But he had switched the TV on again, by the time she was back. He made her sit next to him, and put his arms around her. She watched the soap occasionally shooting a curious glance at him. He seemed oblivious of it.
“I need to leave in fifteen minutes,” she informed him when it was time.
“Yeah. I gave you the envelope, right?”
“Yeah,” that’s not why she had reminded him of the time. He was indeed not in the mood, then. Or had she failed? In her first assignment?
“How many days do you work?” he asked.
“Two.”
“Which days?”
“Tuesdays and Fridays.”
“Hmm…”
—
“Karishma. Breakfast is ready,” her mother shouted from the kitchen. Karishma packed her stuff hurriedly. She was late by half-an-hour in waking up and was rushing to reach school in time.
“Mummy. Pack it for me. I will eat it in school,” she hollered back.
“What about lunch, then?”
“Pack that too. In some paper or polythene.” There was no spare tiffin box at home, she knew that.
“Didi,” Kunal, her younger brother, appeared at the door of her room.
“Yes Kunnu?” she was impatient.
“Didi,” he looked apologetic and guilty, “Today is the last day for paying exam fees.”
“Oh! Right. I’m so sorry….”
“Do you have the money? I know your salary hasn’t come yet…”
She smiled at him, “Don’t look so sad, Kunnu. Here is your fee.”
“Didi. Can’t I help? I can take up some part-time job…”
“If you do that now, and neglect your studies, we’d always be in such penury. Don’t worry. I know that last couple of years have been difficult. Even my salary isn’t much. But I will manage. Do me a favour though. We have run out of Papa’s medicine, right? Take his prescription with you and buy the medicines while coming back,” she handed him some more cash from her purse. Kunal looked at her curiously, but didn’t say anything.
“What the…” she looked at her watch, “I need to rush, Kunnu. Bye.”
—
Dear Mr. Manthan,
There is not much about myself that is worthy of your attention. I am just a huge fan of your books and have been immensely inspired by your writing.
In writing to you, I have acted almost on an impulse. I got hold of your address unexpectedly and then could not avoid the temptation. You might be wondering what could a faceless, nameless girl have to say to you. Not much really. I can only add a bit to the adulation you probably already feel smothered with. So, I won’t do that. I am going to do something more audacious instead. As I said, I am an inspired fan. I am attaching some of the stories I have written. If you ever read them, would you please drop me note about how you found them? Even if you tear them apart, hearing from you would mean a lot to me.
By the time I had discovered your novels, you had already stopped writing. Reading another book of yours would be a dream come true.
Sincerely
Karishma Gupta
—
Krystal couldn’t believe she was to go to Siddhartha Sen again. After their last meeting, on her first day of ‘work’, she had concluded that she had been a disaster. She had tried to be relaxed, witty, and her usual self, as Bittu had repeatedly emphasized. “Sex is just a part of it. What these men look for, really, is company. Make them feel comfortable. But don’t act too subservient. Act like a companion. They don’t want sex-dolls. That’s why they come to us, and not go to someone in Kamathipura. And that’s why you earn so much. It’s all about the class, the elegance.” She thought she had failed. He had withdrawn from her. Why did he want to see her again? Especially when he didn’t like to have any girl regularly. At least that’s what Bittu had said. “He is a 5-star client. All the girls have only positive things to say about him. He calls only about once a month. But never haggles. And he doesn’t want anyone again. Don’t be nervous. No hanky-panky here.” And indeed, there had been no “hanky-panky”. After coming out of his room last time, she had clutched on to the envelope he had given her. She wasn’t sure she would see any money again. He wouldn’t say anything nice about her to Bittu, would he? What had gotten her thinking that she was beautiful or charming enough for this profession?
But Bittu had sent her a message in the afternoon. He wanted to see her again. And she was on her way to his room in a five-star hotel.
—
“Hi,” he smiled like he was meeting a friend. She was confused, but managed to smile back pleasantly. After depositing the envelope he gave in her purse, she followed him to the couch. The one in this hotel was more comfortable.
“So, you want to watch a soap again?” she spoke with normalcy that she didn’t feel at all.
“Unless you prefer cricket match.”
“There is a match going on?”
“I think so. With New Zealand.”
“I don’t mind cricket,” she said and didn’t ask him what he preferred. ‘Don’t act too subservient. Act like a companion,’ she remembered the diktat well.
“You like cricket?”
“I do. Why are your surprised?”
“Women don’t, in general.”
She laughed, “Same can be said about men and soaps too.”
“Fair enough. Match then.”
“Do you like cricket though?” Not acting subservient could not possibly mean being insensitive, she reasoned.
“I do. A lot.”
The pitch was bad and they were slow to take runs. She didn’t realize when she drifted off to sleep. The couch was too comfortable!
She was woken up by Siddhartha fifteen minutes before his time with her was up.
“I am so sorry!” she jumped out of the couch on realizing what had happened, “You should have woken me up.”
“It’s okay. You were tired, obviously.”
—
Dear Ms. Gupta,
Thank you for writing to me and for sending your stories. I enjoyed reading them. Keep writing.
All the best.
Mathan
—
OMG. You actually read those. Already? Since you have already taken the pains of reading, can I please request you to give me an honest feedback? I am prepared for even the most brutal tearing apart of my stories.
Thanks a lot for replying, and please call me Karishma.
Sincerely
Karishma
—
To be continued
6 thoughts on “Unusual Places (Part 2)”
Different story with unwilling fighter!? 😀
I mean character*! 😛
Yep 🙂
its confusing..hehe
i mean sen-krystal’s story andd ths letter..
Krystal nd karishma are same..as in Karishma is her real name..nd Krystal is fake one!!
🙂
Wait.. Krystal and Karishma r same? Ok… So she is doing all this so shebcan manage her family, that too with the name of Krystal so that no one can recognise her?