by Amit Khan
He started looking sick.
For me, that information was like a sudden explosion near me that dazed and disoriented me.
“Who can fight fate, Mr. Tilak?” Dr. Maalpani said. “Have faith in Almighty. He can show us a way. He can create a way…and who knows…Brinda will recover with His blessing.”
Tilak Rajkotia was still stunned.
“I will have to leave now,” Dr. Maalpani said, “I need to visit another patient admitted to hospital.”
Dr. Maalpani left.
Tilak Rajkotia did not move at all from that position for a long time.
Then he hid his face in his hands and started sobbing.
“Keep the faith, Mr. Tilak,” I went near him and said.
“I really love Brinda, Shinaya,” he said. “Really…”
“I can understand your pain.”
“I cannot imagine how life would be without her. I fear the day…the horrible day when she will…”
I started feeling giddy with this latest scenario.
●
Three Months!
That’s all the time Brinda had.
Believe me…the words had touched me deep inside. My heart and mind were in a state of turmoil ever since.
I could not understand. I did not know how to react. I should have been happy considering the reason I had come here. It was good news that the only hurdle between me and Tilak Rajkotia was a short-lived one. My plan was going to be successful without much effort.
But was Brinda really my enemy? Was I really happy with her impending death?
The more I thought, the more I found myself in dilemma. Brinda’s illness had also scared me; especially the possibility that any such illness could afflict me as well.
That night when I went to her bedroom to give her medicines, I noticed an exceptional peace on her face- a unique and spiritual peace.
Her face was serene but sad.
The awareness of impending death could lead to such disturbed tranquility in a person.
“Time to take your pills,” I said as I poured water into a glass.
“You have taken charge so quickly,” Brinda said. A soft smile appeared on her face.
She helped herself to sit with effort.
“Maybe you also need to understand something darling,” I pinched her cheek and said. “I am not just your caretaker but also your friend.”
She smiled.
My eyes casually travelled over her body. She was wearing a hefty gown.
Even through that gown curves of her body were prominently visible. I felt that in spite of the illness, her figure had not deteriorated much. It was as alluring as it was years back.
“What are you looking at?” Brinda asked naughtily.
“I am looking at you dear…this disease may have taken away a lot of your charm but the cups of life are still full of tempting youth.”
Brinda giggled.
“That was something in which you were always second best to me,” Brinda took a deep breath and said. “Isn’t that right?”
“No doubt!” I accepted.
“I was a 38…that makes you a 36.”
“My God!” I was struck by her words. “You are still playing with those numbers so clear in your memory.”
“Those were not just numbers, Shinaya. How could I ever forget?”
“I am sure they helped you a lot in winning Tilak Rajkotia’s heart.” I winked.
A faint wave of mischievous memory swept across her face making her smile slightly.
Whatever changes I was noticing in Brinda since meeting her after one year; this impish smile was one of them. Brinda had started blushing.
“Why?” I elbowed her. “Was I wrong?”
“No. you are right. His eyes and mind seemed to be hypnotized by them. He did praise my gorgeous body.”
“And, which part in particular?”
“Get lost,” Brinda blushed even more. “You are being naughty again.”
“Why?” I looked into Brinda’s eyes. “Did I ask a wrong question?”
“Don’t talk rubbish,” she bit her lip and said, “You have become a bad girl.”
“What’s bad in saying that?”
“Just forget it, Shinaya.”
“So you won’t tell?” I teased her again.
“You want to hear it?”
“Yeah.”
“He didn’t even get a chance to think about anything else,” Brinda looked into my eyes and said. “Whatever he saw was enough for him to go crazy. He was all over me…attracted like a moth to a flame.
I could not stop laughing.
Brinda had narrated it in such a way.
Even she was laughing out loud.
At that moment nobody would have believed that the girl was counting her final days.
Even accepting that she has a serious illness would have been difficult.
“You know what?” I stared at Brinda’s lively face and said.
“What?”
“You are really lucky that you found a husband like Tilak Rajkotia,” I said and hugged Brinda affectionately.
“Hmmm…” she sighed. “That is true. I am a very lucky girl.”
Next moment I felt that I had blundered by saying something like that. A girl who might not be around after three months cannot be a lucky girl. I should not have said that.
I gave Brinda her medicine and retired for the night. Once again an ominous silence descended on the penthouse.
●
Next day was not much different until something sensational happened. My thoughts wandered in a new direction after I found something.
It was morning.
I was cleaning Tilak Rajkotia’s bedroom.
I saw a photo album. I opened it. It was a photo album of Tilak and Brinda’s wedding.
I could not stop myself from browsing through it.
Brinda was looking really pretty in the wedding dress. Along with wedding photos, there were other personal photographs of Tilak. They were snaps taken during various parties. One of them was a birthday photo. Tilak’s birthday was being celebrated. Other ceremonies were also captured in some photographs.
Lots of film stars were seen in his company. Cricketers had happily posed with him. Respectable personalities in Mumbai including businessmen and socialites seemed to be enjoying Tilak Rajkotia’s company.
The photographs that grabbed my attention the most were Tilak’s pictures with girls. They caused a tornado in my mind. I started thinking about the time when Brinda will be no more. There won’t be a woman in Tilak’s life. Would it be possible, I wondered, that man like Tilak would spend rest of his life in Brinda’s memory?
Impossible, it seemed. No way! That was not going to happen.
The thought itself was foolish and the question I was wondering about was in fact out of the question.
Why would Tilak Rajkotia spend a lonely life? He was the perfect guy. God had gifted him everything. He was handsome. He was smart. He had an enviable position in high society. He had enough money to buy happiness of every kind.
Tilak Rajkotia had practically everything.
And girls are always on the lookout for such guys. They are ready to head over heels for such men.
Once Brinda was dead, there would be a long queue of girls before Tilak.
I started thinking about the matter.
What was I going to get?
Tilak Rajkotia would eventually get married again whereas I would be back in the nightclub. The same old filthy life, selling myself to sex-hungry vultures.
And then after some years, maybe I will find out that I have contracted some serious fatal illness through my line of work. Pain and suffering would then take over my life and relief will come only through death.
“No! No!!” I shuddered and almost screamed. “I don’t want to go back to a nightclub.”
If it was inevitable that a new woman will enter Tilak’s life, why can’t that girl be me?
Why not me? I fel
t I deserved the chance.
I made up my mind. I needed to be strong to fulfill the aim I had come here with.
I was determined to spin a web of love around Tilak Rajkotia.
It was an important resolution.
Important and ambitious!
In fact, this chain of thought followed by the resolution was beginning of a storm that shook my life badly.
●
At night I saw Tilak Rajkotia entering penthouse in a drunken state.
He was not even able to walk on his own. A guard was trying to keep him on his feet. Somehow he managed to take Tilak to his bedroom. Tilak staggered on his way to the bar counter and slumped in a bar chair. He made a fresh drink for himself and started drinking again.
News of Brinda’s inevitable death had destroyed him.
He was in shock.
I kept watching his shadow on the glass window.
Then I tiptoed in his bedroom. He was facing the other side.
“Mr. Tilak!”
Tilak was taken by surprise. He slowly turned and faced me.
“What happened Mr. Tilak?”
He looked at me with blood-shot eyes.
“Why are you destroying yourself, your life?”
“Destroying…” he smiled dejectedly and gulped down a glassful of whiskey. “Is there anything left in my life to destroy? All I can see is darkness. What life do you want me to savour, Shinaya?”
“I know Mr. Tilak. Life has been unfair,” I said while I slowly walked towards him. “But everything is not over. There is darkness but there is also hope. Disasters try and destroy us but life goes on.”
“Maybe… you are right. Life goes on.”
Tilak Rajkotia was mumbling. It was difficult to imagine a successful businessman staggering and burbling in such vulnerable condition.
He picked up a bottle of Peter Scot from the transparent glass counter and tried pouring more drink in a glass.
“What are you doing?” I grabbed the bottle to stop him.
“Let me drink.”
“You have had enough already, Mr. Tilak.”
“Not enough. I want to get so drunk that I forget who I am…forget everything.”
“You are losing control.”
“Yeah…I am losing control,” Tilak Rajkotia screamed and stumbled out of the chair. “But who are you to stop me? Who gave you the right?”
“Mr. Tilak!” I wailed as I moved closer to support him.
Tilak was on the verge of tears.
He rested his head on my shoulders and tried to console himself.
I could feel him. He was burning up.
I could sense the sexual tension building up in him. I could tell easily that he had not been with a woman in a long time…maybe weeks. I was sure and I was right. After all, that was the only skill I had.
“I think…I am losing it,” he was trembling as he said. “I am going crazy…I am losing it.”
“No, you are not! Be brave. Nothing is wrong with you.”
Actually, I was also in a strange position. My heart was pounding in my chest. Tilak’s proximity was unsettling me. Even I had not had sex in many days. A handsome guy was so close to me. I was tempted to pull him over myself. For a second, I could have slipped but I controlled my emotions. I stopped myself. I was taught an important lesson very early in life. ‘Never surrender to a man easily.’
‘A man should be on his knees begging for sex!’ That is a true victory in bed for a woman.
I was concentrating hard, reminding myself of all this when Tilak Rajkotia came awfully close to me trying to be on his feet. I was doing my best to support him. That’s when his touch started feeling different. First I thought it happened accidentally. He was too much drunk. I wanted to ignore it but it was not accidental. I soon found out that he was caressing my body. Next moment Tilak pulled me closer in his warm embrace. His hands were caressing my body passionately.
“Oh…Brinda…” he mumbled.
So he was mistaking me for Brinda. But there was no doubt about the ecstasy in his touch. The moment I was clung to him was real. Our bodies were brushing against each other generating tremendous heat.
I was about to lose control and give myself to him when something happened. Tilak Rajkotia’s embrace turned in to a slump. He simply collapsed on me.
“Mr. Tilak!” I tried to arouse him.
The drink had overcome his consciousness and he had passed out. Holding him by his shoulders and shaking him was of no use.
He was soon snoring.
I somehow took him to his bed. He sprawled on it totally unaware.
I looked at him.
I was so close to him, watching him. Even in deep sleep, he was looking no less attractive. Tilak Rajkotia was a desirable man. I had been with so many men and I could easily tell. He was different. Just looking at him, I felt I was falling in love. I had never felt that way before. A new sense of love and desirability was overflowing through my mind and body.
I moved closer to him and took off his shoes. I could feel his skin as I removed stockings.
The tie looked too tight. I loosened it.
I walked out of the room quietly after making sure that Tilak Rajkotia’s sleep was not disturbed.
I could not take my mind off his thoughts. When I closed my eyes that night, his face was still before me.
●
The décor of the dining hall was remarkable. Everything in the penthouse was decorated with elegance but it seemed that the dining hall had been paid special attention.
Tilak Rajkotia was sitting in his chair, not able to look at me directly.
It was morning. He was at the dining table and I was arranging breakfast for him.
“I want to talk about something,” he said softly.
I knew that it was about last night. He was too embarrassed to look up.
“About what?”
“Last night…I am sorry if I did anything that hurt you,” he said with his head still bent. “Forgive me. I was too drunk and…”
A faint smile appeared involuntarily on my face.
He was a gentleman.
“I am ashamed of my behavior,” Tilak Rajkotia said.
“You did not do anything that you should feel ashamed of,” I said. “Nothing happened.”
“Still, I should not have behaved that way. It was totally inappropriate and you deserve an apology from me.”
“That’s all right. Eat your breakfast.”
“But…”
“Tilak,” I said. “If you are really sorry about last night’s events then you should listen to me carefully and do that for me.”
“What’s that?”
Tilak Rajkotia looked up at me.
He had done so for the first time that morning.
“Promise me that you will never get drunk like that again. Promise me that you will never return home in that condition.”
I could see the look of surprise in Tilak’s eyes.
He had least expected to hear this from me. He just could not believe it.
“All right,” he said. “I promise.”
I smiled at him.
That night Tilak Rajkotia returned to penthouse sober. He had not had any drink that night. It was my first success.
I felt as if I had chanced upon a huge treasure.
●
5
Love is in the Air
Around midnight, a grand party was organized.
It was Tilak Rajkotia’s party.
Construction of a new shopping complex had just begun and the promotional party was organized for purpose of business. Thought, Tilak was not interested in this party but the construction business had to be taken care of. The most important thing about this party was that I was invited. Tilak Rajkotia had insisted that I attend the party.
I was worried about attending this high profile event. After working as a highly prized call-girl, there was a chance of running into an ex-customer.
What if someone rec
ognized me in the party…?
What would happen then?
The thought scared me.
But then I gathered courage.
There was a risk but I had to take that risk.
Even if someone recognized me, I decided to find some way out. Just because of that risk, I could not afford to miss the party.
That night I chose a special dress. It was a red colored designer dress. I arranged my hair in a special way. My beauty was wonderfully enhanced by my efforts. I was ready to turn heads at the party.
It was a grand affair. Crème de la crème of the city was present at the event. Everyone was greeting Tilak. Most were enquiring about Brinda. I felt jealous of her.
“Come with me.”
It had been half an hour since the party started. That was when Tilak Rajkotia came to me and grabbed my arm. He was taking me somewhere.
“Where? Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“Come on.”
I was confused and I just followed him.
Tilak moved towards the stage where the orchestra was playing.
“Why are we going there?” I got more and more nervous as we approached the stage.
“Relax. Don’t worry.” Tilak was smiling.
I had no clue about what he had in mind. I wondered what he was going to say or do next?
Tilak let go of my hand once we reached the podium.
He signaled for the microphone. I was standing by his aside with sweating hands.
“Ladies and gentleman!”
Tilak’s voice echoed through the hall and attracted everyone’s attention.
The chitchat stopped and everyone eagerly waited for his words.
“Friends, I want to introduce you all to a very special person.”
“What are you saying?” I whispered. My face turned pale.
“Stay quiet,” he replied back. Then he turned to microphone again and spoke in a clear voice. “Meet Shinaya Sharma. Brinda’s best friend. It is only because of her that I am not worried about her anymore. Shinaya has taken up the task so well that I am finding it absolutely easy to take care of Brinda. If not for her, I would have lost all hope and given up. She is giving me hope and courage. I want you all to know this and applaud her efforts.”
A loud applause arose in the hall.
I felt awkward. It was unexpected and embarrassing for me.
I have no hesitation in confessing that it was for the first time in my life that I was being given so much respect. So far in my life, I was used as an object to satisfy lust. Men had just waited to pounce on me once I take my clothes off.