Chapter 5
"It's all my fault." I cursed myself
again and let out a cry. A few hours back, i had no idea that i was gonna have
such a night and face my past like this. The old wounds were opened up again
and i felt all the pain and all the anger i had felt that night.
I stiffened felt the presence of another person
in the box. I could hear a faint breathing.
"Kaun hai udhar?" [Whos there?] i
asked
"Mera naam Tanuja hai.' [My name is Tanuja]
"Idhar kya kar rahi ho?" [What are you
doing here?]
"Goti khel rahi hu. Tum kheloge?"
[playing marbles. Wanna join?] she chuckled
"Are saab, bandh karke rakha hai mereko.
Maine bhagne ki kosis ki na. Wapas pakad ke laya aur chabuk marke bandh karke
rakha idhar." [Saab, I'm locked in here too. I tried to escape but they traced
me and got me back here. They whipped me and than locked me up.]
"Aise hamesha karte hai?" [Do they do
this always?]
"Nai saab. Jab chotti ladkiyon ko laate hai
pehli baar, unko bandh karke rakhte hai. Phir unpe jabardasti karte hai unko
tayyar karne ke liye. Kisiko acchutaa chaiye toh jyada paise dene pe mil jata
hai. Din me ek baar khana dete hai. Bathroom jana hota hai toh kitni der tak
darwaza thokna padta hai phir bhi nahi kholte.
[No saab, this happens when young girls are
first brought in. They are raped to break them in. Virgins have a lot of demand
too at high rates. They give food once a day. If we need to use the washroom,
we need to knock the door for hours.]
My heart ached at their plight. She told me some
more about how little girls are trafficked and brought into business. How some
poor needy families sell their own daughters for money. How pimps live a normal
life among normal people and conduct the business. It could be anyone from your
neighbours to your mothers best friend. Young girls are kidnapped, raped and
beaten. Interactions is kept at minimum till she is completely in business. How
every girl is watched upon and are traced and brought back if they try to
escape. She also told me about involvement of a few corrupt police officers and
high profile people in the society. Nothing is possible without their help in
the form of funds and keeping law at bay.
I was shocked. This seemed like an
alternate universe, running parallel with the one we live in. An alternate
world that survives alongside ours. I felt bad for the victims. I didn't know
if there would be a way to get out of there but if there was, I really wanted
to help them
We heard hurried
footsteps nearing us.
"Lagta hai Aapa aa
rahi hai. Bohot zulm karti hai who aurat" [I guess Aapa is on her way. That
woman is too cruel.] the girl said.
We could hear
someone banging the door and fiddling with the locks outside. The girl hid
behind me and we waited for the door to open.
I was surprised to
see a team of police officers in front of me. Soon, we were led outside. I
noticed many other woman and girls being taken out too. As we passed, I saw a
few more broken Boxes'. I could see a lot of people and a lot of activity
outside the brothel. The storm had passed and it was dawn already. A faint hue
of orange spread in the sky, bringing in a new day and a new beginning. I could
finally breathe the fresh air and it felt like heaven after those few hours I
spent in the stuffy box.
At a distance, I
noticed Aapa, the other man, Shakya and a few more people being handcuffed and
pushed into a Police van. I noticed Inspector Suresh at a distance. We had met
a lot of times in the last couple of years for Aaliya's case. He worked with
Bulbul and was a decent guy who did his job dutifully.
Thinking of Aaliya
reminded me of Neil. I wanted to know if he was caught too or if he managed to
escape again. When I had seen him, I
wanted to skin him alive. I wanted to hurt him like he had hurt my Aaliya, more
than he had hurt my Aaliya. When I launched myself at him was the last time I
had seen her. She came like a gust of
wind in my life and had disappeared just like that. I looked around to see if I
could find her.
"Searching for
someone?" I heard Suresh ask me from the back.
"Haan? No.. Just..
Let it be.."
"Just wanted to tell
you that Neil is in our custody. Bulbul has taken him away."
If Bulbul had him, I
was sure he wouldn't be able to get out of it easily. Bulbul loved Aaliya like
her own sister. They were the best of friends. Aaliya had been so excited for
Bulbul and Purab's wedding more than any of us but when the wedding had
actually happened, she wasn't able to attend it.
"Abhi, you okay?"
Suresh's voice got me out of the trance
"Yeah.. what's
happening here?"
"We came across a
lead for a trafficking chain and raided. Brutality at its worst."
"So what happens to
these women now?"
"Oh they're being
sent to an NGO and rehab centre on the outskirts of Mumbai. They'll be made
self-sufficient so that they can lead normal lives."
I was happy that
someone was doing something for them. I was glad that they had a second chance
at life. Most of these women had endured too much suffering since childhood and
I was glad they were getting their share at freedom.
"Abhi, do you have a
car or should I drop you home?"
"I would actually
need a lift. My car broke down."
As I extended my
hand to open the car door, my eyes fell on the kada she had given me. She had wanted me to hand it over to the
police. I had no idea why she wanted me to do that but I decided to do as asked.
I handed it over to Suresh, who looked happy for a minute when he saw it. He
thanked me and I nodded.
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It had been over a
week since then but every moment was still so fresh in my mind. I could
remember every minute detail about the.. Night.. Nah.. Who am I kidding! I
could only remember her. Everything else was a blur. I remembered her big
expressive eyes, that way they shot up in surprise. I could remember her red
lips and how they moved when she spoke. I could remember her pointed jaws and
her blushing cheeks. I remembered her fragile figure and I imagined over a
million times how her slender body would feel against mine.
I had been dreaming about her all the time.
Initially, it pissed me off. I was never the kind to think of a woman. I would
never even spare a second glance at them. There were hundreds of girls throwing
themselves at me everywhere but I never bothered to check them out. I couldn't
figure why this time, it was all different. Maybe because I had spent a lot of
time with her. Much more than with anyone else. Maybe because i had interacted
with her more than i had with anyone else other than family or maybe because
she was really beautiful. After a point, i stopped worrying about that.
I had even located
the NGO and had gone looking for her. I even went back to Flora fountain one
night to see if I could find her but sadly, I wasn't able to trace her. One
thing had surprised me though. No one had asked me why and how had I reached
the brothel that night. Suresh had come and spoken to me casually like he knew
I was already there. Bulbul or Purab hadn't asked either and surprisingly, it
hadn't made news.
"Bhai, you're coming home for dinner
tonight and i want no arguments." Bulbul had called on a Saturday
afternoon and ordered. I needed to get her
out of my mind and needed to talk to Bulbul about Neil so I decided to go along
with the plan.
"Bhai, I hope you don't mind but a friend
of mine is joining us for dinner." Bulbul announced when I reached there.
Though i felt uncomfortable around strangers, i could do anything for Bulbul.
She was just like Aaliya to me. I nodded in approval. After spending sometime
catching up and talking, I excused myself to answer a call. I heard the
doorbell ring as I stepped out. Maybe Bulbul's friend had arrived.
"Aye saab, aaj raat
ka kya plan hai?" [ Saab, whats the plan for tonight] I heard the familiar
voice behind me. The very same voice that had been haunting me for the entire
past week. The very same voice I wanted to hear just once more.
I stilled for a second.
Abhi relax. This is just your imagination.' I tried to tell myself. Closing my
eyes and Taking deep breaths I calmed myself down. I then opened my eyes and
turned around, hoping that she had vanished.
Standing before me
was a woman who resembled her in
every way yet was so different. She had the same slender figure, the same rosy
cheeks, the same beautiful smile and the same pointed jaws but she looked so
unlike the woman I had met that night. Dressed in a blue jean and white top,
she looked every bit like a fairy. If she looked beautiful that night, she
looked ethereal now. One of her hand held her phone while the other was wrapped
in a cast. She raised her eyebrows at me and I gasped.
I was too lost in
the moment. Was this a dream? Was this really happening? Was this a truth or
was this just a facade? I didn't know what to believe and what not to. Maybe I
was staring really bad or I was looking too funny but I came back to my senses
with peoples laughter around me. I could see Purab and Bulbul laughing hard,
holding their stomach while she looked at me, amused.
"Bhai, meet my
childhood friend Pragya Arora, Special Agent, CID. Well that's part time when
she takes up cases. Otherwise, she's an author and a
columnist with the Times and Prags, you know Bhai already." Bulbul introduced
us.
"What!" I was
shocked. Wait, that was too mild to describe my reaction. I just got an
attack' would be a more precise statement. I couldn't understand a bit of what
was happening. Like always, I needed answers.
"Bhai, Prags, you
guys enjoy yourselves. I'll go get dinner ready." Bulbul announced
"Bulbul, let me help
you." Pragya offered and I was irritated. I needed to talk to her. Correction,
I wanted to talk to her. Why was she trying to go away?
"Nah Prags, you
stay. When will my patidev prove his
love, haina baby? Come, lets go." She
walked away, taking Purab with her.
"So, an author as well as Ms. Bond simultaneously haan? Interesting" I asked, initiating a talk after a few minutes of awkward
silence. She had been blushing and playing with her hair all this while.
"Yeah.. Sorry for
that night. I know you must be shocked but I had to do it."
"Shocked? You have
no idea how much. I was still not over that night and you just dropped another
bomb. Now I assume the case is solved. So, do I get to know what exactly was
going on? I'm too confused." I chuckled.
"Let me begin from
the start. Me and Bulbul were friends since school and grew up together. We
lost touch when I went away to Delhi to my aunts place after Maa papa were
killed. We met again a couple of years back when I came to Mumbai. That's when
Bulbul told me about Aaliya. She told me that they had managed to trace Neil
Thakur and that they had found some leads to a Child Trafficking ring managed
by him. I took up the case when I got to know for two reasons, one for Bulbul
and Aaliya and second because of Shakya. He was the reason I lost my family. He
had my parents killed. I slowly entered the circle and trying to collect evidences and snoop around. I had been staying at Kamathipura for about a year now.
Anyway, so that
night I was near the NCPA when Shakya's men tried to kidnap me. You came there
just in time and they ran away thinking you were one of Aapa's bodyguards. I
guess Shakya had his doubts on me and wanted me abducted but you distracted the
men and I ran away."
"That was you? Why
didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't because I
was undercover and on duty. I had a lot on my mind and it slipped. So I was at
the flora, waiting for my informer when you arrived there instead. He saw you
and backed off. I also knew that Shakya's men were watching me and I didn't
want my cover blown. So I continued pretending what they thought I was."
"So you smoked and
flirted with a random man? What if I had agreed to your offer and.."
"As for the smoke,
I'm sure you didn't notice that I had just held the cigarette to make my
pretence look real. Not once did it reach my mouth. And when I offered I knew
you wouldn't accept. I know you're a nice man. The kind that respects women."
"If you knew Shakya's
men were watching you, why would you meet the informer? And what about that guy
in the car you were flirting with?"
"My informer was to
pose as a customer and pass on the message. He would fight with me after that
and leave. And the guy in the car, why do you think he fled? I showed him my ID without you noticing. Poor guy was so
scared." She laughed remembering his reaction. I kept looking at her, trying to
capture these moments in my head.
"Okay now, you ask
too many questions. Let me finish my story first and then you can ask whatever
you want to." she pouted
I chuckled nodding
in approval and she continued.
"So, Shakya's men
came back when they realised that you were no threat to them. You know what
happened then. I didn't want you to be in a legal mess. So, I erased your
fingerprints from the gun and put mine. Since you are popular and if these men
managed to escape or inform someone of you being with me or that you shot him,
they would chase after you and kill you. Keeping you with me was the only way I
could make sure you were safe. After we left from there, the informer took them
in away. The guy you shot was given medical assistance and later arrested when
he was out of danger. The other one was arrested immediately and interrogated.
The bar we went to a
Grant Road happens to be Neil's. We had a few plain clothed officers there. The
bartender was one of them. I called my informer and asked him to report an encounter
if anything happened to wounded guy.
I handed over the
gun and a packet of drugs that I managed to get at the brothel to one of my
officers for investigation. He told me of the interrogation being conducted on
the guy we arrested and that I was to wait at the Marines for news.
Chotte happens to be
the son of one of our best constable Ashok Kale who we lost in the 26/11
attack. He lives with his mother and has to earn for a living along with
studies to support his mother's meagre income. We help them in whatever way we
can, be it in his academics or his fees but just like his father, he values his
self-respect the most and helps us in passing information when we can't do it
directly. That night, he had brought the information of this meeting that was
supposed to be held. Shakya's man had revealed that Shakya had purchased a few
girls from Aapa through Neil and they were to finalise the deal tonight at
Aapa's kothi in Kamathipura.
The kada I gave you had a voice recorder chip
in it and it was one way of collecting proof against them. Since Shakya had
doubts on me, I would be thoroughly checked if anything would go wrong. It was
safer with you. We needed this proof badly and you were my best bet. I had
temporarily forgotten about you and Neil but when you charged at him, I knew I
had to do something really quick.
While you were
locked in, we managed to raid the place and arrest the culprits. I got injured
in a fight and had to be taken to the hospital. Neil was bruised too and Bulbul
and a few more officers got him treated and arrested him.
So that's basically
what happened that night. Now you're free to ask anything you want to."
That was too much
information to process. I replayed the night in my head and everything she said
now made sense. Her version of the story filled in the missing links in mine
and I could connect the dots very precisely. Now I knew why no one was
surprised with my presence at Kamathipura. Of course they knew that already.
"So you wanna ask
something?" she looked with expectations.
"umm.. yeah.. just
one thing. What were you doing around the NCPA that night?"
She flushed and
turned the darkest shade of red I had seen.
"Has she told you
how crazy she is about you?" Bulbul said entering the balcony. She blushed a
little more. "She was there to catch a glimpse of you"
"Bulbul!!!" she
sighed hiding behind her.
"okay my red red tomato,
here, have this. The food will be done in a bit." Bulbul handed each of us a
glass of juice and went back in.
"How's Aaliya doing?"
Pragya asked me after a while
"She's awake and out
of danger but she's still mentally affected. She's still at the rehab centre.
She doesn't talk and keeps staring at one place. But I'd say she a lot better
now. I was so broken when she was in Coma. I'm glad I reached home on time that
night to save her. Had I been a little late, I would've lost my sister. That
man is a monster. I wish I could just strangle him for what he put Aaliya
through" I said almost breaking down. She came closer to me and held my hand in
hers.
"Abhi, relax. The
good part is Aaliya is fine. She's alive and with you. As far as Neil is
concerned, trust me, he'll rot in jail all his life. Aaliya wasn't his only
victim. He is a psychopath who goes around killing women for fun. We found
photographs of all the women he has harmed so far. He's obsessed with beautiful
women and has sexually assaulted quite a few of them before killing them. At
least we know Aaliya is not one of them. I'm sure she'll be okay soon. We'll
make sure she is. All she needs now is loads of love and care from her Bhai and
see that'll work like magic."
Her words worked wonders. I saw a new ray of hope ad I knew Aaliya would be okay now.
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"Abhi, the baby's
gonna be okay right?" I heard my heavily pregnant wife whisper.
We had been in the
labour room since a few hours now. I rushed her in when she had her first
contraction earlier that evening. The doctor had now informed us that Pragya
would be ready for delivery with the next contraction. Pragya had been really
scared since we came in. She, like any other mother was concerned for her child
but stress wasn't doing her any good and hence, I decided to cheer her up.
"Haha.. Pragya, in
the six months we were seeing each other and 3 years of marriage, I've never
seen you so scared. Where's my Mrs. Dabbang
Mehra? Get her back please. I miss her already."
"Abhi, I'm worried
here. Stop joking around."
"Alright wifey, I'm
sorry. The baby is gonna be perfectly alright. She's my mini rockstar. She's
gonna be awesome. Stop worring and relax. I'm right here with you. Always have
and always will, coz I love you" I said kissing her forehead to reassure her.
"I love you too,
Abhi. Promise me you won't let me go." She said caressing my face.
"I promise, Pragya.
You're gonna be beside me and we'll grow old together, watch our babies grow
and play with our grandchildren. I'm looking forward to having an awesome
future with you, baby." I said, bending down to kiss her lips.
"Hey love birds,
we're at the hospital. Have some shame. And bhai, control! The baby hasn't come
out yet and you're planning another one already." Aaliya walked in.
She was now
completely normal. Pragya's charm had worked on her too and she had slowly started
showing signs of recovery. We would spend hours at the rehab with Aaliya every
day and talk to her. Pragya would tell her about my concerts, how I had done
everything for her and how I wanted her to be proud of me. Within six months,
she was the old, bubbly, charming Aaliya I knew.
Pragya's presence
had brought a lot of positive changes in me too. I had started enjoying life
more than before. I learnt to smile and talk. I was a loner no longer and came
out of my shell. That influenced my music too and I was able to perform better.
My songs were livelier and I climbed higher on the ladder of success. This one
woman had transformed my life and made it beautiful. She had given me my family
and I would always be grateful to her for that.
"Aaahhh... Abhi,
call the doctor! Now!" I heard her scream and rushed out to inform the doctor.
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"Papa.. papa wake up
na please!" I could hear my little princess, Ahana call out to me. I squinted
my eyes and slowly opened them.
"Happy Birthday to
you.. Happy birthday dear Abhi.." I heard everyone sing in chorus. I sat up and
saw everyone around my bed. Purab, Bulbul, their son Aryan, Aaliya, my five
year old Ahana and Pragya clapped and cheered as I cut my cake at midnight.
After wishes and gifts, everyone retired for the night. I sat on the bed,
waiting for Pragya to come back after putting Ahana to sleep. I remembered the
incidents that led me here. The incidents that got me this wonderful family.
"Hey, what're you
thinking about?" Pragya asked climbing into the bed. I pulled her closer and
kissed her on her nape.
"Just thinking about
the night I met you and how lucky I am to have you. I love you Pragya. Always
and forever."
"Forever!" she
sighed, kissing me on my lips.
xxx-xxx-xxx
Okay... so that's all
Writing this one was fun! It really did test my patience but i wanted to attempt a different genre and I'm glad I did.
Do leave behind your comments so that I know where I can improve. Looking forward to your replies!
Here's me signing off!
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