Keep Your Enemies Closer

~ full stops and question marks ~

The woman ran her finger down his chest, looking up at him provocatively. 

"Aaj to meri qismat hi khul gayi, warna to yahan sirf budhay hi aatay hein apni hawwas nikalnay."

She spoke in a low, raspy voice. 

The reality of what was happening and where he was suddenly hit Zaviyar, as he brought his hands up, holding the woman's wrists and getting her hands off him. He took a couple of steps back, taking deep breaths. 

"Nahi aisa kuch nahi hai. Mein yahan is liye nahi aaya."

The woman looked at his distraught state and how he looked anywhere but at her. She crossed her arms, looking at him curiously. 

"Kya matlab hai is kaam se nahi aaye? Aur yahan konsa kaam hota hai?"

She chuckled. He finally looked up at her, his throat running dry. 

He couldn't believe he was here. 

"Dekhein mein, mein waqaye yahan kisi aur wajah se aaya tha. Mein aap ki izzat karta hoon, aap ke saath kuch nahi karoon ga, don't worry."

This time around, the woman laughed. She laughed so hard that she had to sit on the bed to control herself. 

"Izzat? Izzat kahan se aa gayi beech mein? Meri koi izzat na to hai, na hi mujhe is ki aadat hai, is liye ye apna sharafat ka dhong tum khatam kar do. Jo karnay aaye ho, wo karo, aur jao."

Zaviyar furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. 

"Aap ko meri baat pe yaqeen nahi hai?"

"Baat bhi to dekho apni. Tum is waqt aik kothay mein, aik tawaif ke kamray mein maujood ho, aur tum mujhe ye keh rahay ho ke tum yahan kisi aur maqsad se aaye ho?"

Zaviyar realised just how stupid he sounded right now. She was right. There was only one meaning behind a man's presence in this place. His hands got sweaty. He should've planned this out better. 

"I'm sorry. Mein chalta hoon ab."

He got up, she did too. 

"Rukko. Aisay nahi ja saktay tum!"

"Kya matlab?"

"Tum ho kon, ye to batatay jao. Kis kaam se aaye thay yahan? Shayad mein kuch madad kar sakoon?"

He looked at her intently. He just needed as much information as he could find.

"Zaviyar. Zaviyar Ahmer, mein -"

"Ahmer? Tum Seth Ahmer ke betay ho?!"

She all but shouted. His head shot up. 

"Aap Seth Ahmer ko jaanti hein?"

"Un ko yahan kon nahi jaanta? Is kothi ka aadha kharch wohi to chalatay hein. Wo na hotay to hum sab shayad yahan qaid na hotay."

If Zaviyar had any sensibility still left in him, he lost it upon hearing those words. 

"K-kya matlab hai?"

"Haan, har maah aatay hein aik gaddi paison ki le ke. Auntie ko de kar jatay hein."

"Kyun?"

"Tumharay baap hein, tumhein pata hona chahiye. Par suna yunn hai ke ab se koi tees, batees saal pehle wo kothi ki sab se haseen larki ko le gaye thay. Us ka madawa kartay hein shayad kharch de kar."

Zaviyar could feel himself get dizzy as he dropped himself on the sofa. His legs unable to hold his weight anymore. 

"Tum theek ho? Ye lo, paani peeyo."