Exchange of a Dream

Finally I was ready wearing the pink salwar kameez which complimented my white skin completely, I applied kohl to make my brown eyes look bigger and beautiful that always made me feel good. I looked at myself in the mirror. The tight kamiz, clearly showing my contours was a little irritating, I had put on some weight lately, but it’s good to be healthy I consoled myself .I let out a sigh and left for the bus stop.

I was standing at the bus stop waiting for a customer. It was already 10:00 PM and yet I couldn’t see any car coming to the bus stop. My eyes wandered around the street and I saw him again. He looked at me and went to the opposite side of the bus stop. Soon a customer approached. He went to my customer and said something. I couldn't understand what happened next between them but the customer gave me a look of disgust and went to Rina who was standing a little ahead of me. This had been happening for 2-3 days. This guy has been following me for long. If I would have been the normal girl I would have got that butterfly in my stomach as the guy was cute but as I am not the girl who lives a normal life this was a hindrance. Today I couldn’t take it and I went straight to that guy

Me: “what’s your problem?”

Him: “I don’t want anyone to have you.”

Me: “Firstly I am not a thing that one can have me, and why can’t someone else be with me?”

Him:” Sorry for that and about someone else not being with you because I want to be with you “

I observed him keenly and he looked hardly of 22 years, so I figured mentally he was almost 4 year elder to me… If I was right at guessing his age. I need to get a customer today or else Savita Didi will be disappointed.

Me:“Five thousand?” I said him coming straight to the point. He showed me a stack of money from his pocket in reply. It made me feel a bit insulted, but I knew prostitution is all about who can give you more money as per the hour he spends with you. But still I couldn't trust him as he had been visiting the bus stop for a long time now and didn’t allow any customer to come to me. “ My place” I said without looking at him. He nodded and followed me.


Soon we reached the Red light area where I lived in a chawl, and we were given a small room. As we entered, he observed my room in such a way as If he wanted to write a book on it. “Don’t you have a balcony?” He asked “This is a chawl not a flat” I shot back “Do you have a terrace??” He asked again.

“Yes I do have but why Terrace?” His words confused me again. I couldn't make out what he was trying to say as none other than him wanted to go to terrace before.

“Take two pillows and a blanket and take me there” He said but it sounded more like an order. He was my customer I needed to fulfil his demands. I took him to the common terrace, and it was empty. I arranged the blanket and the pillow, and soon he slept on one and asked me to sleep on the other. I knew what was next. I would be undressed as if I was a puppet, I will yelp in pain for his pleasure,my curves will be rediscovered in his own way, hoping he isn’t a smoker because few smokers burn their cigarettes on my body to see me scream which gave them pleasure.

I was just about to un-button my shirt when he came hovering his head on my head, looked into my eyes and kissed me on my forehead. His eyes were as innocent as a child’s eyes. They had too much emotion to read. His eyes related a totally different story which I couldn't understand. He took my hand away from the button “Not now, this is not what I want.” He whispered near my ears. It sent a chill down my spine. I gulped down the lump.” If you don't want this, then why are you here?” I whispered back but I meant it .
” Every person who comes to a prostitute doesn't want this, they want something else” His word "prostitute" made hit me badly down my soul for the first time though I knew I am one. “Is it so? Then please elaborate.” “I have the best parents, the best education but I don’t have a life to make the best out of it ““Huh? What do you mean?? What is your Name? You are a confused lad”’ ”Nothing, my Name is Vishal. So tell me what’s your dream? “The topic suddenly changed and I could feel the rush of blood in my cheeks because that was the first time someone was talking about my dream. The conversation was about me. ” I just want to live a life of freedom just for a week or two. Even if I die after that I won’t mind" I stopped.

“But tell me why did you say you don’t have life?” I got back to him.

“I have cancer, now please don’t give me that sympathetic look, I have few weeks or may be a few months, so I just want to live my life”

He looked at me while telling and came close to me and kissed my forehead. This time he didn’t move away he kept looking in my eyes for a while and I closed my eyes. He kissed me on my lips, a gesture not encouraged in my profession, kissing on the mouth was only for people in love and no one ever loved us and yet I didn’t object, he came more close, and this was probably the first time ever I would be surrendering with will and not compulsion. We ladies are always sensitive, even if someone is a little nice we would fall in love… and being in the profession that I was in, even a little care shown meant a lot. He didn’t go further just hugged me and went to sleep…I didn’t know how to react either he is mad I thought or maybe he is nice for real.

This was for first time I went to sleep with peace and unhurt...I woke late the next day when the sun was dancing on my head. It was already 9 o clock and Vishal was nowhere to be seen. Shit I am so dead , I told myself, I let him go without taking the payment…but then I saw 10 notes of Rs.1000 near the pillow , double the amount of what was agreed and I smiled to myself , who pays 10000 just for a kiss and a hug.

I went to my room and saw Savita Didi sitting there with my stuff strewn all over the room. I smiled at her, and she smiled back.

She informed me that my deal had been made and that someone had paid for you for a life time, you seem to have bound him by magic now she winked at me. Her words made me feel sick. It made me remember back my dad who made a deal when I was of 16 and now her. I knew she always saw me as a product and not as her sister, but why am I being sold again?

Who paid for me? That was a big question on my mind. Before I could ask anything more I saw Vishal standing there. I couldn't say anything more. It was dramatic yet shocking to see him back.

He entered directly and carried my hurriedly packed bags and went out, I followed him as I didn't have any other option. He BOUGHT me. He PAID for me. I knew now I would be a personal escort for life time. I felt like a puppet in his hands.

I stood outside while he unlocked his door. I wanted to pull his shirt, look directly into his eyes and shout at him and ask him what was the reason to add more misery to my life.

But my burning soul instantly calmed down when the door opened. He took me to his home where his sister lived and she seemed extremely happy to see me as if it was all planned and set.

----------------------------------

The days passed in a jiffy, and his health was getting worse from bad. I would give him company to every place possible, we would go to see different movies, he treated me like a friend, he would make me laugh on stupid things he had done after he came to know he is going to die soon, I knew he had done a big favour by buying me my freedom It was fun knowing him and it was beautiful knowing the fact that he felt I was the one who he can share his secrets .I didn’t know how to thank him.

It was just another regular day when Vishal and I were out for dinner. After we finished dinner we went for a walk, I wanted to ask why he paid to buy me freedom, But when we were walking suddenly he started vomiting blood, I tried to hold him up with all my strength and asked for help screaming my lungs out. I screamed and screamed to the world and held his hand tightly whispering not to lose his life. I need him. He was rushed to the emergency ward and I took my place on the seat praying to god not to be cruel to him. He didn't do anything to deserve that.

Next morning he was shifted to the regular ward. I entered his room with baby steps. I felt so secure to see him well though I knew he isn’t mine yet somewhere deep down I felt a tinge of pain in me. I saw him smiling at me as if nothing had happened last night. His courage at times takes me aback.

“ hey beautiful pumpkin” he said “ hey” I greeted “Don’t you dare cry I swear I will die with pain” he stuck his tongue out with a mischievous smile. "Shut up" I passed a smile too and hugged him tightly. “ Pihu I need to breathe, can you hug a little softly” He chuckled I quickly moved back to give him his personal space. “ I didn’t tell you had to leave me Miss” he made that annoyed expression which made him look adorable as ever. “So did you miss me last night I wasn’t there to irritate you.” He continued and winked. “ why you doing this, why did you pay for my freedom, do I even mean anything to you I guess you hardly know me, why didn’t you spend all this money on your health rather than my freedom”.

“ Firstly as I said I want to enjoy life , even if I spend all the money I have now, I will still be hospitalised and would be spending days in this room , I want to enjoy every bit of life , and I don’t want to live life just for living , where else in your case you just needed freedom to live your life , so I thought of exchanging our dreams , I got the life full of happiness and will die peacefully and your dream to live your life with freedom fulfilled. And if it’s about what you mean to me then let me tell you one thing YES you do mean a lot to me. Probably you are the first girl after my sister with whom I talked , you are the first girl I hugged out of emotion and got beautiful sleep , you are the first girl who gave me chance to experience the blissful feeling of a first kiss , you are the first girl who gave me life time of smiles just within a week , and as such we have exchanged our dream , I don’t mind dying now as I lived best life just within a week ” I didn’t know what was I supposed to answer to this .I didn’t know what words will be enough to make my argument stronger . I was out of words so I went closer to him, he looked at me, and smiled showing off his dimple and with a spark of happiness and sadness in his eyes at the same time. A small tear dropped down his eye moved towards the ear, I kissed it away, and then kissed him on his forehead. I moved a little lower and sealed his lips with mine. I knew I won’t be able to form any words even if I try to. I could feel his lips were now curved into a smile. But before this happy moment could last any longer, He started coughing again. I immediately called the doctor. I could see him breathing heavily, he wasn’t able to speak anything. The doctor came and I was asked to leave the room.

He was shifted to the ICU unit, the RED light glowed for hours and finally it went off, the doctor came out of the room. He was in a deep conversation with another doctor. I looked at him impatiently and took some quick steps to know about his conditions. “Is he ok?” I asked, fearing of the worst.

“sorry Miss.Pihu he passed away” He said in an apologetic tone.

I could feel my senses were losing track and I couldn't hear anything more. All I could understand was he was gone, he was gone forever, he was the hero of my life, he gave me the best life yet I couldn’t smile. But then I knew if he would have been around he would have liked it if I would have smiled. I smiled because I promised him I won't cry, but not for long. I broke down. I broke down bitterly crying my heart out and accepting the fact that he won't be there beside me anymore.

Days passed he lived in my memory every second, I was now involved in my studies and teaching the underprivileged young kids and I knew he was smiling up there in the sky.