𝐀𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀

f i f t e e n

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    F I V E  D A Y S.  And Shashi had not shown up to work.

    The warehouse felt empty. As Aaina's fingers moved effortlessly over the giant sun sculpture, her eyes darted towards the door every once in a while, hoping her saheli would walk in any second. And she didn't, as hours upon hours went by, and Aaina finished about three pieces through the week. Jaswanti was as clueless as her and started crying as she realised her closest saheli was missing.

    The sun set, she locked the doors of the warehouse and headed towards Shashi's house. It was a bit far from Hira Ghar, but Aaina had managed to memorise the route after Shashi had gotten married to Ranmal. Now, they lived near the farmlands where a lot of big families thrived.

   Aaina ambled towards a pale blue bungalow that Kaki had gifted them on their wedding. Shashi grew quite busy after that but still remained working for kaki and spent time with her sahelis. She didn't like staying at home a lot, so they always met at Hira ghar or the Bazaar.

    As Aaina removed her chappals and stepped inside Shashi's home, a loud noise resonated out. It was a laugh, Aaina realised, that grew louder as she took each step.

    It was Ranmal, Shashi's husband. He was sprawled on the light cerulean couch, a golden bottle in his hand, and murmured something incoherent. The lanterns were still not lit, baring the place only to some amount of twilight that could seep into the messy room through just one window. Everything around reeked of alcohol. Her nose scrunched in distaste, and her eyes widened.

    "Aaina? Is that y-you?" he spoke.

    "Where is Shashi?" Her tone sharpened up in ferocity. Shashi's husband is an alcoholic?

    "Shashibala ghar par nahi hai" he slurred.

    "To phir kahan hai?"

    "Ho-ww would I know?" He replied with a cackle. It was becoming harder to bear the stench.

     "Why is your house in this condition? Where is Shashi??" she yelled.

    "Shh-sh" He continued to sip from the bottle while he attempted to speak, but it was inaudible. Only his lips moved inadvertently.

     Aaina's agony peaked as she shouted Shashi's name multiple times, but there was no response. She didn't know whether to be terrified of absence or be relieved that she removed herself from this situation. Where was she, though?

    "Ranmal, I swear to God if you don't tell me where she is I'll—"

"Kyyaa karlogi? Maar dogi? Kar bhi sakti ho. Tum bhi Hira ben ka hi khoon ho, aur mai bhi"

   Aaina's brow scrunched. "What does kaki have to do with this? Besides, she is your employer. You can get in trouble for saying that which I hope you do"

    "She knows it already," he laughed again. "Karlo jo kar sakti ho"

    Aaina stepped forward in frustration."Just tell me where Shashi is! Did you hurt her!?"

    "No, don't kill me! Ruko! Ruko!"

    Aaina got startled. As if there was a flip of a switch, and he crouched into the couch further, his palms covering his eyes tightly.

    She knew it wasn't her business to meddle in people's personal lives but the condition she found Ranmal in, very evidently showed that it took a lot to reach that level of addiction to alcohol and that it must be going on since a long time.

    And all this while, Shashi didn't say anything. It pricked Aaina as to why she felt the need to hide such a thing with her closest saheli with whom she spends most of her time. They shared almost every other detail, whether surprising or embarrassing, but this she never spoke of.

    Ranmal was not just drunk. His face was marked by insanity. He looked terrified of everything around him, one moment trying to curl into a ball even more and another, laughing with an open heart. His eyes wandered all around, not focusing on one spot. There was something deeply wrong going on in their lives, which Aaina had no clue about till now.

     "I didn't know you drank so much. It's ruining you" She couldn't resist telling him.

    "On the contrary, it helps me. I'm already ruined Aaina" he said with another laugh.

    Tears ran down Aaina's eyes on seeing the condition of a happy household that should not be going through. Especially her closest friend.

    "What is going on?" She couldn't help but scream at him.

    He didn't even hear and continued drinking.

    "Ranmal, what the hell is going on? Are you both in some trouble? Will you tell me?"

    ". . . I was soo loyal to kaki. . ." he managed to speak.

    "What?"

    ". . . murder-rr. . .  ten years"

    "R-Ranmal?" Her voice suddenly turned soft.

    He shook his head, and he took another sip. "Go away"

   
    Aaina stood frozen, a cold sweat forming on her brow, and all of a sudden, like always, she felt the air cut off. Her breathing went erratic, and her body stiffened. The disbelief of what she heard rang inside her mind, still not seeping in.

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