In the rail compartment, there were only a few hawkers with fish, vegetables, and small bags.
She put his basket on the carriage and sat near the window.
With a cold blow of air, his brain calmed down. The shining lights in the darkness were tired burning throughout the night. Slowly the sunlight was spreading over the city. The city was awakening. Slowly it was catching up speed.
Kausalabai went to sell vegetables in Bandra west; Ajay went to the slum near the railway station near Bandra East. He hires a room with the help of a friend.
Mumbai's slum is not as shown in Raj Kapoor's film 'Awara'. It's now a good colony.
The thing is that rich people create slums in Mumbai. Builders help to create slums on unclaimed land. Then they set fire to it, and take a project for developers to earn in multi-millions.
Politicians also help such colonies, because they get a vote bank.
Apart from these, the middle-class manufacturers help such colonies as they get electricity, water-free with cheap labour.
Domestic industries started to employ residents. The products were then re-branded and sold in the market.
In the era of Eighty and Ninety, this type of cottage industry was developed in the Vikroli and Ghatkopar areas of Mumbai by a reputed company. Which causes a very big slum!
These houses are solid and equipped with every comfort. Only this is a densely populated area.
Kaushalya Bai's family were arranged in such a house. At that time twelve hundred families were coming to Mumbai every day.
North Indian, Gujarati, Rajasthani, and Punjabi families were coming in search of livelihood in Mumbai.
The Khalistani political instability in Punjab, the shortage of water in Rajasthan, the lack of basic infrastructure in M.P., U.P. Bihar (states of north India) was forcing people to move to Mumbai. The Gujarati families were looking at business opportunities due to globalization in Mumbai.
The ability to feed everyone is the ability of a mother called 'Mumbai.'
Around ten o'clock Ajay bought a dress for Rajani from Dadar's footpath. Pavement things are good. Do not underestimate it by the name of the 'Footpath'. In Mumbai, this is an industry of billions.
There is a reason behind the low cost of footpath items. Because they lived in slums without taxes, without electricity bills and sold without a showroom.
Many showrooms keep those footpath items. Those customers who think purchasing anything from the pavement is below dignity buy the same item from the showroom at four times more price. 'Actually, both the items are the same'.
However, while purchasing on a footpath one must have bargaining skills. Here two hundred rupees item told as seven hundred at first glance.
However, Rajani got a bath and changed clothes by paying seven rupees in 'Sulabh Shauchalay' (Pay and use Toilets and bathrooms in India in the nineties) near the railway station.
Ajay was still having the image of a beggar-looking girl in his mind. Suddenly, he was unable to believe his eyes by looking beauty of Rajani, for two minutes.
After many years he was coming to Motilal's office. After years, he was supposed to meet Shobha. However, today he wants to meet Shobha for a good cause. He did not want anything for himself. Today he was trying to help a destitute girl.
The lanes were the same, only the faces were changed. Very soon, they found themselves in the office.
Peon recognized him, however, prevented him from going inside. Ajay asked to write about the purpose of the visit.
Rajani fills up the slip. Rajani and Ajay were waiting in the reception.
After a while, they were allowed to get inside. Shobha was waiting for him in the fourth cabin.
The 'air-conditioned' air in the cabin was very cold. Shobha looked gorgeous in a stylish expensive saree. After becoming a mother, her weight was increased. The face has taken a round shape.
Heavy bracelets in hand and four rings in her fingers were showing a glimpse of her richness.
The yellow sleeveless blouse and sari of the same colour were highlighting her blonde skin complexion brighter.
She has a stylish haircut up to the neck. Last month when he went to Singapore with Seth Motilal, she applied special treatment to hair and nails.
She was a perfect example of a rich woman. There were many clients in the office. The staff doubled.
A familiar fragrance welcomed him as he entered her cabin. The interior of the cabin was very attractive. Own picture with the son was placed on the table.
Ajay entered the cabin and the spring-operated glass door was closing up. Pushing the door again, Rajani entered.
Ajay sat in the front chair and gave a hand sign to Rajani, "Please sit here Rajani."
Shobha thought Ajay would be alone, However, after seeing Rajani she was upset. Inside she was angry also.
With an artificial smile, she welcomed both. She asked about the girl. if she is the wife? When did they get married...
Ajay smiled, and said, "Shobha, I never asked anything from you However, this poor girl needs a job. Please offer her any job. I will be highly obliged. She met me yesterday only.
Shobha was playing wither a gold chain in the neck with fingers. She was looking at Rajani in detail.
Ajay was looking at Shobha's face. A deep silence shadowed me.
Ajay asked Shobha, "How is your Mother? How is her lunch home going?"
In reply, she said nothing. However, pressed the bell. Peon came. She instructed, "From today onwards this madam will work in this office. Take an appointment letter from Motilalaji.
Ask him what work to allow her. Remember; do not disturb me for the next half an hour. Do not send anyone inside my cabin ".
Rajani was very happy. With the words 'Thank you, Madam, Thank You', went away with Peon. Shobha arose from the chair to take water and sat where Rajani was seated.
She held Ajay's hand put it on her chest and asked, "Ajay, I want to hear from you… you still love me! You cannot live without me… I was yours, Ajay, forever.
Do you remember how much you loved me? We will restart everything. I was always yours".
Ajay pulled the hand back and said, "Now you are married, you are a mother, your name is Mrs. Motilal, now you are not the office clerk, you are the business owner."
Stalked Shobha tried to hug him in a chair. Due to the excitement, she was breathing fast. The chest was moving up and down. She was trying to kiss him. Ajay smelled the next episode. He got up from the chair to go.
As soon as Ajay got up, Shobha grabbed him in her arms from behind and caught him tightly, pressing her breast on him. Then came forward and hugged Ajay from the front. Ajay was not ready for aggression from Shobha like this. There was a knock on the door.
The next moment within a second Shobha sat in her chair. Asked, "Who is this?" The voice was, "This is Rajani ma'm". Ajay was still standing up, he unlocked and opened the door.
Rajani entered with a paper, "Madam, Sar immediately gave an appointment letter. Thanks a lot." Shobha throws a meaningful look at Rajani and asks, "Sir take an interview or not?".
Rajani replied, "No. He was looking at me for a while. By then, Peon gave him your message, then he asked steno to type an appointment letter. Thank You, Madam".
Shobha whispered to herself, 'This Motilal will never improve'.
Shobha asked Ajay, "What are you doing nowadays?"
Ajay started talking about the hotel business.
Every man likes to talk about his work. Shobha was not interested in it. She stopped him and asked, "When will you meet again?"
Ajay said, "Thank you for Rajani's work, she will come every day. I am not sure about myself I am too busy." Shobha, not paying attention to Rajani's presence, looked into Ajay's eyes and said, "Come home, my husband is going to Dubai for two weeks".
Ajay quickly moved his eyes, and exclaimed to Rajani, "Let's go."
They reached the railway station, without any words. They only moved fast through Dadar's crawling footpath crowd.
Rajani was delighted by the job she was not interested in Ajay nor in his relationship with Shobha. A new dawn of her life was calling her...
Slowly, the friendship of Rajani and Ajay began to grow.
Ajay had many favours, so he may visit Kaushalyabai's home at any time. Ajay never takes advantage of it.
Now at every corner of the city, there were PCO booths. A red coin box telephone was also at Ajay's restaurant. So he used to talk with Rajani if needed.
Rajani had a command of the English language. She was the lady of substance. Her presentation was also better than Shobha's.
It was just five months and Motilal prepared Rajani's passport. He was insisting her to join him for a conference in London. Due to little prosperity and good eating, Rajani was looking very charming and beautiful.
Shobha reveals the secret behind Rajani's passport that her husband is willing for her. Then she created a ruckus. Shobha called Rajani in her cabin.
As soon as Rajani came into the cabin, Shobha slapped her with a flutter. Exhaustive hot words were by Shobha for an hour. Rajani was crying like anything.
The entire staff was watching it. Rajani did not understand, what was going on. She thought that Shobha might be upset at the overseas planning of Motilal.
However, the secret was different. Shobha was repeatedly asking her about Ajay's relationship with her. Rajani repeated her words 'he is my furore. He is my mentor. Nothing more than that.'
Shobha was unable to believe it. She was sure that Rajani had snatched Ajay from her. Shobha's plan behind offering a job to Rajani was that she could have an extramarital affair with Ajay. However, that did not happen.
Humiliated Rajani left the office for a day. She reached Ajay's hotel in the afternoon. Ajay was shocked to see her.
He smelled Shobha must have misbehaved with Rajani. Crumbled Rajani sat in front of Ajay. The same quote, "She not only slapped on my face, however, also on my bread and butter. What will happen to my family?"
Ajay took five coins of one rupee in his hand, inserted a single coin in a slot, and pressed the number.
Shobha picked up the phone from the other end, "Ajay speaking". Shobha shouted, 'Why are you calling, for the sake of Rajani?' It was so loud that even Rajani heard it. Ajay was only listening and Shobha was shouting from there. Ajay had only five coins in his hand.
With toon, toot, toon signal… phone cut. Ajay put the receiver and looked somewhere far away.
He smiled at Rajani, and said, "Let's celebrate your job loss. We, Will, go to Maratha Mandir Theatre (local theatre name) to watch 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (smash hit Bollywood movie of the nineties.)" Rajani was numb. In a short while, both were in a stately theatre called Maratha Mandir at Mumbai Central.
It was half past seven to reach home. Mother was worried about Rajani. As soon as she came home, Mother served a hot cup of tea.
Without speaking a single word, she swallowed tea. Her body got some energy. She began to feel slightly fresh. Slowly she quotes, "Mother I have to find another job, I am fired".
Mother got fainted at her words. It just took five months. Life's cart was coming on the track. The household expense is managed somehow by this. The loan taken for the utensils and household items was yet to be paid... that night no one took food.
(...What happened next?...)