One Hour With A Hooker “She needed money to feed her child,

He needed a woman to satisfy his emotions wild, They came together in union not meant to be, He would go his own way and so would she,

The hungry man would be satiated, And the hungry child would be fed.”

~ Arti Honrao

Deepak walked silently on the silent road. His footsteps echoed into the silent night as with every step his shoes hit the tarmac road. His mind was racing, churning out ideas, twice per footstep. He was not really the thinker types but tonight he was forced to put on his thinking cap. Someone rightly said that the major problem with telling a lie was not actually telling the lie but remembering it when questioned for the second time. This was one of the reasons he never lied. But the

main reason for not telling a lie was that he was a simple man and had no reasons to lie. He was loyal to his family and he was hard-working and a regular at office. His friends were few but he was truthful to all of them. Then, what had happened tonight? Why did he have to think about the lie he would have to tell at home when his wife would ask him the most obvious question? He never knew something like this would happen in his life, ever. But, there is a first time for everything. He had not pre-planned anything, it just happened. He ended up spending one hour with a hooker.

Deepak was walking for past one hour, taking the same roads, moving in circles. He did not want to reach home early. The best option, he thought, was that his wife would be asleep when he reached home though he knew in his heart that it would not happen. She would stay awake, waiting for him,

like she did every night. She would serve dinner to him, talk to him for few minutes, and clean the kitchen as Deepak got into the bed. She would then peek at their son and make sure he was sleeping peacefully in his cradle and then slid in bed, next to Deepak. There was an additional reason for her to wait for Deepak, it was his salary day and Anjana would be waiting for him to give her the salary so that she could make mental notes of all the items she would buy from the grocery stores, the next morning. Anjana was very good in accounts. She was not much educated but she handled

everything perfectly. Deepak called her the finance minister of their house. Deepak smiled as he thought about this but soon his smile vanished and the same tensed look came over his face. This was what it was all about. Money! It was the reason he did not want to return home. It was the reason his mind was trying to come up with a sensible excuse to justify his act of tonight. Deepak knew that he did not have the right to do this to Anjana. She did not deserve being treated like this. He knew she might be worried for him,

because it was really very late. Usually, she understood and accepted when Deepak reached home a little late on the salary day because she knew he would be spending some time with his bachelor friends who did not mind spending half of their salary on the first day itself. This get together was their way of keeping in touch with one

another, which included friends working in other companies. Chit – chat, snacks and drinks was what it was all about. Anjana believed Deepak when he told her that he avoided drinking and even if he did, it was just one small peg. She did not have any problem with that. Even today, Deepak had wet his throat with one peg but later on his friends had forced him to have one more and then the second and then the third. He had left the place when he had started feeling uneasy. But this was not what was troubling Deepak. He had decided to tell her the truth. He knew she would understand him. But would she understand

if he told her the other truth? Something, which had happened after he had left his friend’s place? Would she understand and forgive him if he told her that he had spent one hour with a hooker? Would she forgive him when she would come to know that he had spent one quarter of his salary on the hooker? It would have not been a big deal if he was on an executive post and his salary had one or two extra zeros. But he was just a peon and his salary was 2000 rupees.

Well! Spending an hour with hooker did matter even now and he knew it was indeed a very big deal for his wife and that was the reason he wanted to keep the truth from her. Deepak was a family man, loyal husband and a loving father but strangely enough, Deepak had enjoyed the one hour he had spent with Mira, the hooker or should

we say Mithali? Yes, that was her real name. Mithali, it sounded sweet to his ears even now when his mind was disturbed. He knew it was a difficult task to explain all this to Anjana. Deepak looked around, he had been to this place before, he thought. In fact, this was the third time he was crossing this closed shop. Deepak was unaware that a figure was staring at him, from a distance. Deepak was not the kind of man who needed services of a prostitute. He was happily married to Anjana. She had given him the most wonderful gift, their son. There was no reason for Deepak to turn to a prostitute to satiate his needs as a man.

But, tonight he was surprised to find that he indeed needed someone. Mithali had fulfilled his need and it was worth the money he had spent, it definitely was. But this was not how it had started. It had seemed to be the other way round, initially. Mithali, no … Mira had needed him, her daughter had needed him and Deepak had obliged. Deepak had the habit of smoking one cigarette before reaching home. He managed everything with the little amount Anjana insisted that he should save for himself. Tonight, Deepak had already smoked more than one cigarette. Four, to

be specific! He lit the 5th with the 4th one before extinguishing it. Inhaling deeply, Deepak continued walking. He reached the spot where he had seen her first. The road was not deserted now, as it had been earlier. A few hookers looked at him trying to attract his

attention to what they had to offer. The one’s who had been standing there when he had walked out of that place earlier, sniggered at him as they recognized him. There was nothing special in Deepak for them to recognize him but they remembered him as the man who had walked away with a hooker who was nowhere close to them on the scale of beauty or even performance, they were sure. Deepak turned around and walked away. He took the other street, more silent one. His thoughts went back to her. He had seen her as he stood near a stall, smoking his first cigarette, his daily quota. He had seen her sitting behind a pushcart, breast-feeding her infant. Deepak

continued staring in her direction. There was something about that woman that interested him. No, it was not the breast that her infant was suckling on. It was something about her face. An innocent face, weathered over a period of time, thanks to challenges of life. Deepak was startled when the woman placed her infant on the blanket spread on the ground and buttoned her blouse. She looked in Deepak’s direction. Deepak thought that she had seen him staring at her. He felt awkward when she walked a few steps to the front of the pushcart. He was

under the impression that she was approaching him but then he saw the three guys who walked past him and towards the woman. She had come to the front of the pushcart to present herself to the guys. As they reached near her she tried to attract them towards her and that

moment Deepak realized who she really was. He then realized that not all hookers had “I-am-a-hooker” written over their face. Deepak shook his head as the guys touched her and laughed and walked away. She straightened her saree and looked in Deepak’s direction. This time Deepak turned back to see if someone else was approaching from behind him but there was no one. She had looked at him. For a moment their eyes met and then she walked back and picked up her infant again. She unbuttoned her blouse and started feeding again. Strangely, Deepak could not avoid looking at her. He needed to give her the privacy, he

thought and looked away and then he smiled to himself when he realized what he was thinking. She was the one who was putting her body on display, hoping that it would be used. Deepak could not believe that she was a hooker. He was unaware that she had seen him smile and had uttered something under her breath as she continued feeding her child. Deepak finished his cigarette and as he was about to leave he saw her getting up again. She had put her child to sleep. It seemed that she had satisfied her hunger, at least

for now. Woman! There were so many forms of her, Deepak thought as he turned around. The woman walked to the other side of the street and stood taking the support of a lamp-post. Deepak had walked a few steps when he saw a car coming towards him, he had to step out of the way

as the driver seemed to have lost control over the car. The car then came to a screeching halt as the driver suddenly pushed hard on the brakes after seeing the woman. Involuntarily, Deepak turned around to see what had happened. He saw the woman walk towards the car and as the window glass slid down she bent forward showing off her treasures as her saree fell off her shoulder. What happened next surprised her and Deepak. A hand suddenly tried to grope her breast and she moved back. A dialogue then followed between the man inside the car and her. Deepak stood watching what was happening. Why was he so

interested? He did not have the answer. After exchange of few dialogues, the man opened the door for her but she did not get in. The man, short and plump, got down from the car and walked towards her. Deepak heard him as he started screaming at her asking her to get inside the car. She refused. He moved towards her and tried to grope her breast again, she moved back and escaped his touch. She said something that angered the man and he punched her and then holding her around her waist tried to push her inside the car. She struggled to get out of his grip

and had almost succeeded when another man, tall and muscular, walked from the driver’s seat and held her and assisted the plump man to push her inside the car. He punched her and pushed her inside the car. The short man was about to get in when Deepak felt it was time for him to interfere. He shouted from where he stood. The man simply

looked at him and sat in the car. The taller man walked to the driver’s side but before he could get in, Deepak picked up a stone and hurled it towards the car breaking the tail lamp. The driver walked towards Deepak and meanwhile the woman struggled with the shorter man and succeeded in coming out of the car. To Deepak’s surprise, the woman kicked the man from behind and he fell flat on his face. She straightened her saree and was about to cross the road when the man held her foot and she stumbled. Deepak picked up another stone, ready to throw it at the man but the man got up and got into the car and they drove away.

The woman stood up and turned around to see the car disappear around the corner. She looked at Deepak and crossed the road without saying anything. She looked at her daughter, she was still sleeping. Deepak watched her as she readied herself, trying to completely put the recent happenings behind her back. Deepak shook his head and started walking when suddenly he heard her voice. Her angelic voice! It seemed as if it was coming through someone else’s

vocal cords and not from the woman’s who stood there on the street, the woman who was a hooker. “Sunn” Deepak looked at her. “Thank you” Deepak smiled, surprised that she spoke English. “It’s okay” he said

“Nai, sacchi, thank you.” she repeated. “It’s fine. I just did my duty” “Hindi mein bolega?” That moment Deepak realized that she knew only a few words in English. “Kuch nahi” he said “Parr sach bole to tere ko beech mein nai padna chahiye tha. Main sambhal leti sab kuch.” “Woh log aapke saath zabardasti karr rahe the, main chup kaise rehta?” “Arre yaar! Yeh to hota rehta hai, waise woh log mere ko leke jaane wale the. Parr uss tingne ko picture ke pehle trailer dekhne ka tha, saala!”

Deepak stared at her, speechless. “Waise mere ko bevde log pasand nai. Khalipili over ho jaate hain.” Deepak moved back involuntarily. For the first time since they had met, Deepak saw her smile. “Tu accha aadmi hai re. Tu piya hai parr bevda nai. Waise bhi kya fark padta hai? Tere ko thode hi mere mein interest hoyenga!” Deepak did not know what to say.

“Chal ab jaa, deri ho gayi hai, mere ko kaam karne de.” Deepak hesitated for a moment before speaking again, “Ek baat poochun aapse?” “Jaldi pooch” she said looking around. “Agar woh log aapko le jaate to aapki bacchi ka kya hota?”

“Tere ko kyun bataun?” she said a bit irritated. “Theek hai” Deepak moved back and turned to go. “Main aiseich thode jaane wali thi, Maine uss tingne ko pehle hi bola tha ke uske saath jaane se pehle mere ko kuch bandobast karne ka hai. Parr nalayak sunne ko taiyyarich nai tha, bhukkad.” “Kaisa bandobast?” Deepak asked. “Woh jaane se pehle main bacchi ko dost ke paas chodke aati hai. Mere ko na, meri bacchi ko iss sabse dur rakhne ka hai.” Deepak saw tears well up in her eyes. She changed the topic.” Chal ab jaa mere pass time nai tere saath gappe marne ko.” “Agar koi girayak nahi aaya to?”

“Aye panvati, jaa na ab… Tere liye hoyega yeh majeh ka baat, mere liye jindagi hai. Saala, pet mein chuha kabbadi khelta hai na to neend nai aati. Main khud kuch khayegi nai to bacchi ko kya pilaayegi? Ab aakhri baar bolti hai, tu nikal warna meri khopdi ghoom jaayegi.” Deepak walked away but he could not go too far. He stopped and turned around, his presence masked by darkness. He watched her as she performed her act when people walked towards her but no one seemed to be interested. Deepak looked

at his watch. It was 11 pm, time to go home but he could not move from there. The deserted street suddenly changed into a busy one as out of nowhere many more girls, stylishly dressed walked out on the street. They had “I-am-a-hooker” written all over their body. A few girls touched him, winked at him and

whispered words like “Aata hai kya?” “Pleasure is mine” “Pachtayega nahi” as they brushed against his body. Deepak ignored them. His eyes were glued to that woman. He saw her pick up her daughter and start walking away. Deepak ran towards her, from the corner of her eyes she saw him coming and before Deepak could say anything she yelled at him, “Dekh, bahut ho gaya. Main tere ko aur nai jhel sakti. Teri wajah se mera girayak chala gaya. Tu accha aadmi hai samajhke main chup baithi. Fir tu mere ko nastar lagaya, ab tera baat sach ho gaya hai, inn jhatak patak chikniyon ke saamne

mera kuch chalega nai, ab mere ko jaane de re, mere ko nai baat karne ka tere se.” saying so she continued walking. “Kitna leti hai aap?” Deepak shocked himself by asking this. Even she was taken aback by this question. “Kitna leti hai aap?” Deepak repeated his question with much confidence this time. “Ghante ka hajaar rupaya, dega kya?”

Deepak took out his wallet and pulled out two notes of 500 rupees and handed it to her. She looked at it in surprise and then looked at Deepak. “Saala, tu dikhta hai waisa hai nai re!” she said keeping the money in her blouse. “Kidhar jaane ka bol?” “Kahinn nahi” Deepak replied.

“Matlab?” “Matlab, main aapke time ka pehle hi bahut khoti kiya hai, ab main jaata hu.” “Aye sunn” she reacted. “Mere ko tera ehsaan nai mangtay. Paisa diya to kaam karne ka.Khalipili apna mahanta nai dikhaane ka” “Theek hai” Deepak knew she would not let him go. “Ruk main bacchi ko chodke aati hai.” “Nahi, useh bhi apne saath le lo” “Aye, tere ko bola na, mere ko meri bacchi ko iss sab se dur rakhne ka hai.” “Maine kaha na iseh bhi saath le lo. Maine paise

diye hain to yeh ek ghanta mere hisaab se guzrega.” She thought for a while and then agreed to go with Deepak. As Deepak walked with her the other hookers looked at them with surprise. “Teri choice to ekdam ghatiya nikli re!” one of the hookers said and others started laughing. Deepak continued walking ignoring them and the woman followed him holding her daughter close to her chest. Once out of that busy street Deepak turned towards the one that lead him away from his

house. When they were the only people on the street Deepak spoke – “Aapka naam kya hai?” “Mira” she replied “Asli naam?” “Mira” she repeated. Deepak continued walking, she followed.

“Aap mere peeche peeche kyun chal rahi hain? Saath chaliye” She took a few steps forward and stood beside him. Deepak stared at her. “Aap kuch bolti kyun nahi?” “Mere ko kaam ke paise milte hai, baat karne ke nai, mere ko bolne ko nai aata.” “Maine aapko paise baat karne ke liye diye hain to yeh ab aapka kaam hai.” “Tu samajhta kya hai khudko? Aur yeh aap – aap kya karr raha hai? Mere ko yeh aisa sunne ki aadat nai.” “To aadat daal lo, iss pure ghante mein yahi sunna padega.”

She did not reply. She could feel her daughter stirring in her sleep. She patted her daughter’s back and relaxed her. They continued walking and as they reached a food stall Deepak took out some money from his shirt pocket and counted it. There was enough cash for snacks for one person. “Chalo kuch khaate hain.” Deepak said “Mere ko bhook nai.” “Aap khaayengi nahi to bacchi ko kya pilaayengi?” Suddenly Mira’s expression changed. “Tu sacchi accha aadmi hai re”

Deepak smiled. As they found a place to sit he ordered one plate of Veg. Biryani. “Tu nai khaayega?” “Nahi, meri biwi ghar pe intezaar karr rahi hogi khaane ke liye, main uske saath khaunga.” As the person at the food stall handed over the plate to Mira he asked, “Kaisi hai tu?”

“Theek” Mira smiled. “Aap bahut acche insaan ho saab.” The man said and walked away. Mira started eating. She almost choked while attempting to eat fast.” “Aaraam se” Deepak said handing her a glass of water. She gulped down the water but she felt a lump in her throat and tears welled up in her eyes. Deepak knew that she was on the verge of crying. Deepak held her hand, “Khao” he said. She continued eating. As she finished eating, Deepak paid for the snacks and they continued walking. “Mithali” she spoke. “Accha naam hai” Deepak said knowing that she

had now told him her real name. After a few minutes of walking, Mithali’s daughter woke up and started crying. It was time to feed her. Mithali walked towards the side of the street and sitting on the footpath she unbuttoned her blouse and brought her daughter close to her chest. Deepak looked away. After a while Mithali walked close to Deepak and said, “Chalo” “Hum jaa kahan rahe hain?” Mithali asked “Pata nahi” Deepak replied

“Mujhe laga hi tha. Main le chalungi wahan chaloge? Bahut acchi jagah hai. Aapka mann khush ho jaayega.” Deepak looked at her, surprised by her choice of words and the tone she spoke in. “Chalo” “Chalo” Mithali smiled.

Mithali started walking. This time Deepak followed. “Aap mere saath chal sakte hain” Mithali smiled. Deepak started laughing. Both of them became silent all of a sudden. The night was strangest, for both of them. Mithali had never met anyone like Deepak, in her entire life and Deepak was never attracted to anyone like this, before. No, this was nothing to do with flesh, he thought. It also did not have anything to do with love, he knew it. It was perhaps something that one human felt for another. Something more special than just knowing someone! Something

that could not be defined! Deepak was at loss of words. He walked silently. Mithali glanced at him through the corner of her eyes as they continued walking in silence. Deepak could not believe that he felt so comfortable in her presence. There was only one woman in his life and she was his wife. Oh yes, even now Anjana was the only woman in his life, if one read the statement as a past tense. But Deepak had to admit that Mithali was the first woman he had got this close to. Talking, walking and touching her hand, all this had taken him by surprise. Was it something to do

with the fact that he was drunk? Perhaps! But, in spite of being drunk he did not feel attracted towards Mithali’s body. It was her eyes that fascinated him. “Aap kya soch rahe hain itna?” Mithali’s question brought him out of his thoughts.

“Kuch nahi.” Deepak replied. “Theek hai, math bataiye.” “Aap bura to nahi maanogi agar main aapse ek baat kahu?” “Kahiye” “Aapki aankhein bahut acchi hain” Deepak said looking in her eyes. “Shukriya” Mithali smiled. They walked for some more time and Deepak could smell the sea. How did she know that he needed to be at some place like this? He thought. “Main kabhi kabhi yahan aati hu” Deepak turned to look at her. “Yahan mujhe koi jaanta nahi, main sirf ek aurat

hoti hu jab yahan aake baithti hu. Waise bhi main jab yahan aati hu to koi hota nahi. Kuch ladke aate jaate rehte hain parr woh mujhe chedne ki himmat nahi karte. Aapko pata hai, iss jagah mein kuch aisi jaadoo hai ke meri beti yahan aakarr muskuraane laghti hai. Mujhe bhi bahut accha lagta hai yahan aakarr. Main apni ek alag si duniya banaati hu yahan baithe baithe.” Mithali looked dreamily towards the sea. The soft breeze tickled their skin. Deepak looked at Mithali. She was a simple woman, not so good

looking or extremely fair but she was beautiful in her own way. Her skin glowed in the moonlight. Mithali felt Deepak’s eyes on her. She looked away, secretly hoping that he would not do something to spoil the magic of the moment. According to her, Deepak was a good man, a family man who was loyal to his wife. But, if he tried to get physical

with her the image she had formed of him would shatter into pieces. She would not be able to refuse to offer her body because he had paid her but she did not want him to touch her. Suddenly she remembered something. “Suniye” she said taking out money from her blouse. She took a 500 rupee note and extended her hand. “Yeh lijiye” she said offering him the money. “Yeh kyun?” Deepak asked, confused. “Woh, maine aapse jhoot kaha tha, main ek ghante ka ek hazaar nahi, paanch sau rupaiye leti hu. Mujhe nahi pata tha aap jhat se paise denge. Socha aap tolmol karoge to paanch sau pe maan

jaaungi.” Deepak smiled as he took the money from her and kept it in his wallet. He stared into her eyes for a moment. “Wahan jaakarr baithe?” Mithali asked, pointing in a direction. She started walking towards the bench but then Deepak asked, “Agar hum chalte rahe to aapko koi takleef to nahi?” “Nahi, theek hai, jaisa aap bole” “Agar aap thak jao to bata dena.” She adjusted her daughter in her arms and said “Theek hai”

“Kya main aapki bacchi ko godh mein le lu?” Mithali stared at Deepak, too overwhelmed to speak. Deepak extended his hand and she shifted close to him so that he could take the baby in his arms. As he picked up the baby his hand brushed against her body, Deepak and she ignored that touch.

They continued walking. For the first time, someone was treating her like a woman and not merely like an object of pleasure. She wanted to spend more time with him. But by her experience of calculating time, Mithali knew that time was running out. If Deepak would want to extend the time she would happily accept it, without even taking extra money for it. She liked how he treated her. She liked being in his company. But she knew he would not extend the time because his family was waiting for him. She remembered how, in the past, she waited for her husband to return home. Tears gathered in her eyes and a tear was about to reveal

her weakness but she immediately wiped it. But, it was already late for Deepak had seen it. They continued walking in silence. Deepak looked at his wrist watch, they still had half an hour with them. Mithali looked away and took a deep breath. She wanted to enjoy each moment spent here, with Deepak. She knew that she would cherish these moments for a long time to come. During the tortuous moments of her life she would reminisce about these moments to keep her mind away from what was happening with her.

“Aap yeh sab kyun karti hain?” Deepak asked her. “Main thak gayi hu, hum baith jaayein? She changed the topic. They looked around but there was no bench nearby. Finally they sat on the sand. Mithali’s daughter, who was still in Deepak’s arms, woke up and let out a cry. Then she looked around, she saw

Deepak and then turned to look at her mother. Mithali took her baby in her arms. A few guys taking a stroll, looked at Deepak and Mithali. For a third person, they seemed like a couple. The guys walked away chitchatting amongst themselves. Deepak was waiting for a reply. He knew that she would tell him just like she had answered his earlier questions after pretending to be rude. This time, instead of a rude reply she just changed the topic. In the past half an hour there was a drastic change in her language as well as behavior. Deepak looked at Mithali as she played with her daughter, making faces and smiling as her

daughter burst out laughing. This being a much serious question Deepak knew that he would have to ask her again. He stared at her for some time before asking – “Kyun karti hain aap yeh sab?” Mithali knew exactly what he meant by “yeh sab” “Koi apni marzi se yeh sab nahi karta saab.” “Deepak, aap mujhe Deepak bulaa sakti hain. Maine aapse to aapka naam pooch liya parr aapko apna naam bataana bhool gaya, maaf kijiye.”

“Aap pehle mard ho jisne mujhse maafi maangi hai.” Mithali said as she continued playing with her daughter. “Aap mujhe kuch bata rahi thi” Deepak said. “Maine kaha, koi apni marzi se yeh sab nahi karta, Deepak.” Deepak liked how she immediately agreed to

address him as Deepak. There was something about this woman that was special. It was a very strange feeling and he could not understand what it was. “Main bhi ek aam aurat ki tarah apni zindagi jeena chahti thi. Khushi se bhara ghar, sukhi parivaar, itna sa sapna tha mera.” Deepak saw the pain in her eyes as she looked towards the horizon. It was dark all around except for the moonlight and though they could not see the waves clearly, the sound of the waves seemed to soothe her aching heart as she continued – “Main bhi khush thi apne pati ke saath. Jab usko pata chala ke main maa bannewali hu to woh bhi

bahut khush hua. Humaare paas bahut paise nahi the parr kamsekam itne to the ke hum ek parivaar shuru karr sake aur do waqt ki roti kha sake. Mere pati municipality mein safai kaam karte the. Roz subah raasta saaf karte the. Ek din…” she paused. Deepak knew that the pause was not meant for an effect. She needed time to conceal her emotions. Deepak waited. They had some time on hand. “Ek din jab was raasta saaf karr rahe the to ek bus unhe kuchalkarr chali gayi.” Mithali continued wiping her tears.

“Waise to duty pe maut hone ke kaaran unhe municipality ki orh se paise milne chahiye the parr woh log taiyyaar nahi the. Maine bahut chakkar lagaye daftar ke parr koi madat nahi karr raha tha. Ek sahib bole “main kuch karta hoon” Maine socha ab sab theek hoga. Meri Rani ki zindagi sudhar jaayegi parr aisa kuch nahi hua.

Rani kuch hi hafton ki thi, jab main useh padosi ke paas rakhkarr daftar gayi. Sahab ne mujhe ghar parr bulaaya.” Deepak knew what was coming next. “Woh haraami mere saath sona chahta tha” Mithali said in angry tone. “Maine manaa karr diya. Paise nahi mile. Maine kaam dhunda. Ek hi building mein do gharon mein bartan maanjhne ka kaam kiya, sab log mujhe buri nazar se hi dekhte the. Deepak, mere pitaji kehte the, ladki agar khoobsurat ho to abhimaan ki baat hoti hai maa-baap keliye, lekin khoobsurat ladki garib ghar mein paida ho to shraap bann jaati hai. Jab

mere maalik ne mere saath zabardasti karne ki koshish ki to mujhe mere pitaji ki bahut yaad aayi. Pakde jaane parr maalik ne apni patni se kaha ke main unpe buri nazar daal rahi thi. Meri naukri chali gayi, woh hi nahi, doosri wali bhi. Mujhe koi kaam nahi mila. Maine bheek maangkarr bhi dekhi, parr logon ki nazar meri haalath parr kam aur phate kapdon se jhaakte mere sharer parr jyaada padti. Tangh aakarr maine taih karr liya. Agar khudko bechkarr Rani ka bhavishya sudharta hai to yahi sahi. Main fir se municipality ke daftar gayi uss sahab se milne taaki mere pati

ke paise mujhe mil jaaye. Maine khudko manaa liya tha. Main useh woh dene ke liye taiyyaar ho gayi jo sirf mere pati ka haq tha. Parr meri kismat kharab thi. Uss sahab ki badli ho gayi thi. Naye afsar ne kaha file mein likha hai ke paise mujhe mil gaye hain. Unhone mere dastakhat bhi dikhaaye. Maine unse kaha ke woh mere

dastakhat nahi the magar woh maane nahi. Fir maine unse kaha ke agar woh mera kaam karr denge to main unhe khush karr dungi. Mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha tha main kya keh rahi thi. Uss waqt mujhe bass paise chahiye the. Woh sahab parivaar wale the. Unhone mujhe wahan se chale jaane ko kaha. Pati ke paise nahi mile parr uss anubhav ne raasta dikha diya. Rani ke liye maine khudko daav parr laga dene ka nishchay kiya. Maine dhanda shuru karr diya. Aise taise guzaara hota hai. Kabhi do girayak to kabhi ek bhi nahi. Kabhi kabhi to kayee din aise hi bhook mein guzar jaate hain” Mithali hid her face in her palms.

Deepak stared far into the sea. Life must be easy for a few people but it was definitely not easily for the likes of Mithali and him. For a moment, Deepak had forgotten his own problems. Anjana was pregnant again. His responsibilities were increasing and he had to think seriously about finances. He did not know that Mithali was staring at him. “Jab maine aapko pehli baar dekha tha main tabhi samajh gayi thi ke

aap pareshaan ho.” Deepak stared at her. He wondered whether his tension was so evident that a stranger could read it on his face. Then, what about his wife? Had she read it too? Or had she missed it? Anjana was a loving wife and she always knew when Deepak was tensed, she made it a point to talk to him and

make him feel relaxed. This time, however, she had not asked him about his worries. Perhaps, she knew what it was about but she did not want to hear it from him. “Agar aap theek samjhe to aap mujhe bata sakte ho. Main aapke liye shayad kuch na karr paun parr aapki baat sunkarr aapke dil ka bojh halka karr sakti hu.” Deepak smiled. “Mujhe koi pareshani nahi. Main aapke baare mein soch raha tha.” Deepak lied. “Agar aap bataana nahi chahte to koi baat nahi.” Mithali said.

Suddenly, Deepak started talking, much to his own surprise. This night was definitely the strangest! He told her about his financial status. He told her about Anjana’s second pregnancy. How he was not yet ready for the responsibility and how he could not talk to Anjana about this. He was standing on a crossroad. He was not able to make up his mind. On one hand he wanted to earn enough to be able to take care of the increasing responsibilities but on the other hand he was gathering courage to ask Anjana to undergo an abortion.

He knew it would hurt her and hence he was not sure how he should bring up the topic or should he bring it up in first place? “Aap apni patni se pyar karte hain?” “Khud se bhi jyaada” Deepak sincerely replied. “To vishwas rakhiye, sab kuch theek ho jaayega. Mere pati hamesha kehte the, jahaan pyar hota

hai, wahan sab theek hota hai.” Mithali assured. Deepak smiled. Deepak looked at his wrist watch. He could not believe that he had spent fifteen minutes more than one hour. “Aapki biwi intezaar karr rahi hogi, hai na?” “Haan, magar main aapke baare mein soch raha tha. Mera matlab hai, maine aapke pandra minute jyaada liye.” Deepak said. “Bonus” Mithali joked and they both started laughing. “Ab humein chalna chahiye.” Mithali said trying to get up. Deepak got up and took her daughter in his arms. Mithali was surprised to see that her

daughter went in Deepak’s arms, so easily. She stood up and straightened her saree and they both started walking. As they reached the main road Mithali took her daughter in her arms. “Khush rahiye” she said staring in Deepak’s eyes. “Aap bhi” Deepak said and was about to walk away when Mithali called out his name. He looked at her “Deepak, aap bahut acche insaan hain, kabhi bhi khud ko badliyega nahi.” “Jee” Deepak replied and smiled.

Mithali turned around and walked away. Deepak stared at her for a long time and then started walking. A little more than one hour after Deepak and Mithali departed, Deepak was still walking in circles, not aware that Mithali was secretly watching him, following his footsteps from a

distance. Unable to come up with a genuine excuse, Deepak finally decided to tell the truth to his wife. He started walking towards his house and Mithali followed him. As expected, Anjana was waiting for him at the door. When Deepak entered the house she brought a glass of water for him. “Aaj bahut jyaada der ho gayi?” she said in a worried tone. “Haan, kuch aisa hi kaaran tha ke der ho gayi.” “Aaj aapne sharab bhi kuch jyaada pi hai.” “Woh doston ne zabardasti pila di.” “Khana khayenge?”

“Tumne khaya?” “Nahi” “Tumhe kitni baar kaha hai aisi haalath mein bhookha rehna theek nahi.” “Kabhi aapke bina khaya hai?” “Main abhi aaya, tum thali paroso.” Saying so, Deepak turned around to go. “Aapse kuch baat karni thi.” “Bolo” Anjana took Deepak’s hand in hers and staring in his eyes she said, “Mujhe pata hai aajkal aap bahut pareshaan rehte ho. Peechle kuch dino se

himmat juta rahi thi aapse baat karne ke liye. Jab se maine aapko bataya ke main maa banne wali hu tab se aap pareshaan rehne lage ho.” Deepak knew what she would say next, he interrupted. “Kya tum mujhse pyar karti ho?” “Khud se bhi jyaada.”

“To vishwas rakho, sab theek ho jaayega. Mujhe kisi ne kaha hai ke jahan pyar hota hai wahan sab theek ho jaata hai.” Deepak kissed her hand and walked to the washroom. Anjana had readied the plates when he returned. Deepak handed over his salary to her, which she kept in the drawer without counting. “Ginogi nahi?” “Kabhi gine hain?” “Abki baar ginn lo.” “Theek hai” Mithali said opening the drawer. She counted the money and realized that Deepak had given 500 rupees less than every month. She kept the money back in the drawer and sat next to

Deepak. She wondered why Deepak had not given the entire salary to her but she did not ask anything. She knew Deepak had a valid reason. In first place, he could have easily remained silent but he did not do so. He was the one who drew her attention to the fact that he had not given the entire salary. “Paanch sau rupaiye kam hain” Deepak said as he took the first bite. “Hmmm.” ”Poochogi nahi kahan gaye?”

“Mujhe pata hai aap khud bataoge.” Deepak stared at his wife. He was preparing himself to tell her the truth. “Maine paanch sau rupaiye kisi ko de diye.” Anjana looked in Deepak’s eyes. She knew there was more to it. Then, Deepak told her about Mira. He told her how they spent one hour together. He

told her the story of Mithali. Anjana listened silently. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Deepak and Anjana looked at each other. “Main dekhti hu” Anjana said and got up to open the door. After some time, Deepak heard a familiar voice coming from outside. A moment later, Anjana walked inside and said, “Ek aurat aapse milne aayi hai.” Instantly, Deepak realized whose voice it was that sounded so familiar. He knew Mithali was the woman who had come to meet him, but why? He got up and washed his hands. He walked outside –

“Aap yahan?” he asked. “Main aapko paise lautaane aayi hu.” Mithali said. “Nahi, aapka unn paison parr haq hai.” “Mujhe nahi chahiye.” “Ek ghanta bitaaya hai to paise to rakhne padenge.” Realizing that Deepak would not listen to her, Mithali turned towards Anjana. “Behen, aapke pati bahut acche insaan hain. Yeh ek ghante wali baat ko galat math samjhiye.” “Mithali, inhone mujhe sab bataa diya hai.” Anjana said.

Mithali looked at Deepak and then at Anjana. “Yeh paise rakh lo, behen. Mera innparr koi haq nahi.” Mithali repeated, extending her hand towards Anjana. “Nahi” Anjana said and looked at Deepak and then at Mithali and continued. “Agar ek ghanta bitaaya hai to paise to rakhne

padenge.”