Deewani

دوسرا باب

CHAPTER 2

Aahil was sitting against the wall. His mind was moving a hundred miles a minute. Thinking about his life. All around him were luxuries and people ,yet he felt lonely. The hole could only be filled by his wife. Who seemed to be hiding somewhere. The cup of tea that was placed in front of him had turned ice cold , the ink was falling from the tip of the feather. His pearly white shalwar kameez were getting stained. But the King seemed to be deep in thoughts to care. He made way to his closet and changed into a golden kurta and white trousers. Before wearing his golden robe on top. Aahil could not afford to waste his time especially now that Ramadan was nearing and the poor had to be given food.

In the evening he had a meeting with the Nawab of Bengal , the man was old and greedy. He had been appointed by his father which is why he was still a Nawab.

Aahil did not like Kashif , he was a greedy governor and if it were not for his strict control, Kashif would have surely rebelled. There were rumours about him having an illegitimate child. Aahil however refrained from asking questions about his personal life. The man had come with a proposal for his sister , Alina , who was now eighteen the age where most women got married. The nawab's son Ali was a trusted man and had an important position in the army.

Aahil had very peacefully replied "Nawab sahab my father trusted you. And I respect you and Ali. I do not find any problem in this union. However, the wedding will not take place for at least three more months. I want the wedding to be very memorable for everyone present. I hope you understand".

Kashif knew better than to challenge the King's order and agreed. As the news reached the ears of the former Queen , Rahila , she became ecstatic. This would ensure the loyalty of the people in Bengal. Bengal was one of the most richest provinces. With its agriculture and cloth industries. And the diamond grew in the land in abundance.

The bride to be was however not so happy. She had loved another man. And did not know how to tell her brother. She knew her brother loved her but hearing that she had an affair with a man would break him. She wanted to save herself and the man of the punishment of 70 lashes. That too in public. Heading out of the castle in a battered attire she promised herself this was the last time.

Safa woke up to an empty house. An empty kitchen. And an emptier stomach. Opening the doors of the small house she was met with the man who delivered her fathers letter. She smiled thinking that perhaps he had sent her money. Oh how wrong she had been.

"Didi , Nawab has sent this letter for you. Now I must leave"

And without even waiting for a reply the young lad ran away. The lad , could not see a broken face and his lover was waiting for him in his two bedroom house. He could not wait to silence the heat that coursed through his body. His eyes clouding with lust thinking of the woman that lied naked in his bed.

Safa opened the letter the very few words were heavy on her heart. They said
Dear daughter
I your father , will be unable to send some money for a time. Your brother Ali is getting married. And all expenses will cost a lot. I will have to stop your allowance. Forgive me.
Your father.

The words of the letter pierced her heart. Another year will pass by and she would not have new clothes for another Eid. Safa wiped the tears. The excuses of her father were unacceptable. She wanted to accept them but her heart reminded her that a man who possesses millions of rupees can surely give her 5 rps every month. An average person in the kingdom earned 20 rps while she had to manage with a measly 5. Her mind explained to her that the man she called "papa" just did not want to waste money on someone birthed by a prostitute.

Somewhere deep within her bones Safa accepted this fact but it was something she did not wish to think much about.

Safa wore a white frock with a chudidar pyjama. Her hair pulled back into a braid. The pazeb created tinkling sounds with each step she took. It was a hot evening. The sun shining directly above her head not a single molecule moved from its place. There was an eerie silence. The street was empty and the only sounds that could be heard were of the young teacher teaching her students dance on her roof top.

The sun had just set when the door of her tiny house was rattled. The strong and heavy pounding shook the door from its hinges. Safa made way to the door , opening a tiny bit of it to see that it was the kings army. Leading them into her small lounge she asked

"Sir. I have nothing to offer please explain why you are here."

The officer nodded his head before replying " I've been sent by the King to tell you that this Ramadan before Eid , you will visit the palace and apply the Queen and the princess' henna. You shall be payed handsomely for it"

Safa nodded her head and thanked the gentleman for coming to her quarters. Safa felt honoured. It was not everyday she was invited to the palace. Yet it gave people something to talk about.

Seeing the army officer leave with a peaceful and happy expression, the people thought Safa had entertained her first client. Like her mother she had turned to the path of prostitution. Safa tried to ignore the people. But it was hard. The streets rung with shouts of men.

"Name your price bibi"
"I see this slut entertains men with money only"
"Come warm my bed aswell"
"Give us a show like you did to that army officer"

And this was just the beginning of her misery.

TRANSLATION
1- Shalwar kameez : traditional menswear in the subcontinent
2- Nawab : governor
3- Sahab : sir
4- Didi : sister
5- chudidar : a pajama that has rings near the ankles
6- pazeb : anklets