Non-erotic The Scarface I Hated by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

He asked me to take him to a doctor. But Imran won't go anywhere till Bhavani released the girl unconditionally. Bhavani finally agreed to Imran's demands. We got a doctor who stitched up Imran's face but the scar remained. Subsequently, Bhavani pleaded with Imran a number of times to accept a plastic surgery but Imran always refused. Imran told me that the scar was a reminder for him, to the path that he had taken and he never wished to forget his indiscretion. After this incident, Imran's mother left him. She was a strong lady and had tremendous faith in her son. She could not accept Imran's folly. He desperately appealed for her to reconsider but she just left. I too left Bhavani with Imran. He opened this workshop and with his extreme efforts brought it up. We all are owners there, except him. He distributes all the profit among us and keeps almost nothing for himself. Till date, Bhavani loves Imran dearly but has never dared to offer help."

I was mesmerised by this extraordinary story. But I decided to check further, "What happened to the girl?" I enquired.

Suresh had great difficulty in answering. He fidgeted but could not make himself speak.

Suddenly Sumitra came in and said, "Bhaavi. I am that girl. My parents refused to take me back. Had Imran not let me stay with him, I would have been dead by now."

I looked at her critically and then to Suresh and I said, "So that's it. Your great Imran is actually a mafia. And, our lives are governed by people whom others fear. Fine?"

I let it sink in and continued, "Suresh, Sumitra. There are things that I need to sort out with this man and I cannot do that with you two around. I need both of you to leave, now. Suresh, will your mother allow Sumitra to stay with her for two days?"

Suresh was dumbfounded but Sumitra was smarter. Like me, she too could feel the Rubicon that was emerging on the horizon needed to be breached. She said, "Bhaavi. Don't worry about me. What you want will be done. It is required. For each of us."

I had one more question for her. But my voice dried up, "Sumitra, you have been alone with him for five years. Did he ever not.......?" I could not complete. Sumitra looked at me serenely and replied, "Bhaavi, had he demanded, I would have done it with happiness." And after a pause she said looking pointedly at me, "He will never force you for anything if you say no."

I kissed Sumitra on her forehead. This girl was a messiah for me. Compared to her I had suffered nothing.

They left and I had one hour to me. One hour.

"I prefer to believe the opposite - that there is always an indestructible beauty at the heart of darkness." ― Mary Balogh, A Secret Affair

Chapter-9: The Scarface I Hated

One hour I had. The golden hour for me. I, Meherunissa needed to experiment with life. The decision had been made but implementation was terrifying. My life would change henceforth. That was sure.

I took a bath and adorned myself (for the first time) in the grand dress that Amaya had left in that box. It entwined my body as if it was waiting for me to embellish it. The sheer fabric of light green muslin showed nothing and hid nothing. I did my hair, my face, my lips and lastly my eyes. I wasn't good at it but today things fell into place and after 30 minutes when I looked myself in the mirror, Meherunissa stood in all her glory. Now, she could only wait. Filled with apprehension and trepidation.

The man appeared at the appointed time. He was seldom late and was surprised when the door was opened by someone other than Sumitra. In front of him stood a woman who hated him but he loved her. And in front of the woman stood a man with a hideous scar; a man with a miserable past; a man shunned by his own mother. He looked at me stunned and then mesmerized. He was simultaneously fascinated and awestruck and I looked at a man in overalls, ghastly in his scar.