"...kuchh ishq thā kuchh majbūrī thī so maiñ ne jīvan vaar diyā
maiñ kaisā zinda aadmī thā ik shaḳhs ne mujh ko maar diyā
ik sabz shāḳh gulāb kī thā ik duniyā apne ḳhvāb kī thā
vo ek bahār jo aa.ī nahīñ us ke liye sab kuchh haar diyā ..."
The tone added to the aura of the fragrant air within the hall as Rudra closed his eyes feeling the melody.
"...maiñ rotā huuñ aur āsmān se taare TūTte dekhtā huuñ
un logoñ par jin logoñ ne mire logoñ ko āzār diyā
mire bachchoñ ko allāh rakhe in taaza havā ke jhoñkoñ ne
maiñ ḳhushk peḌ ḳhizāñ kā thā mujhe kaisā barg-o-bār diyā .."
Fatima Bi ended the last song of the day, on an emotional note, getting a lot of applause from the unseen audience.
The other girls of the brothel disconnected the small mic away from her mouth. They paid the most senior courtesan a little bow and walked off to see the situation with Nafisa.
Fatima Bi was now in her early 50s. Eben though the rosy cheeks and dewy skin had left her side for quite few years; one would definitely fall for her charm even today.
Rudra sat up, holding the pillow on her back.
'Rudra! Seems like you had a long day. We almost finished three songs before you arrived.' Salma Bi said, smiling at one of her regular visitors. ni
Rudra smiled. 'In our world, it says that everything is an opportunity you seize. So, how much I listen doesn't matter to me; it's just that I listened and enjoyed.' he said, in his deep voice.
Fatima Bi was impressed by the young man's perspective. 'Good... but, I really don't support you attending this brothel every evening, you know.' she said, much to his surprise.
Rudra took some cashews from the bowl presented in front of me. 'And why not? You know how much I love listening to you. This place isn't a brothel for me Fatima Bi and I've told that to you several times. It's a place of art, music and the lost culture. And you are no less than an angel to me!'
Fatima Bi scoffed. 'But, that isn't the reason the people visits us, Rudra. For the society, we are the honey traps that lure man with the scent of obscenity. We wouldn't be this, if they called this art.' she explained.
Rudra didn't like the way things were presented. He took a sip off the glass of 'sharbat' and looked at the young dancer making her way to Fatima Bi in full excitement.
'The guy gave me 30,000, Fatima Bi!' Chandra, the courtesan handed the money bag to Fatima Bi, who took the bag and chanted something holy before getting it inside the trunk.
'And where us the other girl that danced with you?' Rudra asked Chandra curiously.
'You mean Chumki? Well, Mr. Bhadra liked her and wanted her for the night.' she said looking down at the last part, knowing Rudra's anger.
Rudra's eyes widened. 'What? But, wasn't she a minor? How could you..? Fatima Bi, what is this?' he burst.
Fatima Bi stood up and held his hands with a pleading look. 'Rudra, we have tried. This guy had his eyes on Chumki for several months. I often tried not to send Chumki in front of him but then he'd threaten to close this brothel..'
'... and you all were scared? That means you didn't have any faith in me!' Rudra didn't hesitate to express his annoyance.
Chandra shook her head. 'No, Rudra bhai. Fatima Bi had full faith in you and that's why we started the primary education for every girl in this brothel. She just didn't want.. ' Chandra stopped looking at Fatima Bi.
'... Rudra..' Fatima placed her affectionate hand on Rudra's shoulder. 'I know how hard you fought for us. Vikrant Manchandani was never in favor of providing the quality environment and safety measures for us... that we have now. He did that only because of you. Mr. Bhadra is a business associate of Manchandani. I didn't want more differences between you and Manchandani because of us.' she confessed.
Rudra frowned. 'And so you...' he sighed not finding words. 'Fatima Bi..' he held her hands. 'I stand for this place only for its preservation of the lost world of Suhanian Thumri. Why can't you all actually flaunt the best of what you have? How long shall bodily pleasures be a source of material existence? That's not just female subjugation, that's inhuman!' he said.
Fatima Bi smiled. 'Your ideal world is just too good to be true, Rudra. We serve one another in every possible means to run the society.'
Rudra didn't speak. He, truly had no response to that. But, he hoped to have the response some day.
^^^^
'... and stop going to that place every evening, Rudra. People have started talking.' Vaidehi said as he massaged her son's head.
'Which place? Fatima Bi?' Rudra lifted his eyes.
Vaidehi looked away.
'Amma, you know very well why I go there. Fatima Bi has been that hidden muse to my life. Her voice sets an alarm all over my soul, making me realize who I am. I don't see anything wrong in that.' Rudra explained, sitting up.
Vaidehi was worried. 'Rudra, I'm still a naive to understand your strong words. I understand you like her songs and all but that isn't what people would perceive! They'll talk and there will be further defamation... further...further. ' she said, getting emotional. 'I have always avoided these things in my life. I can't let my son..'
'Amma..' Rudra cut the sentence midway. 'I know what I do. You know what I do. There's no one else that matters.' he said cupping his mother's face.
^^^^
YOU ARE READING
Unfated
RomanceI held my father's hands tight as HE dropped the blood bathed dagger near the man he just stabbed. The man exhaled the last air off his mouth, flying the dust away. I looked around with a dry throat. The armed Security Guards of the complex stood fr...
