Tainted Love by Maniah (best contemporary novels txt) 📗

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

How can a night be this long? I have no idea how my life whirls 360 degrees in one night, everything is meaningless to me now. My heart still feels the pain of his rejection, I can still hear his words in my ears. But I can't blame him, it was me who fell in love with him even knowing that it was a deal. It was me who thought that some good words equal love and he can look beyond the tag "mistress." attached to me. But he didn't. He couldn't. No man could do that. Could he?

"Where to Madam?" asked the taxi driver when I reached the taxi station near Sangeeta's building.

"Railway station," I answered and sat down inside the taxi. My whole life had turned upside down in these past six months.

Sitting on the train, going back home in the village. I watched the same scenery which I saw when I came back. But what a vast difference between the circumstances.  And I remembered why I decided to come to Mumbai.

.

.

.

.

"Mother, here it's 4000 rupees." 

Mother smiled and patted my cheek lovingly "Vani, my lovely daughter what would I have done without you." she said taking the money and counting the other rolled bundle she had hidden in a flour box but after counting her face fell.

"What happened, mother?" 

"It's still less,  Your father's medicines are getting expensive day by day."

"I'll ask some other friends if they know someone who needs tuition," I said but mother shook her head "no. You are already doing so much. I'll ask your aunt for advance this month." 

I nodded But inside, I know that even with advance it won't be enough. We need more money than the mother's advance she will get from aunty. 

Mother turned back and started making chapati ( bread) again and I started walking towards my room when I heard my father's angry voice.

"How many times I have to tell you not to go out. You are a girl so behave like one. Don't know what crime I had done in my past life that God didn't grant me a son" he said harshly which made Mihika cry.

"Stop crying and get away from my eyes" 

I wiped my sweaty hands on my kurta ( dress top) and went to Mihika "mihi, let's go." 

"Get away both of you from my eyes, both are a burden on me." he muttered angrily and mother came out running "what happened?"

"Nothing mother…" I replied and took mihi with me to my room.

"Why is he like this sister, what is our mistake in it that we are not boys? I hate him." Mihika cried and I held her hand squeezing it lightly.

"He is our father Mihi, and he is not angry at us but the situation. You know the financial problems we have and Uncle is still trying to snatch our house from us."

"But sister…" Mihika was saying but stopped when we heard voices from outside. 

"Stay here Mihi," I told her and went out to see what was the matter.

And what I saw made my legs weak. Father was on his knees begging his brother for some more time. 

"Please, Soham. Just give me more time. I will pay you back." He cried on his feet and Uncle kicked him "I have given you enough time. Now give me my money back or leave this house. I am getting a decent amount of money for this." Saying that he departed.

Father was still on his knees, crying out loudly. I closed my eyes in pain seeing my father like this.

He stood up with my mother's help and his gaze fell on me. "You are the reason for everything bad happening with us. If your brother has not saved you that day, he would be alive today and I will not be facing this kind of a shame.

I swallowed the pain I was feeling and went inside, tears pooled in my eyes. 

" Vani." I heard mother and wiped the tears from my eyes. 

"He is just angry." 

I nodded and then at this moment decided to say what I have been trying to tell her for a while. 

"Mother, do you remember Sangeeta? She came to our house two months ago." 

Mother frowned but nodded "yes. Your friend who  went to Mumbai."

"Mother, I want to go to Mumbai. She told me about the opportunities there. Please, talk to father. I will make everything fine for us. Let me work please mother." 

"What work Vani. You should be getting married dear not working." She gasped.

"Time has changed mother. Look at Sangeeta, how extensively she is earning. If I get the job I would be able to look after you and father. At least think about Mihi. Please let me go."  I begged.

Mother was hesitant but she still talked to father. He was furious hearing that but for the first time I saw my mother standing firmly with me. And finally, I left the village for The Big City. Mumbai.

I left my village sacred and anxious but with the determination to make my parents' lives better. I have to be successful for them. 

When I stepped out of the train in Mumbai, that was the first time I saw so many people. All were walking as fast as they could.  I tried asking someone about the address but no one bothered to answer. Somehow I went outside and booked an auto-rickshaw for Sangeeta's house. 

When the auto stopped, I stepped out of it paying the fair charge. and looked at the building she lives in. I managed to get inside the building. Sangeeta was waiting for me at the entrance of the building.

"This is your room Vani. I am so happy you came here." She squealed and I smiled at her. 

She was a completely different person here. When she was in the village she used to wear a salwar suit with dupatta and here she was wearing a short top that was not even covering her waist and a knicker suited for an eight-year-old child.

"Sangeeta, I am here to find a job. I need it urgently. You said that you work for a company here. I have finished my graduation. See if you can talk to your boss about my job." 

She nodded "I'll see what I can do. But now it's already seven in the evening. See there is the kitchen. Eat whatever you want. I have to go to work. I'll be back in the morning." Saying that she left.

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