Chapter 3
How can a night be this long? I have no idea how my life whirls 360 degrees in one night, everything is meaningless to me now. My heart still feels the pain of his rejection, I can still hear his words in my ears. But I can't blame him, it was me who fell in love with him even knowing that it was a deal. It was me who thought that some good words equal love and he can look beyond the tag "mistress." attached to me. But he didn't. He couldn't. No man could do that. Could he?
"Where to Madam?" asked the taxi driver when I reached the taxi station near Sangeeta's building.
"Railway station," I answered and sat down inside the taxi. My whole life had turned upside down in these past six months.
Sitting on the train, going back home in the village. I watched the same scenery which I saw when I came back. But what a vast difference between the circumstances. And I remembered why I decided to come to Mumbai.
.
.
.
.
"Mother, here it's 4000 rupees."
Mother smiled and patted my cheek lovingly "Vani, my lovely daughter what would I have done without you." she said taking the money and counting the other rolled bundle she had hidden in a flour box but after counting her face fell.
"What happened, mother?"
"It's still less, Your father's medicines are getting expensive day by day."
"I'll ask some other friends if they know someone who needs tuition," I said but mother shook her head "no. You are already doing so much. I'll ask your aunt for advance this month."
I nodded But inside, I know that even with advance it won't be enough. We need more money than the mother's advance she will get from aunty.
Mother turned back and started making chapati ( bread) again and I started walking towards my room when I heard my father's angry voice.
"How many times I have to tell you not to go out. You are a girl so behave like one. Don't know what crime I had done in my past life that God didn't grant me a son" he said harshly which made Mihika cry.
"Stop crying and get away from my eyes"
I wiped my sweaty hands on my kurta ( dress top) and went to Mihika "mihi, let's go."
"Get away both of you from my eyes, both are a burden on me." he muttered angrily and mother came out running "what happened?"
"Nothing mother…" I replied and took mihi with me to my room.
"Why is he like this sister, what is our mistake in it that we are not boys? I hate him." Mihika cried and I held her hand squeezing it lightly.
"He is our father Mihi, and he is not angry at us but the situation. You know the financial problems we have and Uncle is still trying to snatch our house from us."
"But sister…" Mihika was saying but stopped when we heard voices from outside.
"Stay here Mihi," I told her and went out to see what was the matter.
And what I saw made my legs weak. Father was on his knees begging his brother for some more time.
"Please, Soham. Just give me more time. I will pay you back." He cried on his feet and Uncle kicked him "I have given you enough time. Now give me my money back or leave this house. I am getting a decent amount of money for this." Saying that he departed.
