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.

Just in time, Ram called me

I attended this time

"Hello, what doctor say?"

" I told you already about what the doctor would say, there is nothing to worry they gave medicine for my pain"

"Are you sure?" He is not ready to believe

"Ram" I pretended to calm

"Ok ok can I come to you evening with your permission" he showed extreme sarcasm

"Haa come" I ended the call

Smiled to God, intently left my medical report there in the temple.

I'm happy. I have only one month. I have to live this month fully and happily. God, I'll go mad in happiness.

I walked in hurriedly, I fell aside with the dash from a scooty

Who is this in my happy mood

"Sorry, sorry I didn't see you" it's a girl

"It's fine" she helped me to get up

"Are you alright?" She is worried

"Yeah I'm fine"

"Akka it's blood" that girl screamed

I forgot myself with the word she called me.

"What you said?"

"Akka, I'm sorry for this she pointed at the blood on wrist"

"You called me Akka" I asked in amusement

"My home is nearby please come with me you can go after first aid"

"No no it's fine I'm okay don't worry about it, it's just little"

"What little akka, the blood going like a flow I'm not listening please come with me"

I agreed with her continuous pleading, but I feared what would happen at her home. What would they think of me?

" Akka, Akka " she took me into their room.

" I'm here Ashwini" someone came from the kitchen

" Akka, I dashed this akka mistakenly, and she has a bruise "

"Can't you see Ashwini? What will happen to the World if you drive this careless"

"Mam, it's okay, she is not at all mistaken it's me came in between "

"you please sit, Ashwini first aid " That little sister went inside.

" mam, no need of this please give me some water, that is enough for me I'll leave "

"Why such hurry, please sit " she pushed me into a chair.

" it's not good for you if I stay here longer "

" Are you a terrorist by chance? " I opened my mouth wide for Ashwini's statement.

"Ashwini, " she suppressed her laugh with her elder sister's command.

" I'll leave " I stood after having water

" Why are you so scared? We don't do anything other than first aid, you can trust us "

" mam, she is a little girl and don't understand but you are elder don't you understand who I am? "

"no, tell me who you are? " these two girls are getting on my nerves.

"I'm a prostitute "

"What? " disbelief was evident in their faces.

"Yeah, can I go now? " I tried to walk out.

" please wait " that little girl stopped me.

"hmm," they looked at each other understandingly.

"come " they make me sit again.

That elder sister Doing first-aid without my permission.

She smiled at me.

"what? Does it hurts you any less if you are a prostitute " I can't believe what I heard.

Is it true, she is still nice to me?

first time I'd felt a soothing human touch. My eyes welled without my permission.

" it's done " they treated my wound.

"Hey don't cry, it will be fine, first of all, I am sorry on behalf of my sister "

" That's nothing in front of the pain I have, " I smiled.

"Well, I'm Rukmini and she is my sister Ashwini. May I know your good name please?"

" Mahalakshmi, " I said.

"Coffee for us" Ashwini came out nowhere.

We talked, smiled, laughed exchanged contact, I laughed heartfully after many years.

"Ok Mam I'll leave now," I said.

"Haa, can We be friends? " I asked hesitantly.

"Why, are you not feeling us as Friends Yet? " Rukmini sister crossed her arms.

"Sorry akka, I don't mean.. " I stopped.

Wait, what I call her AKKA?

"Sorry, Sorry Mam I just forgot to.."

"Wait, wait calm down. Why are you scaring for everything? Call me like that only "

"Akka, Don't you mind? "

"What will I mind? Stupid girl" She tapped my head.

"Thank you so much, it is so mean to me" I hugged her.

"Ashwini will drop you "

"No, akka Please It will be a problematic for her if anyone sees her with me "

"Offo, no problem at all Akka. you come " we reached my place

"Akka, Who is he? " Ashwini whispered to me about Ram.

"He is my Friend What happened? "

"Nothing he is cute " Ashwini left without giving time to say anything.

Crazy girl.

"Who is that dropping you here? " He asked the same.

"Why you are also feeling she is cute " I smiled.

"Are you real, What happened to you? " he was shocked.

"What happened? "I asked back

"You are genuinely smiling. And you are conversing and roaming with others. What magic happened in a day? "

"Yeah, a lot happened. They are my new friends"

"Ohh, Forgot this old friend after getting new friends " he is irritating

"Yes, they were very sweet to me " I'm enjoying his annoyance.

"They become more than me now " he became possessive now.

We conversed for some time after that he left for his home. I talked with my new sisters but sleep was far from me, I don't need to do this work anymore that's what made me happy top of all.

I checked the money I have, this money is enough for my monthly expenses but what about the orphanage?

Hmm, I have to do this some more times. It's fine for kids but the doctor strictly said not to do this anymore, it will make my condition worse.

I can cut my expenses for them that is the best idea but I won't go for this work anymore.

Ram will feel happy if he knows I'm quitting this work.

"Ram, I'm quitting this work" I chirped.

"Are you for real? Giving me shocks everyday"

"Don't you feel happy?"

"Damn, this is the best decision, I support. what's your plan then?" he excited

" nothing yet, I need a break for one month, later I'll think about it "

"In that case I'll find a best job for you"

"Ok" I agreed.

It's weekend I came to my new sisters for lunch it is almost evening.

" God, this was the best time in my whole life. Thank you akka " I leaned on her shoulder and a tear rolled down my eye.

"Lakshmi, you are a very nice girl but why are you into this? I mean don't you have a family? " Rukmini akka asked me.

" That's a long story akka " My mind goes back to the days where It started.

"You can share your pain with your Akka. If you are comfortable" she squeezed my palm.

"My mom expired when I was 4 or 5. I cried for weeks. One day when I woke up I found myself in a new place surrounded by new kids of various ages. There is an older person, he said my father left me in that orphanage. After some days I accepted that life along with friends in orphanage. At the age of 9 that great man my father sold me to someone they used me as their Home maid. After I turned into adolescence they threw me out of their home. I was on roads with hunger. Many people take my situation as an advantage used me to satisfy their lust in return of feeding me. At that time I don't know what it was, It is hell painful. Sometimes clothes were stuffed in my mouth. Some abused me, tortured me, harmed me with blades, and beat me up as they wished. In this process, I don't know when I turned into a prostitute. It is my hunger wins over my broken soul, and this tarnished body. " I cried.

" Not a single day, I slept with peace. I always cursed that day, my father took me out of orphanage. I might be happier as an orphan than a prostitute " Akka hold me tight.

"cry," Akka said.

"cry till the time your pain goes away completely, cry it out you need it "

I cried more, in her lap

I was calmed after a great crying session.

"Lakshmi, Why don't you try to do something else "

" my fate won't change if I change my work now. And what is there to do, these men will exploit me even then. I know nothing to do, I'm not educated too"

" Where there is a will there's a way. It is not always education. We need a skill to survive " she caresses my hair.

"Means" I doubted.

"means you can be a make-up artist or mehandi artist for weddings. There are many beauty studios teaching it and making them professionals. You know, nowadays make-up artists earn at least 40k for one event. And you don't need to work under anyone. You can do it as a freelancer just like how you are doing it now. if you have problem with the people in this place, change the place and start a new life" I cried more after her brief suggestion.

" What happened, why are you crying now? "

"Who are you both? Why are you thinking this much for a prostitute?"

"Humans, isn't enough to feel others' situation. " Ashwini said this time.

"You are not doing it with your interest, it is your situation and you don't deserve such a pathetic life Akka. Please think about it, "Ashwini pleaded me.

"I wish I would have met you 5 years back" I smiled at them.

"And what happened now? " they said.

" Nothing Akka, yes I'll think about it " I lied to them.

"Can I sleep in your lap?" I asked

She nodded with smile.

This is the time I slept peacefully after my mom's demise.

********

Now my life is at peace. But one thing is hunting me much that is Ram.

Want to express my feelings to Ram, don't know how he will take it. What if he hates me after that. what is there to happen, after few days I'll go die anyway that's why I want to take this step now but it is not that easy.

"Ram" I called him.

"Yes, " he replied.

"i wanted to tell you something"

"Tell me"

It's not easy to spell these feelings, I'm hearing my heartbeat clearly

" what happened? Why are you tensing this much ?" he shook me.

" Ram, I like you " I blurted out.

" yes, I like you too. Why are you tensing for that "

" Not that liking, it's more than that "

" means" he is sceptical.

" Ram I love you " he shocked

" I don't know how you will take it but I wanted to express it. Don't know how this happened to me. I have feelings for you, I decided to hide my feelings within me because I'm a prostitute but don't know, now I feel like sharing it with you " I said holding my thumping heartbeat.

It passed a few 2 minutes what I Heard was just silence and my heartbeat. I think I committed a mistake. He is Nice and kind-hearted but Indeed I'm a prostitute, and a prostitute doesn't deserve to be loved back. It won't change if I stop doing this work.

"Don't take it personal Ram, It's Fine if you are not ok with this " I said to normal the situation

" And How can You decide that I'm not okay with it? " My dead heart bloomed again with his words.

" You mean " I looked at him.

The every step he walked toward me, my heartbeat went insane.

He held my palm " If you say this a long back, we were happy together like anything. Why did you hide it from me? " I can't be happier like this anymore.

"True? " I gulped my tears.

He nodded yes looking into my eyes. I will die here in happiness.

I cried hugging him tight, there are no words to say anymore.

We chatted about many things that night. I really don't know, just sitting beside him  holding his hand have this much effect on my soul. The hurt and pain of all these years just fade away in a blink.

The next day I'm cooking for us " What is for breakfast? " I just jerked with his sudden presence behind me.

"Uff, You scared me " I calmed my heartbeat.

"Your favorite breakfast "

"Oh, You know my favorites? " what should I say to him?

I know every detail about him.

I smiled nodding yes.

" Are you blushing? " he teased.

God He will kill me for sure.

I went inside my room not saying anything to him. I don't know even i can blush like this.

" Mam, Can you please come out, I have to go " He called from living room.

We had food.

"I'll be back tomorrow, bye " he went.

********

"For me? " I surprised by his gift.

He gave me a saree.

" Shall we go out, Are you comfortable to come with me now?" he is still asking my permission.

"Hmm, yes " I said.

"But where are we going? " I asked.

"Your wish take me where you wanted to go? " he gave me full rights.

I wore the saree he presented, firstly we visited the temple. then we spent the day with orphanage kids, maybe this is the last time I'm coming here. In the evening we had dinner outside. Whatever I did These people's disgusting looks won't change on me. I don't care about it now but it is his respect in society I need to worry about.

At night we reached home exhaustingly.

"Ram " I called him when he is about to sleep

He looked ahead from his mobile screen.

I thought it for a second then replied "Nothing, Good night " I said and went back to my room.

God, what happened to me? No no I shouldn't ask this. Where I lost my mind, what of he take it bad.

In the next minute, he is in my room for the first time, came and sat next to me.

"This is what you wanted to ask and stopped with hesitation Am I Right? " he said.

I was shocked and saw him in disbelief.

" Hello, I am asking you only " he snapped in front of me.

I nodded in tension " Can I sleep in your Lap? " I asked him, with hope he won't say no.

He agreed with a smile "Ram, what do you think of me? " '

"I didn't get what you mean?"

"I mean, What do you think about me am I good or not "

"You are such a sweet and innocent but sometimes Rowdy Girl " He laughed at my pouty face.

Days passed like this, My bond with Ram became beautiful, it gave me hope to live more days but my fate was planned something else.

" Ram, What will you do if I die? " I asked sleeping on his chest.

" Just stop talking about unnecessary things. Why this nonsense now? " he got angry

" Just tell me " I demanded.

" What you want me to do, should I turn this home into Mahalakshmi Mahal? " I laughed at his words.

"Will you?" I asked more teasingly.

"Can't believe this, seriously " he shocked.

" Don't try such things. If I die like that just move on with your life, marry a girl who is for you? "

"Hmm, What you will do If I die? " I got angry this time.

"Can you just shut up? Nothing will happen to you, " I cried hugging him.

"I feel the same when you speak such words, got it " he wiped my tears.

"Sorry," I said.

"Don't say such words again " he said.

" Thank you," I said.

" For Why? " he asked.

" For Everything, For Coming into my Life, For being my support, For wiping my tears. For makes me laugh when I was low. Most importantly Thanks for Loving this prostitute unconditionally "

"You are not a prostitute anymore, we have a better future, don't think about that past. I'll take care of everything" I smiled at his future planning.

I won't mind dying now like this in his arms, with this happiness.

*******

Ram pov

When I woke up, she is still sleeping. I made her favourite coffee.

Went to wake her, she is still sleeping.

"Lakshmi, what happened to you today? Wake up " I pulled her but no response in her body.

"enough of sleep, just get up " I tried but no response came in return.

I touched her face it is cold, her complete body feels cold. I chanted to myself, it shouldn't be true, it's not true.

It takes time for me to believe she is no more.

I cried hugging her body. How is it possible? She was fine and happy last night.

But there is nothing to do now.

I just did the remaining deeds hopelessly.

A week passed, I'm still feeling like she is with me, her smile, her care everything I feel real.

I found her mobile in her belongings.

I went through it, there I found a video.

It's she.

Ram,

I know, one day you will see this video but I'm not with you at that time. I know this Ram, a month ago. it's cancer and Doctor said I have only one month left for me. Sorry Ram, I am going without saying to you. But I can't do anything. I'm not regretting anything Ram. I lived this month as I wished I'm going in happiness leaving you in sadness. Life is too short but you made it beautiful for me. In this life, I can't give you anything. So don't think of me anymore.

If I have 1% chance I'll reach you in my next life. But not as a Prostitute

Love you

I played that video multiple times to see her but my tears made it difficult for me.

If I have that 1% chance I want to rewrite our Life as a beautiful fairytale.

Miss you

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

Story dedicated to all the women who are struggling to survive and sacrificing their lives in that process.

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See you again guys

With love author ♥️