FF: Maan&Geet: 120, Chandini's Rooftop - CLOSED

"Hai Babaji...aaj tho sirf do hi baite hua hain...kya karen?" squealed Pinky.  She was irked that Pinky had used Babaji's name in vain and so came around to whack her by the shoulder. "Babaji ki bacchi...kitni baar kehna hain tumhe...aisa vunka naam liya mat karo..."

Prostitute by profession at Chandini's Rooftop, she had clear rules around her life and the one that topped it all was that her Babaji's name was not to be used for all that was not pious, indeed there was nothing pious about that place. Chandini was discreet about her list; she didn't advocate prostitution to married men and for that she didn't like to take any shit. No kidding for Chandramma/Shasha who ran that place had engaged Chandini in one too many fruitless conversations for her to change her one decree that could bring in thousands if not tens of thousands any given day. 

Her regulars ranged from Mafia goons to air pilots that didn't mind taking a break from their rigorous flight schedule. The koti itself was not a regular one that you would expect for all the liquor was served at the rooftop and that is where the women of the house were on display too. Chandini's room was right below the rooftop and the biggest one in the building for the whole structure ran for another three floors down. Each lady of the house had their own room where they lived and provided services, for privacy was a pressing concern for all those who visited the rooftop. It was an inside joke that privacy was not the deal of the hour until they showed up at the door, for they didn't mind showing their faces loitering those streets in the very light of day, but the moment they entered the room, it had to be private all right.

Chandini didn't have to grace the rooftop every night for she was reserve quality. Her show was guaranteed only on Friday and Saturday from 7.00 PM to 3.00 AM in the night and her routine was to fill the glasses for all the barflys that showed up close to her diwan which was her usual spot. One could get liquor served by other women too, but it was not the same as she did, for she was queen bee of the lot and would cost the man an arm and leg for anything more than a drink.

There were two that day for all the other married debauchees had moved around to the other women that sheltered all that walked in.

"Tum ab kamre main jao...ab bahar rehke bahuth dek liya" she directed at pinky and the 15 year old ran directly to Chandini's room.  Pinky was the only family left for Chandini at the god forsaken place and she was determined to get her out of this very debauchery even if she was to pay the price with her own life. This did not mean that she was dispirited; for she indulged in many arts that amused her in all the free time she had over the week. She had trained herself in singing, dancing, the arts and she had the gift of the tongue too for she spoke 7 languages fluently including English. There were no villainous minds at play here and the only thing that stopped Chandini from sending Pinky away was fear, fear that she would not make it in the outside world.

Her eyes now glinted at Dev's arrival, one of her regulars and usually had her to himself for most days of the week. "Aaiye Dev...boliye aaj ka sham kya lenge aap?" she asked him in an alluring tone.

Dev was a tall well-built muscular bachelor who worked for one of Delhi's hot heads. He was about 6 feet tall, or perhaps even taller, had thick satin hair and looked too fine to belong to Delhi's Land and building mafia. He wore wire frame glasses and always dressed in semi casuals to look the part of a regular employee at Khurana constructions. "Wahi...jo hum hamesha lete hain...jin...apni pyaari haton se pila de bas...wahi kafi hain hamare liye..." said Dev, more than content to have been seated by her side now.

Clad in a white anarkali suit, bordered with a silver zari, the white sheen from her clothing made her seem to have descended from the gods itself, but not to ignore the irony of it, she was in an impious place, practicing all acts of blasphemy.  "Lijiye Dev..." she reached out to him with the glass and as she bent down strands of Jasmine came to fall by her ears, which made her dupatta slide down her silky hair. Her hand reached out to the piece of cloth in time and held it in place a few inches behind her crescent forehead.

It was a grand sight for him as she moved in small delicate movements and that was exactly what he paid her for. Unable to let go of her hand as his mind played the last few minutes of her in his head, he took her arm by her wrist and kissed per porcelain skin as he lay there in the day bed that was placed right next to her seat. To her, it was an act of a child, for she was a mere doll in their hands, discarded for another once they outgrew her, at least that is how she dealt with life at such times.

"Suno Chandini...mujhe tumse kuch baat karna hain...andar chalein..." he nodded to point sideways, far away from the drunken crowd. She moved first and then he followed to sit down by the stairs that led to a water tank. "Boliye...ab aise bhi kya baat hain...jo aap hamse akhele main karna chahte hain.." she questioned him without any idea of the one exception that was going to walk her way. He gulped down some amount of liquor from the glass, wanting to prepare for the night that was to come, he continued. "Ek kaam hai...aasan nahin hain...tumhe yahan pe kisi ko chupa ke rakna padega...back up plan hi tho hain...lagta hain tumhara madad zaroorath bhi nahin padega...lekin pehle patha karna chahta tha ki tum kar pavogi ki nahin..." He completed the whole stretch to look up to her and she was no way surprised by what he had just asked her for. "Paisa dene padega...mere saath rehne ke liye...mufth main yahan pe kuch nahin milta hain Dev...haan kisi ko patha naa chalein?...voh kaam tho hum mufth mein kar sak the hain... " she giggled as she agreed to the favor, but Dev had more to ask of her. "Lekin...kisi ko bhi pata nahi chalna chaiye..chadramma ko bhi nahin..." and to this demand from dev she was apprehensive.

Just about nothing came before the dues they had to pay to the Basu's every week and having a stranger in her room meant no danda and that translated to danger to pinky.  Secondly keeping Shasha in the dark was not something she could afford to do, for it was only second to impossible. Not particularly evil, but Shasha had her own terms too that no one wanted to violate, if any of the chandini's of the koti wanted to continue staying there. She was no charmer, but still had her straight looks that would bring around a cat asking for her occasionally. A stunted woman, only 5 foot from the ground, with round masculine shoulders, and having absolutely nothing slender about her figure, she was more fit for spying and bookkeeping for the Basu's around the rooftop, more than anything else that happened there. "Arey saab...umar ko goli mariye...agar jawani hai to dewane hain..." was her typical answer when questioned about her age and that turned off many a man, which she was still ignorant of.

"Nahin Dev. Hamse nahin hoga...aap koi doosri jage dek lijiye ga..." Chandini pouted to bowl him over without much talk and no doubt she was successful at that. 

After having spent an hour or two at the rooftop, Dev went back to let MK know about the change in plans. "Bro, rooftop nahin chalega...woh tho outright mana kar di" Dev called out to Maan as he stood there in front of the mirror gearing himself with an Armani shirt. His debonair looks, well kempt stubble to show maturity, taut structure and an athletic build, would keep people guessing his profession if he was to walk by unannounced that he was the lead player in Delhi's land and building mafia. Perhaps a little shorter than Dev, but quite tall not to let down his demeanor, he stood at 5 feet and 11 inches from the ground, with lush black hair and fine features that complemented everything about him. One had to call particular attention to his eyes as they would face him, for he spoke through them, large brown hazel eyes with golden flecks that moved all life that lived in the mansion. 

MK to everyone and Bro to Dev, he had no one he held dear at his mansion. In short there was no queen in his game of chess, only knights, pawns and soldiers at his disposal, for loved ones were assets that only weakened his position with the opponent he played. His games had rules that he dictated and so no, he didn't need the queen for a checkmate.

"Teek hain baad main baat karte hain...lekin aaj ka plan zaari rakna" MK spoke in a stern voice and there was no one to stop him from meeting Anurag Basu that day. It had to end that night and they wanted clear lines to map where Basu's drugs and brothels ended and where MK began.

MK's grey Mercedes raced the streets to get to Basu's abode, only 40 mts from his mansion and to the underworld it was more than enough time to catch their opponents off-guard. MK had already anticipated the hit on his way to their home, even before the talks could take place, for the Basu's had sheer hatred for his clean ways of handling business even in their dirty world. The Merc was the hit and MK had clearly insisted on getting into it, even at the cost of his own life. 15 mts well on their way, there was a loud noise that brought the ambassador to a screeching halt, causing MK's Mercedes to bang right into it's rear. 

The car had already taken a hit from basu's men; the usual swines they were, they had waited in the alley for him to use a launcher while he was on the move. MK's men were calm and collected, only panicking to move him faster, for this was indeed a predictable move from Basu's side. Dev and the two men from the other car carried the wounded victims from the battered Mercedes and drove with no time to lose. His shoulders were hit, possibly had a broken rib with blood all over his chest and hands, not giving a clear picture of the impact he had taken and that caused Dev to curse himself for not taking MK's spot. Such was the devotion Dev had for him, for MK had been his guide and mentor from the time he had entered this ruthless life, given that MK was a rookie himself.

Prior to moving onto the next cover, a jeep waiting a couple of streets away from the accident scene, Dev was now contemplating to move MK to the second best hideout they had planned, Daadima's apartment far out in the suburbs. But he needed care and attention fast, right before he could be moved out of the city mains and that caused Dev to deflect from their plan. "Pandey, gaadi gumao...hum rooftop jaa rahe hain" Dev announced while doubt and fear still clung around his neck. Swiftly moving MK to the jeep, Dev concurrently dialed their usual doctor. Still upset over the blood that gushed out MK's wounds, he boarded in the front for them to move ahead without delay. 

Back at the rooftop, Chandini's usual Friday night 10.15 was there. Stark naked with a thin sheet to cover her essentials, her customer had mistaken her for a woman etched out of white marble, which only her shallow breathing proved her to be human. Fairly tall for koti women, she had beautiful jet-black hair that came up to her waist, brown hazel eyes ready to bring down all men to her feet, and curved hips that drew attention from any corner of the room; she was feminine in everything she said, did and breathed. As they were about to get on with their not so priggish act, that was to go deep into the night, a loud knock at the door caused her to jump off the bed and move fast towards the door. Her mind only imagined danger to Pinky with the banging sound as the rascals that haunted rooftop had an eye out for her too.

It was a ghastly sight she had not expected, for Dev was there with two middle aged men who carried into her room this fine young man, who was very much unconscious now, covered with gory blood. Only wrapped in the sheet she had on her bed, she turned away with a pained look only for this man whom she had laid eyes on not a moment before. This was new and she had not felt this before for another soul that visited the place. She knew she had denied help in any form to Dev and his men, but now questioned her very decision as she sensed the pull to have him shelter here. More than happy to get rid of her 10.15, she yelled to get her customer away from the bed. "Ab aapka jaana hi behtar hain, samjhe na...".

She quickly pulled a robe from her closet and went behind the long drapes that separated the bed from another part of the room to change and get a stove running. She felt she needed a way to sanitize the cloth before she could get it to his body and the reason why she would take such care to do so, escaped her mind. Chandini was being moved by another force, which she dared to question for she felt its presence too. Dev got up from MK's side and walked close to her, to explain the change of plans and to apologize when to his surprise, she looked up and brushed off his explanation "Koi baat nahin...main dek baal kar sakti hoon..." assuring him still with a nervous look on her face. Dev questioned her intentions for the sudden change in air, but had known her too long a time to give in to his dubious self.

"Chandini...kisi ko pata nahin chalna chaiye...haame yahan se ab nikhal na hain...aur doctor abhi aate hi honge...hum 30 mts ke baad tumhe phone karte hain..." he spoke in a clear tone for there were instructions to her and left at the same pace he had entered.

Not knowing if she should wait for the doctor to come clean up the wounds, she took the hot water and a clean piece of cloth over to the other side of the room, to sit next to him. He was no longer unconscious and was now wincing in pain as he moved his arms and legs in small movements, causing her to panic. She pushed back his shirt on his chest and attempted to slide the hot towel, to soak the blood that had stained his skin a deep red. 

As she moved her hand to wipe the wound on his forehead, a strong hold came to clutch her wrist and she heard him for the first time, that same instant. "Yeh kya kar rahi ho...Aah!" he asked in a deep voice, filled with pain that spoke directly to her. She froze momentarily for she had to comprehend what he was asking for. His question was clear yet her mind foggy, unable to discern what he had just said and she repeated it mentally for her to grasp his remark. Chandini realized she was not her usual self that moment and something had changed for she couldn't help take her gaze off him as she continued to struggle in his hold. She released her hand from his clutch and pulled his arm aside to continue with her current task and demanded that he remain silent. "Aap chup ho jaiye...main wahin kar rahi hoon...jo mujhe kar na chaiye..." she spoke as she unbuttoned his shirt to get a view of the bruises and the swelling around his lower ribs.

"You need a doctor..."she cried out. She was unsure how he was going to survive without constant medical care. "Tumhe English bhi aata hain?" he chuckled and instantly yelled in pain for it had made him move his upper body that had taken a blow from the collision.

"Aapko ab bhi Mazak sooj raha hain...chup...bilkul chup" she commanded and pleaded, for strange it may seem, a tear drop ran down the corner of her eye to land of his cheek. The cool touch of the droplet, made Maan open his eyes to her, to glimpse at this women who had no link to him whatsoever and yet whom did his wounded body move. Realizing he was now wide awake, she ran to grab one of her dupatta and covered her face, only to reveal her eyes, that glowed like soft coals for this man who was a stranger to her in everyway, but gave her the feeling of a long lost love who had returned to save her from the wretched place she now lived.

Chandini inched in to get to his wounds on his back and slowly turned him to clear the same. It was a bad idea for she had caused his broken rib to shift and now he gave out a much louder scream asking her to stop. "Bas karo...tum....tumhara...naam kya hain..." he stuttered in pain as he pulled back her hand towards him as she was hauling it away hearing him scream. "Ji...mera naam Geet hain..." she announced, frozen in shock for she had never heard her speak out her name before in that building.

It was indeed a strange night that called for day's light to make sense of all that was happening at her room, at the rooftop, and she waited...

Fingers crossed....waiting...not different from the promo, but definitely gives you tad bit more than that. Hoping to hear from all of you soon....NY Times gang...you will get your usual PM.