Ruhaani Episode 8

#Ruhaani

#ruhaani

#Ruhaaniepisode8

#ruhaaniepisode8

#Rhituparna Chakraborty

Link for previous chapter/chapters: #Ruhaaniepisode1, #ruhaaniepisode1, #Ruhaaniepisode2, #ruhaaniepisode2, #Ruhaaniepisode3, #ruhaaniepisode3, #Ruhaaniepisode4,#ruhaaniepisode4, #Ruhaaniepisode5, #ruhaaniepisode5, #Ruhaaniepisode6,#ruhaaniepisode6, #Ruhaaniepisode7,#ruhaaniepisode7

#Rhituparna Chakraborty

#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction with no relation to any person/organism living or dead. Every episode, every character is a work of imagination. Any resemblance to any person, organism, place, character or situation is purely coincidental. There is no intention to hurt or rebuke anyone or any profession through this work. This story/episode cannot be copied, published or reproduced without the permission of the author RhituparnaChakraborty.

This had never happened before. In this town, no one ever dared to fight or stand up against Latika or her guards. The guards were ruthless and so was Latika. Latika was rich and she had good rapport with the most influential people in that town. Even some law makers were hand in glove with her. Prostitution by choice was legal but owning and managing a brothel, abducting girls, forcing them into prostitution was never legal. Nonetheless, there was no one to stop Latika from this illegal business. People in this small town barely bothered about that brothel. The girls in the brothel were usually brought from other places or they were born to the sex workers there. This had been going on. Years ago, a young girl Sunita, had stealthily gone to the police station to complain. She had managed to sneak out in the middle of the night. Her friend Roshni had helped her. It was a risky venture. Risky was actually a mild word here. It was perilous and life threatening. She and her friend Roshni had worked on this escape plan for months. Roshni could not escape but she was happy that at least Sunita managed to get out. With hope Sunita had gone to the police station. Inspector Tyagi was in charge at that police station. He politely talked to the girl for sometime and offered her tea. After sometime Sunita found herself back in the brothel. Tyagi had mixed something in her tea. That made her fall into a deep swoon. Latika’s guards came and picked up Sunita. Back in the brothel, as a punishment, she was beaten with hot iron rods. She was starved. And she was forced to entertain back to back customers without a break, till she succumbed to her injuries and died. Despite all these, Sunita did not utter Roshni’s name. Roshni had witnessed Sunita’s death. She had cried in silence. Sunita’s body was dumped somewhere. That was one lesson every girl in the brothel had learned. They knew the consequences of breaking the rules of that brothel.

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Mushtaque threw the rod away, wiped his hands on his trousers, looked casually at the goon guards and asked, ‘So, what’s happening here?’ The goon came closer to Mushtaque and said, ‘None of your business. Get out of here.’ Mushtaque smiled at the guard and said, ‘That I will decide.’ The guard came closer and was about to punch Mushtaque when Mushtaque promptly held the guard’s fist with his right hand and planted a tight punch on the guard’s face with his left hand. The guard fell down. His nose started bleeding. Immediately, the other guards came to hit Mushtaque. Mushtaque moved fast, picked up the iron rod and swung it hard, hitting three guards flinging them on the the road. All the guards were taken aback. The iron rod hit them hard. One of them got hurt right on the forehead with a deep gash and a stream of blood oozing out, while one of them had a shoulder joint fracture with a cracking sound. They tried to get up, but the the agonizing pain stopped them. Mushtaque looked at them and asked with a smile, ‘ Want to fight more?’ The guards lay on the road as quiet as mice. Nikhil and Ravi stood there in awe gazing at all that was happening. Mushtaque threw the rod at a distance, came near Nikhil and Ravi and asked, ‘So, what was happening here?’ Nikhil and Ravi knew that they could not talk about anything related to Ruhaani or the brothel because although the motive was to help someone, they were involved in something which was not right. Nikhil hesitated and said, ‘ Well…. these boys are ruffians. They….they were trying to harm my little sister. When I tried to defend her, they tried to hit me and my friend.’ Mushtaque looked at Nikhil’s eyes. He knew Nikhil was not speaking the entire truth. Nonetheless Mushtaque could read criminals’ eyes and mind. Nikhil did not look like a criminal nor did Ravi. Mushtaque was tired. His shoes were torn. He had to report to office tomorrow early morning. He will be in this town for sometime. After all he was sent here to fix some things. There were many things happening in this town and they could be fixed only by some dare devil officer. Who else could be a better choice than Mushtaque! Mushtaque told Nikhil and Ravi, ‘Well, I won’t ask you much now. Will see you around soon.’ Nikhil and Ravi knew that the lesser they talked, the better it was for them.

Zafar opened the door of the house and welcomed Ruhaani. Ruhaani followed Zafar. It was a small one bhk flat. There was a comfortable couch, a small dining table with 4 chairs in the living room. There was a broad window with beige long curtains. Zafar went ahead and opened the window to let some fresh breeze in. The kitchen was adjacent to the hall. Zafar went to the kitchen and brought a glass of water for Ruhaani. Ruhaani took the glass of water and quenched her thirst. Ruhaani sat comfortably on the couch while Zafar pulled one of the chairs near the dining table and sat. He then told Ruhaani, ‘If you are sleepy, you can sleep in the bedroom. You don’t have to stay awake the whole night.’ Ruhaani was exhausted. She had not slept properly in ages. The fear of being forced upon, sold, always lurked in her mind. She would try to sleep, but if someone knocked on the door, she would wake up with a start. What if Latika had sent some customer to her room? Zafar said, ‘You look sleepy. Come, I will show you the room.’ Ruhaani followed Zafar to the bedroom. There was a comfortable bed with a cozy blanket and two soft pillows. There was a window behind the bed. Zafar went ahead and opened the window. Zafar said, ‘Let the window be open. Since the room is small, you may feel suffocated.’ Ruhaani said, ‘This room is huge.’ Zafar could feel where Ruhaani had come from. Zafar then pointed out to the switches on the wall adjacent to the bed. He said, ‘Switch on the fan and sleep comfortably. If you need something let me know.’ Zafar then took out a phone from his pocket and gave it to Ruhaani and said, ‘Keep this phone with you. I have added my number.’ Ruhaani looked at Zafar baffled. How can someone be so kind? Ruhaani said, ‘B…but Latika….’ Zafar said, ‘Ruhaani, you have to manage certain things on your own. If you want to get out of Latika’s clutches, you have to muster courage. And you will need this phone. So, find out a way to keep it with you.’ Ruhaani looked at Zafar with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Why are you doing this? Do you know you are risking your life?’ Zafar smiled and said, ‘Good night Ruhaani. Get some sleep. And please lock your door. I will be here in the living room if you need something. And trust me, you are safe here.’ Ruhaani looked at Zafar and said, ‘I know that.’

Zafar went to the couch in the living room and was about to lie down to sleep when his phone rang. It was from Nikhil.

Zafar: Hey

Nikhil: A big problem came up bro.

Zafar(concerned): What happened?

Nikhil: Latika’s guards saw me without Ruhaani and they tried to hit me and Ravi.

Zafar(appalled): Damn! How are you guys?

Nikhil: Somehow we escaped death this time. Will tell you the details when we meet. But for now we have to assure Latika that Ruhaani is with me.

Zafar: Now, you need to confidently call Latika and tell her sternly that her guards were goofing around unnecessarily and that Ruhaani is with you. You will bring her to the brothel tomorrow itself just to prove that, but Latika will have to return 50 percent of the amount you had paid. When Latika finds out that you are very specific about calculations, she would trust you. We have to gain her trust. If she wants to talk to Ruhaani, tell her sternly that she belongs to you today and you made her drink alcohol because she was not cooperating and hence she is fast asleep now. Latika should believe that.

Nikhil: Yes, she should. Thanks bro. You take care.

Zafar: Thank you buddy. Ruhaani is sleeping peacefully now. I don’t want to disturb her. Tomorrow morning I will bring her there, you can drop her at the brothel.

Nikhil: I will manage. You don’t worry.

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Mushtaque reached his official accommodation. The guard at the gate stood up the moment he saw Mushtaque. The guard looked around and said, ‘You must be Mushtaque Sir? I would have come to pick you up from the station. You said you would come on your own. You shouldn’t have taken so much trouble.’ Mushtaque patted the guard and said, ‘It was my shoes that troubled me. I need a new pair urgently. I will buy tomorrow. Till then, can I have a spare pair of slippers?’ The guard said, ‘Of course Sir. Please make yourself comfortable in the house. I will ask the cook to bring food to your room. I will get the slippers right away.’ Mushtaque went inside the spacious house. He freshened up and called Abhay.

Abhay: Yes Sir

Mushtaque: Send me the details of the people I need to meet tomorrow.

Abhay: Right away Sir.

After going through the details, Mushtaque yawned and said, ‘So, Mr. Tyagi….I have to meet you tomorrow.’

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Meanwhile, someone’s mind raced and thought, ‘Somebody will have to die. That’s one way to solve many things. Nikhil can be the first target. Let me think.’

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To be continued………………