Ishq vala Love

Tara : The Shining Star

As Tara entered the familiar streets, she could hear the indistinct chatter of young girls who she knew were talking about her. Women bickering with men over money, the guards of the brothel talking with the Paan shop owner; clients making deal with the head of the brothel and selecting the girl who was supposed to please them tonight; the environment made her sick and she felt like puking. However, girls and women living there dreamed of a free life outside this dark world and here Tara was returning back. This was her home, this was where she was born 21 years ago, this was where her mother raised her and this was the same place where she took her last breaths in her arms.

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“Tara, see what I have brought for you”, said her mother holding a book in her hand titled Cinderella.

Five-year-old Tara’s eyes were twinkling like stars. Her mother had brought another fairy tale book for her. She quickly snatched the book away from her mother’s hand and immediately went near the lamp to read. Her eagerness brought a smile to her mother’s face. This was her way to keep her daughter away from the harsh reality of the place where she was growing up. Tara had read only half of the book when her mother came close to her and caressed her hair and said, “Princess, you need to go with your Aunt Meena, I have some visitors”

Tara smiled at her mother, picked up her book and walked out of the room holding Aunt Meena’s hand. There was a man in his forties, clad in a pant shirt entering her mother’s room. Since she grew up a little she had seen many such people, a different one each night, sometimes a repeat visitor. She had asked her mother once why they visited her to which her mother had replied, “These are my business partners. After all, I have to earn money princess for bringing you these books.” However, her mother never elaborated what kind of business she did. Neither was a five year old big enough to understand what transpired in the dark streets where they lived.

At the night when Tara slept in her mother’s arms and she caressed her hair to put her to sleep, Tara asked, “Mumma, Is there a prince for every princess?”

“Of course”, she said smiling.

“This means there is a prince for me as well?” she asked innocently.

“Yes my princess, there is a prince for you”, her mother replied.

“When will he come?” Tara’s innocent questions brought a smile to her mother’s face.

“He will come one day, when the time is right and when you are ready. That’s why I always tell you to study. You have to become worthy for your prince, right?”

“Yes mumma, I will study and I will wait for my prince”

“Now, come on sleep”, her mother told her and Tara closed her eyes and drifted into sleep with the melodious lullaby that her mother sang for her.

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“You are doing wrong, Jaya. Why are you giving Tara false hopes of a prince coming for her? I told you so many times to not buy her these fairy tale books, still you don’t heed”, said Meena in a terse voice.

Jaya smiled at her friend’s rage.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I am not giving her any false hopes Meena. I know my daughter isn’t supposed to live in this dark world forever. I know a prince will be waiting for her and she will get married one day and have a beautiful family. Her fate will never be similar to the fate of the women living here and this is a mother’s faith.”