RK closed the door behind him, Rishabh glared at a trembling Madhu.
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
