Everyday after the school I used to stroll around the "shirohari" market place and used to return home taking a short cut through "nahashi" area, a small sluggish lane with many small food shops, liquor shop and some shops which sells unusual items. I had always smelled a strong smell from that place, a smell which you may not like but still you will crave for that smell and it will attract you... and after passing all the shops you will find a big iron gate and on the other side of the gate there's a big house with.. quite old but decorated with lights and many people were there especially women.....
Six years have passed. Now I'm in 10th grade , repeating the same routine from the past six years and last year I came to know from one of my friend that big house which I had been noticing since this time is called a BROTHEL... I used to wonder why there were so many women in too much revealing dresses and calling the men...then I was told what actually happens there.
Like all other days I was coming from there and suddenly I bumped into someone...,A Girl. I clearly apologized to her and told her that didn't see her while passing and just bumped into her...she didn't say any word rather she didn't even turned to see whom she bumped into....'Strange', I thought... I was behind her and saw her entering inside of that big house through that huge iron gate....but she stopped and turned. She told me "You should use both your eyes properly while walking on the road " and gave me a warm smile and went inside as fast as possible. Due to some unknown reason my heart was pounding like crazy.....
From then everyday I used to see her, sometimes standing there talking to any customer or in a room where the window is faced in the direction of the lane (road)....but how much busy she is she always made eye contact with me and one day that tall girl with long curly hair and dusky skin with big sharp eyes smiled at me...and I just HAPPY seeing that beautiful warm smile and I smiled back....
She always used to wait there for me...and now I used to stop by there and talked to her...We Talked...Talked for more than few minutes and then more than hour...Our talks got longer...She walked me upto the end of the lane...She told me that she was from another country and her step mother and brother had sold her here....but she never cried for that in front of me... Instead she always used to give me a warm SMILE, the smile which gave me happiness hope and positivity...I used to share each and every little things with her because talking to her made me feel relaxed and relieved......
One day I say that her face was all swollen and there were bruises all over her body...I asked her how did it happened...she smiled and said nothing... I asked her "Did it happened because of me?"...this time she laughed and answered "No"...."A customer did this..." I got very furious and told her that. " I will marry you after I finish my schooling and now you will with me to my house "...."you don't need to stay in that hell "....On hearing this she laughed her heart out...I asked her in an angry voice "Why are you laughing?"....She smiled and said "The ending is here"....I didn't understand that day what she actually meant and asked her what did she mean by that .....she told me "The lane ends here you should hurry back to home and Me too "
The next day I came to see her with an ointment. I asked her to apply it on her swollen face and on the bruises. She took it but glared at me for a few seconds, I snapped her back to reality. She rubbed her wet eyes and applied the ointment. On seeing that I just hold her hands , she smiled and we walked under the setting sun...
Once I got punishment from my school for fighting...So that day I was late by 30 mins and rushed there with my bicycle....I thought she must be went by now...and when I reached there I saw she was not there and suddenly a hand touched my shoulder I turned and saw its HER. A SUDDEN FEEL OF RELAXATION HIT ME INSIDE. Then she told me that she was waiting here for long so she went to buy ice cream for us...We enjoyed the ice cream walking upto the end of the lane.
The next day I met with her and told her that my exams were going to start from next week so I'll not be able to meet her this two weeks...She wished me luck with her warm smile...I told her "I'll give you a surprise after 2 weeks"...she replied "What surprise?"..... I told "It's a Surprise"....she giggled.....
After 2 weeks when my exams were over I went there to meet her with a bouquet of sunflowers and a butterfly bracelet...when I went she was not there I thought this time also she went to buy ice cream for us and I waited the whole day but she didn't came....the next day also I went there but she didn't appeared...like this 6 months passed and she didn't show up... I asked from the people there but they ignored me...and one day a girl told me that she was sent to her home... I was broken on hearing this but deep down I'm feeling relieved because on thinking that finally she went out of this hell
Through out my entire school life my routine and habit didn't change..Then I was sent to another city for my graduation...and after 3 years I returned to me hometown...and this time my parents decided to sent me abroad for higher studies...So on the day of my departure I thought of going from that lane which I have left 3 years ago
So I was passing from that lane...and the Brothel was still there and infront of that a huge crowd was there along with police...I asked one of the constable. "What happened sir?"....He said a 3 years old skeleton was discovered and according to the forensic team it was a skeleton of a girl....and Then one of the officer shouted..."A Letter was Discovered Inside The Skeletons dress"....and suddenly a gushing wind threw it infront of my feet..I picked it up and there were only two sentences written....
"I HOPE YOU DID WELL IN YOUR EXAM
AND ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU SURPRISE"
