So
you managed to get her dates? Rohan asked Ram as they sat in the
balcony still at Amma's place. Rohan wanted a cigarette break and Ram
had accompanied him.
Ram shrugged his shoulders..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was nothing to sit down in the balcony..Ram looked around but Priya propped herself on the parapet..He looked at her looking out at the fields beyond ...
Priya: I like it here..this view opens up to the field unlike the other rooms..they open out to the street..
Priya smiled as a gentle breeze waved..
Ram came to where she was sitting but maintained a distance..Ram looked out too..the view was indeed good..
Ram:
This view is so contrasting...one part of the house faces the street
where everything is brought...and this part of the house..is so
free..living on its own terms..
Priya: Its my favorite part of the house..in fact its the favorite for everyone here..
Ram: If you don't mind can i ask you one question?
Priya: I know what you want to ask..but complete Amma's part first..
Ram nodded..
Ram: I just need to know how she got into this?
Priya: Amma is basically from a very small village in
Ram interrupted her..You mind if i roll the camera..makes it easier to make notes later...
Priya nodded her head..Ram set the camera and asked Priya to start..
Priya:
Amma is basically from a small village in Karnataka..one of the nine
sisters..Her parents sold her when she was 7 years old..Initially she
used to work as a domestic help..but as she grew older..she was ...she
was forced into this..
Priya looked at the fields again...
Ram paused giving Priya the time she needed..
Priya: She was brought to Mumbai and since then has been working here..She was one of the girls first but after Gulab died she took over..
Ram: Gulab?
Priya: The one who forced her into this..
Ram suddenly felt sympathy for Ammaji..she was an innocent child who had been dragged into this for no fault of hers..
Ram: She never tried to get out of this muck?
Priya laughed at that..
Priya:
Either you watch a lot of movies or are living in a different world
altogether...Once you are sucked into this..there is no escape..
Ram: Sure there is ..you have people helping such women..
Priya:
Helping in what way? You will take them out from here ..counsel them
and then what? Marriage? Nobody marries them Ram..no one..people in your
world don't even want to look at women like them..And even if they look
its a lustful look ...easy prey..
Ram: I don't think this way..i am sure that every one has a right to live a dignified life
Priya: Will you marry any one of them?
Ram
looked at Priya stunned..the question was asked point blank..and it
left him at a loss of words..Priya kept looking at Ram for an answer...
Priya: Its ok..i know the answer to that one..lets move on..
Ram slid the back of his hand over his mouth..His throat seemed dry suddenly..
Ram: If Ammaji herself was forced into this why doesn't she stop it..have a closure..
Priya: Whatever might be the nature of work Ram, this place provides us our basic necessities. Close it down and do what?
Many of them have children..illegitimate children..who don't even know
who their father is...In a way this is a secured place..atleast it helps
them put food on the table..And Ammaji has never forced any girl into
this..those who want to leave are free to go...but as i said this is a
black hole..one way entry..
Ram: What do the children do? I mean why bring them into this world?
Priya: Do you not work hard on movies?
Ram: Yes we do
Priya: Do you abandon your stories just because you don't get a producer or do you dislike them if they turn out to be bad?
Ram: No..all stories are written with a lot of passion..its emotional
Priya:
Likewise..its emotional..when you have the feeling of a child inside
you...it becomes your life..you just cannot abandon it..Ammaji makes sure that all kids go to school..receive proper education..
Ram: Ammaji is quite unlike what i thought..
Priya: She is a coconut...hard outside but soft inside ...She is just very protective of us..does not want us to get hurt..
Ram: And you? How come you are here? You said you don't work here...
Priya
let out a sigh...she pointed to a group of kids playing out
there..unaware of the hardship their mothers went through to raise
them..
Priya: I am one of them...my mother was a prostitute ...She and Amma were good friends..
Ram: Your mother ..i mean
Priya: She is no more..she died while giving me birth..Since then Amma has raised me as her own child..
Ram: I am sorry...don't mind but it seems a little odd that you stay here and are still...
Ram left the sentence hanging mid air..he hoped Priya would understand what he meant..
Priya:
Every girl at the brothel is not a prostitute..As i said before i owe
my life to Amma..She had saved Gulab's life once and when asked for a
reward Amma ji took a promise that none of the girl children ever born
here would be forced into this...It was customary that all the girl
child were dragged into this..Gulab only saw one career for them..More
the girl children more her prospects..
Ram looked at
her disgusted at himself..Disgusted that he belonged to such a
society..a society that was hypocrite to the core including him...Any
woman here was considered a prostitute..every one just had one
mindset..one type of eyesight for them. He himself had assumed Priya to
be one of them. And how wrong had he been about Ammaji..He looked at Priya..her vision was fixed on those kids playing...He felt a sickening feeling grip him ..Desperate to change the topic he came a little close to Priya..
Ram: What do you wish to become?
Priya laughed...
Priya: I have not got that far...
Ram: But you must have one dream..something that you are passionate about?
Priya: What are you passionate about?
Ram:
Me...i am passionate about movies..stories...I want to direct
films..see the stories ..the characters get alive..Ram's eyes sparkled
as he spoke of that..New York...there is a film academy in new
york...that is my ultimate dream to enroll there..
Priya extended her hand...: All the best for that...
Ram shook her hand: Thanks...Friends?
Priya smiled at him...Friends...They took their hands back...
Priya looked at the train tracks...she had lost track of time speaking to Ram..Amma must have her medicines now..
Priya: I have to go..its time for Amma's medicine
Ram: How do you know the time..
Priya: That train..it always passes through at this time..8 30...
Ram: What if it is late?
Priya:
Doesn't matter..even if late it reached its destined place..same
way..however late it may be i never sleep before Amma takes her
medicine..
Ram stood behind the camera to switch it off..
Priya: Ram..
He looked at her from behind the camera...
Priya: I am passionate about Freedom...if only for a day...away from this world..to see how the other world is...
Saying that Priya walked off..
Ram
thought about what Priya had said...how one word had different meaning
for different people..For him Freedom was always there..something that
was rightfully his..and for Priya..it was a struggle...a dream..He
switched off the camera and looked at the fields once more..Priya's
words echoed in his ears..Freedom...his birthright...her struggle..
To Be Continued
