एक उम्मीद

    It was a quiet evening. The roads were deserted. No lights in the houses. Reshma knew it wasn’t safe to be out so late but her work mandated the stealth that only the night could provide. She walked to the place decided upon and waited. Any minute now. She’d broached the idea to her friend. He thought it was a bit too extreme but helped her anyway. She looked at her watch. It was time. She pulled out a package. Placed it down. Then pulled out a gun and aimed.

    Chickoo liked to look at the empty road from her bedroom window every night before bed. It looked like a giant worm with streetlights for eyes. Tonight the road wasn’t empty. She could see someone, a girl, walking on it.  She went and stood near a lamp post under her house. The light illuminated Reshma didi’s face. She waved but didi didn’t see her; she was busy removing something shiny from her purse. Chickoo wasn’t sure what she saw next. She wasn’t sure if she should’ve woken up ma. So she just went to sleep.

    Suchitra hurried in the kitchen. She had woken up late. She still had to make Jaideep’s breakfast and wake Chickoo up for school. Reshma still hadn’t arrived with the eggs. She cursed the day she hired her. Never helped around the house but always audaciously asking for a raise. Suchitra just knew there was something shady about her but she couldn’t let her go. You try finding another maid in this dastardly city! Eggs! Damn!!  Suchitra picked up her purse and stepped out to get the eggs herself.

मेमसाब,

अब्बू की ज़मीन कर्जे में थी। अम्मी बीमार। खाने को कुछ नहीं था। मैं पेट से हूँ। साहब को मत बताना। वो दिन हम दोनों से गलती हो गयी थी। माफ़ी। सलीम से बन्दूक ली और अम्मी अब्बू को मुसीबत से निजाद दी। मुझे भी निजाद मिल जाएगी तो अच्छा लगेगा। आगे अल्लाह की मर्ज़ी। चीकू को मेरा प्यार देना। आपके अंडे देहलीज़ पर रखे हैं। एक दर्जन। छुट्टे पैसे अन्डो के नीचे हैं। खुदाहाफिज़।

 आपकी,

रेशमा 

    Suchitra read the letter five times after she looked at Reshma’s bloodied body. Five times before Chickoo woke up to her mother’s screams.