A story based on Real Life,

In memory of my sister, I never met.

" Come here " I stretched my arms to a baby who is smiling at me every day

"you wanna have chocolate "

"Yes," she giggled happily.

"So cute, here " I gave her chocolate.

" I'm Mahalakshmi. What's your name? "

"prr... " she stopped with a scream

"preethi, what are you doing there? "a lady screamed.

" Come here, " she harshly pulled baby from me.

" What are you doing with her? And who gave this chocolate "

" Akka gave this chocolate to me "

"Did you eat it? Open your mouth " her mom worried.

"What did you feed my daughter? " she glared at me.

"Akka why are you saying like that? I just gave her chocolate "

"First of all, you don't call me like that. And I know you people take away kids after feeding them intoxicants"

"Akka, please don't say like that I'm not.. " she stopped me speaking.

"I said don't call me like that "

"sorry mam" I meeked.

" please stay away from my daughter. "

" Amma, akka just gave me this chocolate. She is a good girl " that baby says about me.

"You just shut up Preethi, I told you not to eat anything from others." She left after picking her baby.

Am I that sinful to touch kids? As usual, my heart crumbled one more time with this.

However, fate was not ready to wait for my emotional settlement, my phone started ringing already.

"How much longer? " the person got angry.

"Yes, 5 minutes " I ended call.

Wiped my wet face, and composed myself to become someone's bed warmer again.

I reached the destination. one more time I Stayed numb on bed Holding hurt and disgust in my fisted palm along with nerve-wracking pain in my body parts.

" Here " The male threw a few notes on bed.

"It is 2000," I was shocked.

"We discussed it 5000 " I was hurt again with same happened thing.

"So, what will you do now? " he passed a disgusting laugh.

I am not interested in negotiating over this where I'm doing it with complete hate.

What should I do? I have no option left to fill my hunger.

" Take this too " He threw another 500 note on me.

" At least respect this " I took the note from floor.

"Oohhh, now the bi*** Teaching me values "

I can stay calm but not after this.

" Look here, " I clicked his half-naked pictures without taking his permission.

"What are you doing? " he screamed.

"This was the best time I spent. so I wished to post it on social media " I clicked more pictures.

"Don't do that, " he tried to snatch my phone.

"Let's take a selfie " I clicked him along with me.

"I have family" he was frightened.

I pushed him on bed.

" Now you got conscious of values and family " he gulped

"If a woman really wanted to be a bi*** You men can't even stand with it, Remember this." I warned.

" My remaining 2500 " I demanded this time.

He gave me money without saying anything.

"Please delete pictures " he begged.

I did as he asked, then left to my space.

Stood under the shower till the tears and pain went away from my body but the imprints of the wrong touch that is forever with me till I'm alive.

I visited the temple to ask him one more time.

" What kind of curse it is?"

" What mistake have I made? "

" How much longer it is? "

At the time I returned home, he was there walking here and there in front of home.

" Why are you here, Ram? " I unlocked the door.

" Is this the way of inviting friends to home? " I rolled my eyes, we entered into the home.

I offered him water.

" Tell me now, what brought you here today? " we settled in the living room.

" Just like that, feel to see you, that's why? " he smiled simply.

" Told you many times. Don't come here unnecessarily, what does everyone think of you? "

" Let them think whatever they want. I won't mind "

" Ram, I'm a prostitute " I uttered in difficulty

" Really..! I don't know that prostitute you are speaking about, I only know my bestfriend Mahalakshmi "

" you never listen me "

" I won't in this matter " we laughed finally.

Shared how the day happened for us. I prepared food for us, We ate our dinner. He just clapped me for what I did to that person in the morning.

"what's your plans tomorrow? "he asked me.

"planning to go to orphanage. It's been many days"

"Ok then I'll go now," he stood.

"yeah, you have to go right? " my voice went low.

I don't want him to go, because he is the only human who treats me like a human. but I can't stop him either.

I bid him bye, stood there till the time his retreating figure vanished and my vision blurred with the pool of Newly formed tears.

Days pass like this.

One day I'm here in orphanage. Kids surrounded me and shared their little World happiness.

After Ram, These are the little souls happily accept me as I am.

"here, please keep this for monthly expenses" I gave money to warden.

" don't know who you are? But doing so much for these orphans. God bless you maa"

"This is the family I have. There is nothing great about it "

I spent my whole day with kids.

The next day I went back to work. But I was completely exhausted to go back home. Somehow I reached home there again with the same scene repeating, he is waiting in front of a locked home.

But the neighbors are gossiping and laughing themselves about him.

"What sisters what husbands doing at home are they just sitting idle as you are sighting other men?"

"Lakshmi, think of your life before saying anything to us"

"And what you are doing? Don't you have any work than peeking into my life? " I yelled at my neighbors.

They went inside cursing me with all possible bad words, they couldn't do anything more than this, cause they knew How extent bit** I am when it comes to my personals. I have to be like this to protect my mental peace at least.

But one thing I have to clear to him.

I observed myself, I was a complete mess after doing my work. I can't stand in front of him like this.

I silently went inside my room to cleanse myself. At the time I was out he was preparing coffee for me.

" Why are you doing it?" I leaned on kitchen entrance.

" You need it " he gave me coffee mug.

" Don't come here again " I said strictly.

He sighed "OK, I won't come. But You have to come to my Home, Will you? "

" In what language do I have to say this to You? I'm a prostitute. And a prostitute is not allowed to visit anyone's home " I spoke in anger.

" Listen " he tried to speak but I cut him off.

" You listen to me this time. Don't come here, You are a good person I can't take it that society speaks wrong about you "

"Seriously, Does that society stop you when you are forced into prostitution, Does that society fill your stomach, does it stop you even now? The so-called society you said, is that stopped my father when he left me and my Mom. I am a toddler then " he was upset now.

"I am sorry "

"I know how this society is for a single mother, I saw how much my mom struggled in her life. Leave about it, I don't want to think about that past. society won't do anything other than point fingers at our lives. it is we humans, have to help each other. We need human affection and emotional support. You are my Friend and it is my wish to check on you and how you are, it is my wish to take care. My friendship won't change about the work you are doing, it is your personal and I respect it "

"What else I speak more " My tears poured without my senses.

" Don't cry " he wiped my tears.

He consoled me till the time I settled. Then he ordered food for me as I am not in the situation to cook.

" Lakshmi, can I ask one thing? "

" You don't need permission for that what is that? "

"What is the need of doing this unwillingly, You can do something else for a living right? " I smiled at his statement

" It is easy to think but reality is different. What else I could do? I'm an illiterate Ram. I don't know anything. Everyone knows me as a prostitute so no one will give me any work. I tried to search for a job but everywhere they asked me to satisfy them in return. Formerly I was a Home maid when I was 9, I am ready to work as a maid even now but I have to do the same work then but for a monthly salary "

"We will see better work for you. You are hurting yourself physically and mentally. Does it really need? " he suggested.

" Ram, please. How much I can earn with that? I am already broken, there is nothing more to happen. Many orphans are looking for my help. At least this charity gives me satisfaction of living. So let it be. And you stop thinking about me that's good for you " I said strictly.

"your wish" he agreed.

We chatted about random things, I was exhausted for sleep. He slept here for today.

I woke up in the middle of the night to see him sleeping in the living room. I settled on floor beside him to admire him.

I don't know when these feelings happened to me, I have this secret crush on Ram. If my life was not like this I might have proposed to Ram for sure, but now it is forever a secret to myself.

When I saw him first, I thought he came to me for that need just like all other men.

But he proved to me that all the men were not the same. It takes a lot of time for me to believe him but he is genuine in his friendship.

He stopped me from going to my work when I was on my periods. He gave me money for my food and needs in periods but he never crossed the line, he never looked at my bed.

That's where I fell for him. He is the person every girl dreamt of. What should I do? I'm also a girl but my fate was written otherwise. A lone tear dropped from my eye corner.

I sat there in front of him till 4 Am, then I retired to my room because I don't want to get caught by Ram.

I'm preparing breakfast, I felt a sudden pain in my abdomen. This is not new to me but it is happening very frequently these days. Now it is severe. It is literally a death feeling.

"what happened?" he tensed after seeing my condition.

"stomach pain" I said.

"you sit first " he helped me.

"periods? " he questioned.

"no "

"let's go to hospital "he suggested.

"no it will go after some time "

" it is not like that just listen me, let's go to hospital "

There doctors conducted every test available in their hospital.

"it is waste of money, nothing is there " I complained.

"you are not doctor to say this "

"they just give me pain killers nothing more than that"

" let's see," he said.

"it takes two days for your reports until then use these painkillers if you feel pain "

" I told you already, " I said to him.

" Let that report come, " he said.

****************

"Did you bring your report " he is in call

"Yeah I'm going there only"

"Send me the reports once after getting them"

"Ok, can you please end the call doctor is calling me" I ended the call and went to doctor.

"So what do you do?" the doctor asked.

"I'm... I'm a prostitute" I said difficulty

"It's fine" doctor sighed

"Where is the guy came along with you on that day" doctor asked Ram.

"He is at work, you can tell me I can understand"

"Just call him here we need to say this to him. Few things we won't share with patients directly"

"It's ok doctor you can tell me, I can take it whatever it is" but I'm afraid inside.

"It's cervical cancer, last stage. Need to start treatment immediately"

"But doctor, I can't afford treatment"

"Listen, it is last stage, if not treatment you will..." doctor stopped in middle.

"I will?" I asked to confirm her words

"See this is last stage there are less chances to save your life and it is very little time for you"

"How long doctor?" I asked

"Hardly one month"

"Ok, let me think and will come after arranging money" I left the hospital

My mind was blank, nothing going inside, I don't know where I'm going. I don't know how to react to this. I reached the temple nearby

I kneeled in front of God

" Finally, you heard me? "

" Liberating me from this clutch "

" Thank you" I joined my hands in front of God.