by Amit Khan
She was not as beautiful as me.
She did not have a sensuous appeal like me.
There used to be a strange competition between us. Whosoever entered our Night Club as customer chose me first. I used to win most of the time. I enjoyed winning. And once a man slept with me, he used to think about no one else but me. Trapping men was not an easy thing. It needed a lot of planning. We even planned it together. But my plans worked better than Brinda’s.
“My delicious darling!” Brinda would hug me and say. “You always win. But remember one thing.”
“What?”
“I will win one day....some day in some game I will beat you. And my victory will be such that it will settle all my defeats.”
I remembered the way she had laughed. But there was pain hidden in that laughter and I could see it.
And then Brinda disappeared suddenly. About one year ago Brinda left. Nobody knew where she was!
Today I was looking at her. It was a totally different Brinda before me, only a shadow of her earlier self. Today she was a sick dying wife of a billionaire. One year was too short a period to change so much. Her disease had made time fly faster. She was very weak. Dark circles under her eyes were worrisome. Her body had withered badly. She was dying. It was obvious with one look.
Who would have said that Brinda was once a high priced call girl in a nightclub?
“Do you know each other?” guard hesitated at first but was glad to find out.
“Yes. I know her from some time back.”
“Very good,” guard was excited. “I must tell this good news to sir.”
“But…”
“Sir will be so happy to hear that you two are old friends.”
I tried to stop that guard but he left hurriedly in excitement.
●
My eyes settled on Brinda once again.
She supported her back on the bed and propped up slightly to a sitting position. She was staring at me.
“How are you?” I asked. I was still under a spell of surprise.
“Fine.”
“You simply disappeared from the club,” I said. “You were untraceable. We tried to find you.”
Brinda sighed.
“Can’t you see where I have been and what I have been through in last one year?” Brinda spoke with an effort. There were weakness and disappointment in her voice. “Look what I have got myself in to? Do you remember Shinaya…what I said once?”
“What?”
“I had said- ‘I will win one day....some day in some game I will beat you’. I have won. I became a billionaire before you. But…” Her voice trembled like a dry leaf shivering in the breeze.
“Go on…”
“But what good is my victory now?” Brinda confessed like a broken-hearted helpless girl. “Death is knocking on my door. Life is about to cheat on me. I am suffering from a terrible disease!” “It’s too complicated. Most of my body systems are affected. There is no cure. Both kidneys fail in this illness. Blood is easily prone to infections. Defenses of my body are almost zero. I am not even eligible for surgery; so replacing kidneys is out of the question.”
“Why?”
“Important organs in my body are on the verge of failure. My blood cells are so messed up that I cannot withstand a surgery. Isn’t it a perfect illness? It’s a fact that there are very few patients in this world who suffer from such a severity of this problem.”
“Oh!”
Indeed a rare disease had taken a grip over Brinda’s body.
“Can’t they change all the blood in your body? That way they can perform the operation on your kidneys,” I wondered and asked.
“No,” Brinda answered dejectedly. “This disease has more to do with blood and less with kidneys. Blood formation in my body is faulty and existing blood is so poisoned that new blood transfusion from outside would be disastrous. Low immunity helps infection in blood spread around very fast. And blood takes that infection to all vital organs.”
I felt a chill running down my spine and numbness in my hands and legs.
My mother’s face flashed before my eyes. Her life after she got infected with HIV was horrible. So much pain she had suffered from! The last days of her life weres painful and so was death.
“And how did you managed to meet your husband, Rajkotia?”
“I first met Tilak in a shopping complex,” Brinda revealed.
“Tell me how it happened.”
“I still remember clearly,” Brinda said in a dreamy voice. She was losing herself in those memories. “Tilak was trying to purchase a gift for someone. He was not able to decide. I helped him. It touched his heart. I guess we got connected to that first meeting. Then we met again a lot of times. Many girls were after him but for me, he was an easy target. I trapped him in my plan quite smoothly. Marriage was my goal and I achieved it. That’s why I had to disappear from Night Club. I did not want any of my old companions to get a hint of what I was up to. My marriage was a big secret I wanted to hide from everyone.”
“Why?”
“I was worried,” Brinda confessed, “that someone might blackmail me. Anybody would have been jealous to know that suddenly I was so rich. It could have tempted anyone to try and harass me.”
“Oh.”
Brinda had indeed been smart. She had also been careful. She had executed her plan to perfection. Anything could have gone wrong. All her fears were real.
“But I don’t understand one thing,” Brinda said showing tremendous curiousity.
“What?”
“How did you reach here? Did you know that I got married to Tilak Rajkotia?”
“No.”
“Then, how did you reach here?”
I took a deep breath and sat down on chair kept nearby.
I took out the newspaper cutting from the pocket of my coat and showed it to Brinda.
“This is how I reached here.”
“What is it?”
“Read it.”
Brinda took the piece of newspaper and read it.
After reading it she looked at me shockingly. Then slowly her expression changed. Brinda smiled at me.
“Oh, I get it now,” she said.
“What?”
“You came here to turn your dream into reality.”
“My dream?”
“Yeah…your dream!” Brinda guessed confidently with her dazed eyes staring at me all the time. “You thought that a billionaire’s wife is terminally ill. Her life is as good as over and also there is nobody to take care of her in this huge penthouse. It would be so easy to trap that billionaire and make him fall in love. Am I right?”
I simply could not face her piercing eyes at that moment.
After all, she was my friend. She knew me so well.
“You didn’t answer my question?” Brinda asked again. “Have I guessed your plan correctly or have I said anything wrong?”
“No. nothing is hidden from you,” I sighed. “It is the truth…whatever you said…that’s why I came here. If I say I came here simply to be a caretaker, it will be the biggest lie. You know it very well.”
“So, you want to get married to Tilak,” Brinda said as she stared at me without even blinking.
“No, not Tilak. I wanted to marry his wealth. His status.”
“One and the same thing.”
“Not quite,” I explained. “I can get thousands of men in this city. But his status is so unique and so rare. You don’t meet guys like him every day.”
“Hmmm.”
“But don’t you worry. I have changed my mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“Now that I know that you are the sick wife of Tilak Rajkotia, I don’t want to take away the wealth that belongs to you. I will really take care of you now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Honestly,” I held Brinda’s hand in my hands.
Brinda’s heart was stirred with emotions. Her eyes were gleaming with tears.
I held her close
to me and allowed her to express her feelings.
“I can’t do that to you, my friend. I am a human being, not a devil. Now that I know everything, how could I be unfair to you?”
“Do you really mean it, Shinaya?”
“Yes.”
“Oh…you don’t know how glad I am to hear your words. You are my true friend,” Brinda hugged me. Tears of happiness were rolling down her cheeks.
I could not control my emotions either.
It was a very emotional moment.
●
“Hello everybody!”
A voice brought us back to senses.
I separated myself from Brinda and turned back.
Tilak Rajkotia was standing there smiling at us.
“It’s good to know that you two know each other,” he said.
“Actually, we studied in the same school. Such a long time…we were kids,” Brinda wiped her tears and said. “We met after such a long time. All the memories came rushing back.”
“Which school?”
“There was this school…school of life. It gives education related to life; it taught us how to survive.”
Brinda smiled.
Even I smiled.
“Well…this has worked out nicely,” Tilak said. “Because no one can care for you as much as your friend would. She will be the perfect caretaker for you. Come on…I will take you to your room.”
I stood up.
●
It was a luxurious room in a penthouse in which was offered to me. I felt it was done simply because Tilak Rajkotia had come to know that I was an old friend of Brinda. An ordinary caretaker would have been placed in ordinary quarters. I was being given special treatment purposely.
There were a television set and a refrigerator in the room. The double bed was a king-size comfy piece of furnishing. The carpet arranged in that room was not an ordinary one. It looked valuable.
“Do you like the room?” Tilak Rajkotia asked after we entered the room.
“Absolutely fabulous!”
“Still…if you feel anything is missing, let me know without hesitation. We can arrange it. And don’t you feel that you are staying here as a caretaker. You are Brinda’s friend and that makes you as part of the family.”
“Thank you! All this is unexpected. This warm welcome and all this kindness; I am speechless.”
“Everyone gets what he or she deserves in life.”
“I think you are joking, Mr. Rajkotia.”
“No,” Tilak said firmly. “I never joke on such a serious subject.”
“Okay,” I wondered how I could change the awkward subject. I finally did it with a question. “Where is the kitchen by the way?”
“I will show you.”
After showing the room, Tilak showed me the kitchen.
I saw the dining hall next to it.
Then I was taken to drawing hall.
Everything in the penthouse was flawless and top-notch.
“There is something more that I want you to know,” Tilak said.
“What is that?”
“Brinda has been advised complete bed rest by doctors.”
“So?”
“She cannot tolerate an even little bit of walking,” he explained. “She cannot even move out of the bedroom for everyday routine. Even walking to the bathroom is dangerous for her. You will understand me better if I say that a commode is wheeled closer to her bed. She then slides herself from the bed and sits on it. That is how she performs her morning rites.”
“Oh…so her condition is worsening. She is really at a critical stage.”
“Yeah, very critical stage. You can say that she is counting her days now,” Tilak Rajkotia’s voice cracked with emotion as he said it. “She is as fragile as a glass. A little carelessness can be disastrous for her. I can understand that only a friend like you can handle this situation and take care of her. Even after that ad in the newspaper, I was not satisfied. You know, I just could not believe that someone who works just for money could care for my wife. The condition she is in, she needs much more than a paid caretaker. What she really needed was a friend like you. And now I am really relieved. Now I know my wife is in good hands.”
“You can trust me Mr. Rajkotia,” I said, “Brinda’s caretaking is now entirely my responsibility.”
“I know.”
The next moment, I accidentally looked at myself. In the mirror of the dressing table, I saw my reflection.
I was looking stunning. Of course, I knew how I looked, but that day I had made a special effort. The result was there to see.
The heart of any man would have melted after laying eyes on my face. Feelings of any man would have stirred after casting eyes on my body. It was so easy for any man to start dreaming of my company, my love once he saw me.
I was really at my best on that day.
High-neck pullover and a leather jacket had worked out a stunning combination. It only enhanced my beauty. A gentle blast of cold air from air-conditioner was tousling my hair. I was trying to keep them in order again and again.
I looked at Tilak Rajkotia.
He was relishing my beauty; just like I wanted him to.
●
4
A Twist in the Tale
At nine o’ clock that night, a new character entered penthouse; entry of that character resulted in new and interesting developments in the story.
Strange new development and least expected twists!
He was Dr. Maalpani, an amusing fellow. He was in his forties and was quite well-built. His hairline was receding and he spoke in a jovial tone.
“Doctor!” Tilak introduced me to Dr. Maalpani. “Meet Shinaya Sharma- Brinda’s caretaker and friend.”
“Hello!”
I held his hand firmly for a moment longer than necessary and smiled.
I knew that my smile had to cast a spell.
No matter who the man was, my smile was like a whirlwind that could surround him and give rise to waves of desire in him. I was proud of my smile and the way I worked magic through it.
“Delighted to meet you,” Dr. Maalpani beamed.
“Me too.”
Dr. Maalpani placed his bag on the bed beside Brinda. He took out the blood pressure measuring instrument from that bag.
“She needs a lot of attention and care,” Dr. Maalpani talked to me. “Initially it will be little difficult. You will have to adjust in the beginning but soon you will get used to it.”
“No worries at all, Doctor saab. You probably didn’t hear my introduction properly. Along with caretaker, I am also Brinda’s friend. She is close to my heart and nothing is difficult when you are doing something for your friend. I will be sharing her life from now on.”
“It is good if you think that way.”
Dr. Maalpani gave me a wide childish smile and started tying the blood pressure cuff on Brinda’s arm.
“Any pain in stomach?” he asked Brinda.
“No.”
“Anything at all…”
“No.”
“Are you are taking the medicines regularly?”
“Yes.”
Dr. Maalpani started pressing the pump slowly and his eyes steadied on the mercury level that was rising higher.
As the column went on rising higher, Dr. Maalpani frowned. Finally, he stopped pressing the pump and released it slowly. There was a visible concern on doctor’s face.
“What happened doc?” Tilak Rajkotia asked.
“Blood pressure is still high,” Dr. Maalpani sighed. “Not a good thing.”
“But you have already prescribed something to control blood pressure.”
“Yes, but it is not working as expected.”
Dr. Maalpani released the blood pressure cuff from Brinda’s arm. He was thinking deeply.
“What can we do, doctor?”
“I am thinking about it…the medicine. Let us continue it for a few more days.”
Then he turned towards me.
“What
did you say your name was?”
“Shinaya Sharma.”
“Well, listen Shinaya, you have to be very careful about Brinda’s medicines. No neglect about medicines, ok? I think she is not taking her medicines regularly.”
“That’s not true,” Brinda protested.
“Still, we can’t take chances. Let us set up a system. I think Shinaya should be in charge of medicines. She should make sure that medicines are taken regularly and at the right time.”
Brinda was silent.
“Do you have any objection to that?”
“No…why should I?” Brinda said.
“And what about you?” Dr. Maalpani looked at me.
“That’s my duty,” I said. “No question of my objection.”
“Good.”
“Just explain to me the medicine schedule once. Time and medicine to be given!”
“I will.”
Medicine trolley was kept beside Brinda’s bed. Dr. Maalpani took me closer to the trolley and explained me a schedule of medicines.
“All right,” I nodded. “From here on medicines are my responsibility.”
●
Dr. Maalpani’s face said it all. There was nothing but sadness on it.
He was sitting in drawing hall. Tilak Rajkotia and I were sitting in front of him.
“Oh God! What’s your wish?” Dr. Maalpani remarked in a distraught way. “What’s on your mind?”
“Why?” Tilak Rajkotia asked. “What happened?”
“I am about to break a bad news to you.”
Tilak Rajkotia held his breath and listened. Dr. Maalpani took off his glasses, cleaned them with a napkin and replaced them.
“Brinda’s blood report arrived today.”
“It has?” Tilak Rajkotia reacted at once. “You didn’t mention anything so far.”
“It’s not an encouraging report, Mr. Tilak. In fact…”
“In fact what?”
“It has confirmed findings of the previous report.”
“Please be clear. Tell us. Straight out!”
“Three months,” Dr. Maalpani gave a straightforward answer. “Brinda will live for three months maximum. She does not have a chance of living beyond that.”
Tilak Rajkotia froze for a moment and then slumped in chair weakly as if someone had sucked all his energy.
He started looking sick.