Mistress Asthana

CHAPTER THREE: MR HELPER

Fannah

"Hey Fannah, get up quickly go down to the Koleriya and get some charcoal. We have run out of it and you won't be able to hawk groundnuts tomorrow if you don't get it" my mom ordered.

"But mom, it's late already. This is 10pm and I can't possibly go out to the Koleriya now. And you know Dad won't even allow it" I countered. How could she possibly expect to go to the Koleriya by this time? It's late and anything could happen.

"Look, your dad is asleep that's why I want you to hurry and get back. He won't even know you are gone. And like I said before, if we don't get it  before tomorrow then you won't be able to hawk your groundnuts tomorrow" she said sternly leaving no room for arguments. What surprised me is how she only cared about the groundnuts I'll hawk tomorrow and not the well being of her daughter.

"And mom am I supposed to get there by foot? You know I won't get a bike by this time right?" I asked a bit too rudely. I don't always speak to her like that but this situation calls for that.

"Fannah, Koleriya is not that far you know, just get up, pick your hijab and run along and stop irritating me already" she hissed and dropped the money beside me.

I really can't believe my mom is making me go all the way to Koleriya by this hour of the night. I looked around and found my hijab lying on a chair and I angrily grabbed it and the money and stormed out of the house.

I left the house and walked down to the street. Every where was so dark and quiet. I walked briskly, alone on the quiet street. A small bit of fear crept into my mind followed by a feeling of uneasiness. I felt like going back home but I knew that would be impossible.

Hearing the dogs bark freaked me out. I was never one to like dogs. I quickened my pace and kept on walking. The last thing I needed was an encounter with a dog in this cold scary night.

The place was quiet for about two minutes and I relaxed a bit. I slowed down a bit and then I heard a very loud bark from behind me. I turned back to see a very huge dog charging at me with all it's might and fury. That was quite unexpected.

A whole wave of adrenaline washed through me and my legs went right into action. I ran with all the energy I had in me. I could hear the dog following me as I ran and I ran even faster.

What a bad night, now what's going to become of me? I thought as I kept running. I ran untill some group of three men came to my view. Without thinking twice, I ran towards them. The men seemed to notice as they all stood up and ran towards my direction.

I don't know how they managed to do it but the dog was gone in no time. I closed my eyes and rested my back on the wall to catch my breath. The atmosphere was so cool and I let the breeze caress my face. It's a good thing I met these men here if not a part of me would have ended up in that mad  dog's belly this night. I don't even want to imagine that.

I opened my eyes to say thank you to them but I was shocked at what I saw. One of the men was standing in front of me and eyeing me intensively, the man was too close for comfort. I stared back at them with fear clearly written on my face. Oh Lord save me, now what sort of drama is this? I should have been at home resting and not here.

"Very beautiful isn't she?" He asked no one in particular. The two men behind him chorused an "indeed" and he smiled even wider. The color of his teeth irritated me, and a very bad smell oozed from his mouth. Euw,

"Look muda, enough with the admiration okay. Just quit admiring her and do what you are supposed to do. We are also waiting on the line remember?" One of the men said carelessly. My heart skipped a beat at the sound of that. What was that supposed to mean? Waiting in line for what?