A/N

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Author

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The cold wind whooshed in the basement room from under the door.

Sargam shivered, bringing her knees closer to her chest, trying to keep herself warm, if that was possible. Her eyes were still closed, her lips parched because of being devoid of water and, of course, the cold.

The room had nothing except a window, and her body ached from sleeping on the hard floor.

That room was no different than the one she used to sleep in, in the servant quarters.

The servant quarter room had a mattress, a blanket, and an iron cupboard which contained her clothes, which were mostly borrowed, some money which she would get on festivals by the mercy shown upon her by some of the family members, and her rabab.

But the most important item she had in her room was a small circular wooden crate, which hid a lot of stuff. She always kept that box hidden from the eyes of the others because she knew if anyone found out, they would snatch her last will to live.

Sargam used the washroom deep in the woods closer to the haveli. That washroom was specifically for servants, and she was not allowed to use the one in the house. So she always ate less, drank less, so that she didn't have to go into the woods at night.

But she was mostly given less food, so she didn't have to cut on it herself.

Just like how the previous day she wasn't given any food or water for lunch or dinner, so she didn't have to go to the woods at night.

That was a curse, but in a way, that curse worked as a favour for her.

The wind blew stronger now, and the closed wooden window opened with a thud, and it hit the wall with force, creating a loud noise.

Sargam woke up with a jolt, screaming in fear.

"Maa...."

She sat up, and then she sobbed, scared and shivering as she hugged her knees to herself.

There was no one around to comfort her, to hold her.

Little Sargam loved storms, because then her mother held her close to her heart all night, but adult Sargam despised it, because it brought ghastly memories, triggered past traumas, and opened unhealed wounds.

She was breathing heavily and then, with spooked eyes, tried to peer around in the room, to check if she was alone, if the one with the glowing eyes was gone.

And actually, there was no one around her. The room was not alive like the previous day, as if the monsters had gone to sleep now, perhaps in a self-induced coma.

Sargam rose to her feet and walked to the window. She looked out and noticed the weather was terrible, as if a bigger storm was on its way. Her intuition warned her something was going to happen and that whatever happened the day before was just a mere trailer.

And this feeling kept growing inside of her with each passing second.

"Gudiya..." She heard the staff Geeta call her.

Sargam heard the jingle of the keys and then the door getting unlocked. She turned to the door and then watched Geeta walk in.

Geeta stared at Sargam, and her eyes filled with pity as she watched her state. 

Sargam's drenched clothes from before had dust smeared on them because of sleeping on the floor. Her eyes were red and swollen, dried blood at the corner of her lips, and her face swollen too because of the slaps she received from Rukmini.

While Geeta was filled with guilt, Sargam had nothing for Geeta. For her, she was just another spineless human who never dared to help Sargam, even when Sargam had once pleaded for her to save her.

It's not like Sargam didn't try to escape or to seek help, but every time her fate betrayed her. 

Besides, it's not easy to fight someone who had enough manpower to destroy an entire city while Sargam was all on her own. No one was on her side, neither humans nor Gods, but only her.

Geeta looked away, not wanting to feel guilty, because as humans, that's what we do: either we raise our voices, or we just avert our gaze.

After all, ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

"Chalo naha dho lo...aur ache kapde pehen lena..."

["Go freshen up... and wear nice clothes..."]

Geeta said.

"Kapde toh hain, Mausi...par ache?"

["I do have clothes, Mausi...but good?"]

Sargam didn't shout or do anything dramatic, but just one line, and that made Geeta mum.

That was with Sargam; whenever she spoke, she rendered others speechless.

"Geeta....maharani uthi hai ya nahi?"

["Geeta... has the queen woken up yet or not?"]

Rukmini's authoritative voice followed, and the clink of her wedges tapped against the harsh floor of the basement. Rukmini walked inside and then followed Ritu, like her assistant.

Rukmini watched Sargam with disappointment, like she was watching a woman with no morals.

Meanwhile, Sargam just stayed quiet because if she had said something, Rukmini would have lost her temper. Sargam knew Rukmini's patterns, so she was aware that acting like dumb, guilty person would save her from her wrath.

"Ek kapde bhi dhang ke nahi hai iske pass, Didi...ab kya karein?"

["She doesn't even have a single decent set of clothes, Didi... what do we do now?"]

Ritu commented. 

Ritu was just like that, always fueling Rukmini's rage for some drama.

"Ritu...jao Swara ke kuch purane salwar kameez le aao..."

["Ritu... go bring some of Swara's old salwar kameez sets..."]

Ritu looked shocked, her face filled with disdain as if Swara's old clothes were too costly for Sargam's body, or as if she wanted filth on Sargam and nothing else.

"Didi, Swara ke?"

["Didi, Swara's?"]

Ritu asked. 

Rukmni cast a glare at Ritu and hissed, "Jitna kaha hai utna karo...jada apna dimag chalane ki zaroorat nahi hai."

["Just do as you're told... there's no need to use your brain so much."]

Sargam was watching the interaction. She knew they were up to something; otherwise, why would they offer her Swara's clothes to her? It's not like there was any festival that day. 

The earlier feeling of anxiousness bubbled more inside of Sargam, and she clenched her Kurta, trying to calm herself.

Only a minute later, Ritu was back with some salwar suits of Swara. 

Rukmini pulled the best one from the lot, shocking all three women and then walked to Sargam. She handed it to her, who was too stunned to react, and then said, "Ye lo...adhe ghante mein tayaar hokar kitchen mein aa jana..."

["Here... get ready within half an hour and come to the kitchen."]

Rukmini walked out, and so did Ritu, but not before rolling her eyes at Sargam. Sargam watched their retreating figures, and once they were out of her sight, she asked Geeta, "Mausi...Aaj kuch hai kya?"

["Mausi... is there something special today?"]

"Yun samajh lo tumhari takdeer badalne vali hai..."

["You could say your fate is about to change..."]

Geeta replied with a soft smile and then left the room.

Sargam touched the soft fabric of the pink coloured Salwar Suit and a sad smile appeared on her face. She remembered watching Swara wear this suit on Diwali three years back and how she had to wear an old cotton Salwar Suit.

She recalled how Swara and her friends had treated her like she was the maid of the house, parading her around carrying a tray of food, how they spilled juice on her cotton suit and how they called her names....

'Jaahil'

['Uncivilized']

'Gawar'

['Uncultured']

'Neech'

['Lowly']

But what hurt her the most was....when they called her, ' Anath.'

['Orphan']

Memories of that night were still fresh in her mind and her eyes stung with fresh tears. If it was in her hand, she would prefer being naked than to be in any of Swara's clothes, but she knew better that she had no choice.

The thunder roared like a monster, pulling Sargam out of the flashback, and then she looked out. The sky was turning dark now.

"Ye toofan bhi yahi keh rahi hai...kuch toh badalne vala hai...shayad koi naya toofan aayega...kuch bhayankar is baar..."

["This storm says the same... something is about to change... perhaps a new storm is coming... something terrifying this time..."]

She said to herself, trying to tell her soul it was time to tighten the belts.

Sargam took a shower in haste and wore the pink colored salwar kameez. Even if she didn't want to like it, Sargam ended up liking the soft fabric over her body. The salwar kameez fit her so well as if they were made for her. It was loose on Swara but hugged Sargam's curves perfectly.

When she headed to the kitchen, she stared at her reflection in one of the glass doors on the way, and a small, very tiny, almost negligible smile touched her lips. But she instantly stopped smiling, knowing if anyone saw her doing that, they would put more filth on her character.

The moment she walked inside the kitchen, it looked like a war zone. The vegetables were getting chopped frantically. The rice was getting boiled in a big vessel; oil was poured in a large wok. A batter of chickpea flour was getting prepared.

All the staff were busy as if their lives were on the line. Sargam got confused, wondering what the occasion was. She wondered if there were guests coming because that could explain all of it.

"Laiye, main karti hu..."

["Give it to me, I will do it..."]

She said to one of the staff, who was making the dough for Chapatis. But then a familiar voice boomed, "Ruko..."

["Stop"]

The kitchen, which was like a warzone a moment ago, went still. People even sucked their breaths in when Rukmini walked in and only the sound of vessels and cookware could be heard.

Rukmini cast a stern look at Sargam and told her in a strict tone, "Aaj kuch mehman aane vale hain...Khane ki list maine Geeta ko de di hai...vo aur baaki log khana bana denge....Tumhe bas chai banani hai...aur ha...dhyan rahe kapde gande nahi hone chahiye..."

["Some guests are coming today... I have already given the menu list to Geeta... she and the other will prepare the food... You only have to make the tea... and yes... make sure your clothes don't get dirty..."]

She informed Sargam how many people she had to make tea for, and Sargam nodded in response obediently.

The staff watched the interaction in stun and amazement, their world halted in mid as they noticed the surprising exchange between Rukmini and Sargam.

Once Rukmini was done ordering Sargam, she glared at the staff and bellowed, "Tum logo ko kya dus baar bolu jaldi jaldi haath chalane ko?"

["Do I have to tell you people, ten times to work faster?"]

Instantly, the staff resumed their work, as if robots were finishing their tasks. Once, casting a glance at whatever was getting prepared and nitpicking about every single thing, Rukmini walked out of the kitchen.

"Ye Manthra ko kya hua hai aaj?"

["What's gotten into Manthra today?"]

One of the staff mumbled.

"Pata nahi, shayad mirgi ka dauda pada hoga..."

["I don't know, maybe she's having some kind of fit..."]

The one replied. 

They both giggled, along with every staff member except Geeta and Sargam.

Geeta didn't laugh because she, as the head staff, knew what awaited her if the arrangements were not made as per Rukmini's taste or if anyone heard the staff making fun of Rukmini.

Sargam was quiet because she was still processing her conversation with Rukmini, which was very eccentric. She had been handling kitchen and other household duties since she was a kid, so it was new for her that she was told not to do anything except for making tea.

Her anxiousness was at its peak now.

"Muh kam haath jada chalao..."

["Talk less and get to work more."]

Geeta warned the staff who were laughing before getting busy with making dough for Rotis.

Sargam couldn't be at peace. 

She knew something was terribly wrong. Her soul was screaming, but her voice died inside of her. She liked the familiarity even if it meant she had to bear the torments of Rukmini, but this unfamiliarity was clawing at her nerves.

Sargam prepared the tea; its aroma enveloped the kitchen. A few minutes later, Swara entered the kitchen, smiled at Sargam, and called her softly, "Didi..."

That was about Swara; no matter the venom she carried inside of her, she would always wrap it in her fake sweetness, unlike her mother.

"Chai le aao jaldi se...."

["Bring the tea quickly..."]

Swara added later.

"Abhi laayi..."

["I am bringing it right away..."]

Sargam replied and poured the tea in cups before stacking the cups on the tray and going out with it.

She assumed there would be someone from Dharmendra's political party members' family or Rukmini's family, but when she reached the living room of the haveli, she saw three entirely new faces that surprised her.

There was an old lady almost in her eighties; her front teeth were broken, but her attire was top-notch, and her neck was adorned with a huge gold set. Then there was a couple who looked the same age as Dharmendra and Rukmini. The man was quiet, but the woman gave the vibe of an obnoxious person.

"Ye hai hamari Gudiya, Sargam..."

["This is our doll, Sargam..."]

Rukmini said with a huge blown smile. Sargam couldn't digest the fact that she was nicely introduced to guests, which happened for the first time. Still, she gave a small smile to the people there.

"Bade naazon se pala hai humne ise..."

["We have raised her with great care and indulgence..."]

Ritu spoke this time, caressed Sargam's hair, which was so unlike her character, and then urged Sargam, "Jao, beta...chai do sabko."

["Go, dear... serve tea to everyone."]

Sargam was receiving shock after shock, and coming out of them, or even processing them, was arduous for her. 

Firstly, she was given clean, nice clothes to wear; she wasn't made to cook for everyone, was introduced to guests as a family member, and now Ritu called her beta [child]. 

She could have believed everything, but not Ritu's sweetness towards her and that...that one thing made her stomach twist in extreme anxiety.

Trying to calm herself and not let her anxiety overpower her, Sargam served the tea to everyone one by one. 

The old lady watched her with a scrutinizing gaze; the woman in her fifties watched her as if she was jealous of Sargam, and when she walked to the man to serve him the tea, he gawked at her breasts. 

His gaze stuck to her chest, moved towards her neck, then down to her waist, and when he picked the cup of tea, he deliberately brushed his fingers on her hand.

Sargam, repulsed, felt disgusted, held the tray tighter, and instantly took steps back. No one noticed what was happening, and even if they would have, they wouldn't have cared.

"Ladki hai toh bohot khubsurat..."

["She is very beautiful..."]

The old lady said, giving a once-over to Sargam from head to toe as if judging her and giving a go-ahead for something.

"Ladki, zara chalkar dikha..."

["Girl, walk a little and show us..."]

The old lady ordered Sargam. 

Sargam didn't understand what was happening. Then Rukmini gestured to her with a curt nod, so she walked with the tray still in her hand from one end of the couch to the end of another couch.

Her peripheral vision reached the old man who was just leering at her breasts and her ass. 

Instinctively, she pulled the veil down to cover whatever part of her neck was visible and to cover her already covered chest, but has it ever stopped a predator from eyeing its prey?

The more you try to hide from a predator, the more it gets aroused to have a taste of its prey.

"Ladki, tu khana bana leti hai?"

["Girl, do you know how to cook?"]

The old lady asked again.

"Ji..."

["Yes"]

Sargam was confused, yet simply replied to the query. The old lady opened a small silver box, pulled out a pan, and started chewing on it, and then nodded at Sargam. 

"Khane ke saath saath...gane ka bhi bohot shok hai gudiya ko..."

["Along with cooking... our Gudiya is very fond of singing too..."]

Ritu added exuberantly. 

Her eyes shone with excitement, which unsettled Sargam. But it wasn't only Sargam who didn't like what Ritu said. Rukmini glared at Ritu too, and Ritu shut her mouth, realizing she had made a blunder. The woman who was a guest had a disgusted smile on her face as she commented, "Ritu Ji gaane to kuch tawaif bhi bohot acha gaati hain...."

["Ritu Ji, even some courtesans sing very well..."]

Rukmini at that very moment cleared her throat and said, "Geeta...gudiya ko andar le jao..."

["Geeta, take Gudiya inside"]

Geeta, who was standing in one corner, came forward, took the tray from Sargam and then took her in, as if she was taught all of that.

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Sargam had just witnessed a very weird series of events; people around her acted strangely, and she had no clue why. Rukmini, Ritu and Swara acted sweet; the men and the other members of the family weren't there to greet the guests, and the guests were weird too.

Sargam opened the window of her room for the air to pass in as she felt suffocated. She sat on her mattress cross-legged and started pouring out her frustration through words.

"Vo budhiya kaise mujhe bol rahi thi chalkar dikhao....main kya koi fashion model hu..."

["That old woman was telling me to walk and show her... am I some fashion model?"]

"Aur vo buddha....man toh kar raha tha ki garam chai uski aankhon mein dal du..."

["And that old man... I felt like pouring hot tea into his eyes..."]

She breathed hard, her face red with anger. She only wanted the guests to leave and never come back again, but something in her told her this wasn't a one-time visit.

Her mind reeled back to whatever conversation happened in front of her, and her mind raced in multiple directions to come to a conclusion over what was going on.

"Par unhone aisa kyu bola ki unhe gaane vali chahiye to vo tawaif...."

["But why did they say that if they needed a singer, then a courtesan..."]

Sargam's head ached as this unpredictability was making her overthink.

"Nahi....Sargam...tu jada soch rahi hai...aisa kuch bhi nahi hai....ye kuch ghanto ke mehmaan hain aur jaldi chale jaayenge."

["No... Sargam... you're overthinking it... there's nothing like that... these are just guests for a few hours, and they'll leave soon."]

She tried brushing off every other negative thought about it, yet she couldn't. The day passed on just like every other day. 

They guest left, she did household chores, but when, after dinner, she came back to her room and tried to sleep, she couldn't.

The unsettling feeling from before hadn't faded. 

With her eyes still open, she watched the neon stars pasted on the ceiling, and then she mumbled, remembering her mother, "Maa...mujhe darr lag raha hai...aisa darr mujhe kabhi nahi laga..."

["Mom... I'm scared... I've never felt this kind of fear before..."]

She kept praying to the gods for her fear to dissipate, unaware that her fear was genuine. The storm this time was bigger, which was going to ruin her in incomprehensible ways.

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"Vo vaha rakh do..."

["Put it there."]

"Arey theek se rakho..."

["Hey, place it properly..."]

"Ha...ab sahi hai...."

["Yes... now it's right..."]

Sargam heard a shuffling sound, footsteps, and then something getting dragged. She heard some familiar voices very close to her. She groaned in sleep and tried opening her eyes. When her eyes opened completely, she noticed Swara standing in one corner and a few male staff members placing some old furniture in her room.

She sat up straight and covered herself with the dupatta, feeling mortified. Swara didn't care to knock or even wake Sargam up before calling for those men in her room.

"Swara....tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?"

["Swara... what are you doing here?"]

Sargam asked her instantly, panicking.

She noticed the Sun rays hadn't started peeping in from the half-closed window, so it was obvious it was too early, and most of the family members would have been sleeping. Even Swara rarely woke up before nine. She was up this early; then she was surely up to something nasty.

"Aur ye sab kya hai?"

["And what is all this?"]

She pointed at the furniture getting dragged and placed in her room. There was one old dressing table, a broken chair, and an old harmonium which Swara used only once in her life and never cared to play it again. She only got that to make her friend jealous but then got bored after failing to play it in one go.

"Didi, acha hua aap jag gayi...chalo....maa ne aapko bulaya hai..."

["Didi, it's good you're awake... Come on... Mom has called you..."]

Sargam wondered what tragedy had woken her up this early. She hurried out of the room with Swara and went to the courtyard of the haveli. Only Rukmini and Ritu were there; the rest of the family was absent.

Sargam was confused over why the rest of the family members were absent because if Rukmini called everyone for an announcement, she meant everyone, and not a single soul was to be missed.

Ritu was sitting on a chair and yawned while Rukmini stood there with her arms crossed, holding a poker face.

When Ritu saw Sargam, she got up excitedly because she needed the announcement to be over so that she could go and sleep some more.

"Didi...aa gaya maharani..."

["Didi... the queen has arrived..."]

Ritu said.

Rukmini picked up a sweets box from a nearby cot and walked closer to Sargam. She took out one Motichoor Laddo and pressed it to her lips. Sargam opened her mouth and took a small bite of it, wondering if it had poison in it.

"Aaj se theek saat din bad tumhari shaadi hai Sangam ghaat par..."

["Exactly seven days from today, your wedding will take place at Sangam Ghat..."]

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A/N

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Vaise... agle chapter ke liye you guys aren't ready. 🥹

[Well...You guys aren't ready for the next chapter.]

Acha, tell me, which character you guys hate the most till now.  🤔

Curious, where the hell is ML? 🙈

What do you think- where the rest of the family members are and why they weren't involved in the wedding announcement of Sargam? 🤔

Agle chapter mein is samaj is us neechta ko saamne laungi jo aaj bhi logon ke dimag mein ghar karke baithi hai. Par ek surprise bhi aayega 🥹

[In the next chapter, I'll bring forth the vile mentality of this society that still resides in people's minds even today. But there will be a surprise too 🥹]

Chalo ab aap sab bata dena kaisa laga ye chapter....milte hain agle chapter mein ❤️

[Alright now, all of you tell me if you liked this chapter... see you in the next one.❤️]

Thanks,

Shrishtee