The ART Of Seduction (Applied)
A Play Of Hearts
Arang
XYZ Publication.
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Characters :
1. Penny (lead) – Played By X (Female Lead)
2. Parv Maheshwari – Played By Y (Male Lead)
3. Nisa – Played By X and Z (Female Lead / Supporting)
4. Naira – Played By A (Supporting)
5. Other Supporting Characters : Tina . Jatin . Gaurav. Niharika.
Plot
This novel is based on the theory of seduction by Robert Greene in his book 'The art of Seduction'. Penny is an orphan girl working as a waitress in restaurants and bars to meet her ends. However, she is discontent with her life that allows her to barely survive; she has no one beside her to call a family. One day, she gets in her hand, a book named 'The art of seducers'. She gets heavily influenced by the contents of the book and tries to practice it in her own tasteless life.
She sees a dynamic opportunity when while working in a restaurant, Nisa, a run away heiress of a big conglomerate pays her bill with a ring given to her by his childhood lover, Parv.
Parv happens to see that ring with Penny and misunderstands her for Nisa. Penny sees this as a sign by the universe, and decides to exacerbate his love by using the tricks of seduction. This story shows how she manipulates him forgetting that he is an individual being and plays with him like a subject to her motives.
The Citizen Paper
Arranged Marriage Caused The Princess To Elope Her Palace.
As the morning struck on 21st December in the residence of congressman Mukesh Bansal, his only daughter Nisa was found missing along with the jewelry made for her wedding. At first, it was reported as a case of burglary and kidnapping but it has slowly come out to be a mere family affair. Nisa, his 25 year old daughter was betrothed to the businessman Parv Maheshwari (Trisur Group Of Hotels). The match was arranged by their respective families and the wedding ceremony was to be held next year.
Earlier, the disappearance of Nisa was meant to be kept confidential by the family, until a mysterious insider broke this twisted story to media.
December 23rd, after two days of her disappearance, a letter arrived at the residence, allegedly written and sent by Nisa Bansal herself, clarifying the step taken as an act of resistance towards marriage that was being forced upon her. She has also mentioned in the letter, her will to refuse the inheritance of her father because she desires to have an independent life of her own. It is worth mentioning that she was betrothed to a man whom she had never met. The saddening part is that she was raised in an extremely conservative environment, where she was homeschooled, and was never allowed to leave the house without anyone accompanying. That is the reason that there is not even a single picture of her to be found.
Chapter 1
On December 25th, the name of 'Royal Eats Restaurant' shone brightly in the heights of the night sky. Not more than 2 percent of people living in India are Christian, but still the festival of Christmas is widely celebrated with glee and delightful feasts; together with loved ones. The restaurant, on that specific night was more crowded than the rest of the year, and to intensify the situation, we were short on service staff.
I worked to fill the place of four waitresses that day, who were probably out celebrating Christmas with their lovers. My feet danced through the occupied tables, taking orders, serving, accommodating the payments and to request the customers to appease their wailing children. Although, I never had the luxury to celebrate any particular day in my orphan life, I felt bitterly forlorn that day. But I managed to divert my mind to the perks of working extra on a festival day: double pay and bonus, which was all that I wished for. The thought of getting some cash was the force that drove me to work tirelessly.
That night, all the tables remained occupied till midnight, after which the restaurant started to get empty as families walked out one by one; what remained were empty dishes on the tables that were to be cleared by only three of us. I stacked the dishes and spoons from four tables at a time and brought them to Nargis, a minor girl who worked in the kitchen.
A sixteen year old; young and a beauty as phenomenal as a goddess, she was Nargis. She had long brown hair which she always put them in a lose braid; her skin was as flawless as the surface of spring water. She was tall and petite, had immaculate body lines.
She and I had a complex chemistry in friendship. She was the only co-worker with whom I had a plethora of subjects to talk about. Unlike other young girls, she didn't enjoy gossiping and make up; rather she could talk for hours about society, politics, and more sophisticated subjects that strangely amused me.
She not only shared her own opinions but also quoted views from published literature for she was an avid reader of informative books. For these reasons, I used to enjoy her company. She brought me books from her collection and I would spend my nights reading them. Her taste in books seemed to have had grown on me and I could not sleep at night without having read them.
However, she was defensive whenever asked about her background. It was natural to have curiosity regarding her past for she didn't seem to belong to this job.
Nargis sat beside by the basin, innocently reading a newspaper. I placed the stack of dishes before her to do and she released a sigh so solemnly. She tossed away the newspaper that she was reading, and it landed before my eyes. As she reluctantly took liquid soap in her sponge, I searched through the kitchen, looking for something that I was eager to find. She caught my eyes wandering and spoke up.
"It's inside my locker as always. I didn't forget this time." said Nargis.
I was nimble to reach for her locker, grabbing her plain cotton bag, and rummaging through her stuff; searching for the book that she had brought me this time. The title said 'The Art Of Seduction'.
"This time, I am lending you the best I have ever read," she said.
I was familiar with the title. I knew it was a highly popular book, though it had received mixed reviews from its readers around the world. It was normal to have the prejudice that the book glorified the manipulation of human mind and abuse of sexual desires.
"Come on! Shake off all those negative thoughts, just give it a try," she said, as she scrubbed the dishes.
Though I was reluctant to give it a chance, fearing that I would end up wasting my time and energy, I cleared my mind of doubts and decided to go for it. I packed up my stuff and was ready to leave. I waited for Nargis to finish her work and ended up looking at the headlines on the newspaper, one of them was particularly peculiar, compelling me to sit there and read the full article, "Arranged Marriage was the reason for Nisa Bansal's elopement."
The headline was too ridiculous and petty to become a part of a national daily. I wondered why people would be interested to know the story of a grown up girl leaving her home. It rather sounded outrageous to me that even the all-possessing could find a reason to be unhappy and give up something that people like me would die to have.
"How gullible she is." I commented. Nargis slightly looked at me while rinsing a dish under the running water. "I would happily marry a pig if I were the daughter of Mukesh Bansal," I further said.
"Many would!" She replied, "But I won't call her gullible."
I put the newspaper down, baffled; and asked, "Isn't stupid to give up everything for this mere reason? Rich people can never learn to appreciate.
Nargis was finished with her work, and untied the apron from her waist. "Yes, instead I would say that she is clever; she knows how she can make her parents give in; she is aware that her parents love her more than anything in this world and will eventually change their mind," she said.
I found her argument quite amusing and believing, I forgot how this is the basic psychology of a child to control his parents by the threat of their absence. I could not relate to this for I had no parents to manipulate for getting my ways.
"Once you finish reading that baby, you will learn that this basic child psychology is so much similar to seduction tricks, which concludes that we all have a seducer inside us, this art instinct driven."
I was intrigued to talk more about this subject but at that exact moment another waitress friend of ours came and placed another stack of dirty dishes, stealing the bright smile from the girl's face.
"Wow!" she exclaimed. "I believe t is going to be morning till I finish up; you can leave by yourself," insisted Nargis.
"Fine, I will be on my way then. My body is screaming for some rest."
I left Nargis in the kitchen alone and went to the adjacent cabin to look for the manager; what awaited me was the knowledge that the manager had took off a while ago.
The disappointment that I felt made me realize how quick rewards are a remedy to exhaustion. I would rather work in place of five employees and smile if I get my reward right away. That way I could experience the illusion of having extra money with me, even when I don't.
The Christmas night passed like any another night shift, only with more labor done. I lay awake in the night time, with the luminous source being an old lamp on my nightstand, and faint rays of moonlight falling in my room through a hole in the wall of my small cubical house; I wondered if celebrations are only meant for families and lovers. Because people like me can have the same meal as them; we can dress; we can dance and we can be happy but it would still not count as celebration.
Then I sought to open up the book lying beside me. The very first page had me intrigued to read it further: it described how we all possess the power of attraction, and that we are always unconsciously or consciously trying to draw people toward us, using this art. However, it was rather new for me to think of seduction as an art. For me, the word mostly meant a dirty game of manipulation, using physical pleasures as a weapon.
I further read about the several types of seducers, having different characteristics and ways to acquire someone's heart. Some may use their physical appearance or sexual appeal (Siren), some may play a game of push and pull (the coquettes), or any other out of nine techniques of seduction.
The text also contained the stories of every type of seducer, who were able to rule the world and charm the hearts of people, irrelevant of their average appearance. The story of Cleopatra (a Spectacular Siren) who had the Caesar, Roman leader, at her beck and call, trapping him in an ever expanding net of her charm, had me admiring the Egyptian Diva. She knew how to retrieve a man, who is caught in worldly responsibilities, into wanting the warmth and pleasures of a woman.
This book showed me how seduction has been a way of conquering the world, without even having to wield a sword at your victim. The possessors of these talents are displayed like heroes.
As I turned the 160th, completing the first part, the dawn had broken outside my window. I didn't get even a wink of sleep that night and just as I shut the book close on my chest, my eyelids dropped as if some resistance was removed. Falling into a deep slumber, while the thoughts about this book still roamed in my head, I recalled every quote and story that had left a grave mark on my subconscious.
Next day, I was pulled out of my sleep with a fervent knocking at my door. I snapped into the reality from my dreams, and caught a quick glance at the time, which was already past ten. It was the day I promised the landlord the rent of my room, weeks after it was due. I had already missed the opportunity of early morning escape.
"Hey! Lady, I know you are inside, just give me the rent as promised or better start packing up your stuff," came through the door.
I opened the latched door and raised my head to face him with a shameless yawn. "Oh! Mr. Jeetu, I am sorry to make you wait. I had to stay up late last night for work, that's why I slept till late."
"Okay! Whatever, I am not interested in knowing that. Now, you better pay me the rent, I have other things to do."
I slightly scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment, "I know I promised to give it today, but the matter is that I still haven't received my pay." As I spoke my voice became fainter, "if you can give me one more day, I promise to pay it by tomorrow at any cost."
Mr. Jeetu, although straightforward and mean at times, was not a bad person. I had lived in that tiny room set ever since I had left the church's orphanage. He was divorcee and always became the target of neighborhood aunties' gossips. He preferred to be inside the four walls of his house most of the day.
"But then, I will have to come here again. Do you have any idea how inconvenient this is for me?"
The main cause of his trouble was not that he didn't get his rent at time, but it was the visit that he despised the most. "You don't have to bother, I will be the one bringing the rent at your doorstep by tomorrow."
As soon as I mentioned visiting at his doorstep, he snapped, stammering and raising brows. "That's not necessary and you're not welcome. Just remember that tomorrow, either you're paying or leaving with your stuff."
I slightly nodded my head in affirmation, "I will keep that in my mind."
I came inside back and fell lifeless on my bed. I was in dire need of money by tomorrow. I knew that I would get it somehow for one thing that I had observed in my life was the pattern through which problems would come and will eventually solve on their own, when only I would end up with mental exhaustion.
The pattern that I had observed was that my life was like a fixed wage system, where not matter how hard I worked, the reward that I would get was only limited to help me survive, no more no less. But it was almost certain that subsistence was not to being hindered.
But for I am also a human being, I am greedy for something more than just daily bread and an independent life. Being raised up in a church, where the nuns named me Penny, as if degrading my whole existence. There were other children that I grew up with, none in my knowledge could surpass their status with hard work.
I went outside for some fresh air in a neighborhood park. I had planned my day off sleeping through the afternoon hours, but after the reminder that even the small room does not belong to me, I could no longer fall asleep with peace. However, as the park is called a public property, I could sit all day long, being assure that no one can tell me to leave from here.
I didn't mind the stares of little children, while I spent long hours on the swing and I just wouldn't get off. One of those kids, also came and tried to seize the swing from me.
"Get off, already! It's my turn now."
I looked at her little face and said, "Listen kid! I am not leaving here, you at least have a home where you can rest. But the only place I am welcome right now is this park, so you better find yourself something else."
The kid went wailing to his mother. She wiped his tears off and hugged him for just being her child and crying.
I closed my eyes as I was swinging against the winds, picturing myself to be flying, being lighter than air and I went on doing it until the sun went down. Now, was the time for my other job: at a bar; same service and same pay, but more tips and free food.
The people in this place felt more alive compared to those in restaurant. Music resonated in every corner of its precincts, along with the clinking of the glasses and bottles; people of my age, squandering money and time relentlessly; having no worries of future whatsoever; their only concern is living up to the fullest in the present.
The difference between me and those I served grew even baffling here. I could only imagine living a day as them, when I didn't have to fret over the coming morning and I could just lose the track of the time, forgetting about day or night; crossing every limit that my fate assigned me.
Just as I stood in one corner of the bar counter, Yasim, the young bar tender, spoke to me "A lot of crowd today," he shouted, because the music didn't allow the conversation otherwise.
"I know! The holiday week is the reason. I work at a restaurant on weekdays and a café at daytime. Everyone but me seems to be chilling and having fun all these days," I also had to speak loudly.
"You're right!. By the way, my name is Yasim," he introduced. He had no idea that every girl in that place knew his name, though he hadn't told himself. The young lad was a candy for everyone's eyes, he was also the reason for the frequent visits of female customers.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." I pretended.
"I said my name is Yasim," he said, again, susceptible of my trick.
"The music is too loud, I can't hear you."
He took a few steps toward me and leaned his body further to reduce the distance, "can you hear me now?" he asked.
"Now it's good, Yasim," I said, barely able to control my laugh.
He was taken off guard and displayed the most beautiful smile ever. "I have said my name like three times now, I think I deserve to hear yours for at least once."
"Myself… Penny."
"Penny?" he asked, surprised. "It's amazing, not many I have heard with this name."
"You will not meet another Penny; at least not here, they are all pounds. Plus, only the parents who loathe their children would ever name one Penny."
"Then what did you to make your parents hate you that much?" asked Yasim, with his flirtous smile.
He stood waiting for my answer, getting a little worried listening to my silence amidst the deafening music. He had started to wonder if he had made a mistake.
"I remember to have been a professional wailer, at nights, I guess that's the reason they hated me," I lightened the weight off his lips and his smile was back with a sigh.
"Now, I think I must return you your company and get to work."
As I was leaving, he stretched a handshake gesture with a blinding smile on his face, "I would see you again then, hopefully!" I grabbed that hand waiting for me, and was about to leave when he spoke again, "And, just as an insight from your new friend, make sure to be near the last lounge tonight."
I turned my eyes to look for it, the lounge was the only vacant arrangement at that time. "There's no one though," I said,
"They must be here soon, the lounge is reserved for the VIPs. Soon that will be the place you will get some serious tip money from."
"Okay, thanks," I said.
Yasim suddenly cried out loud, seeking my attention, "Woah! Name of the devil and the devils are here."
There was a group of five most attractive people, coming through the crowd. Two women and three men, appearing to be in their late twenties, clad in almost simple yet extravagant attires; their auras spoke for their status. They were simply like stars in that place, and just like stars they had an orbit around; people stepped back on their own to give them way because of that orbit, and it was apparent that they don't allow many to be near them.
My gaze was locked at them walking like gods and goddesses; and taking the reserved lounge by themselves. Two of those girls settled themselves on one side of the U shaped couch and two of the other men had gotten the company of a few girls who were dying to join them. I could sense flirting, flexing and ignorance from those two.
However, one of them had settled himself in the middle, at a good distance from others. This man had a charm that glinted in his narrow, intoxicating eyes. His was face was indeed a piece of art, but his eyes were simply heavenly; they displayed diverse emotions. He had the body stature of a stereotypical manly man; had a plain white shirt on, a bit loose and sleeves rolled up to his elbows (of course).
His aura was easily differentiated from others: the air around him spoke of his glory, intensity and an uncanny sadness. I got lost in catching every little detail in his entrancing looks, while Yasim began to introduce those people to me by whispering in my ears.
"You see those two boys on in that corner," he asked.
"I can only see those girls on their laps, and I didn't know that we are offering pleasure girls in bar," I commented.
"We don't do that yet, but it's not completely impossible because the family of the brothers own the franchise of this place," he said. "Arun and Varun."
"Oh! I wonder what it's like to be an owner of anything," I replied. "Tell me about the other one," I ended up asking.
"I thought you must have recognized him by now," he wondered.
"Well, I don't remember him being my neighbor," I jested. "Just say already."
"You must not be following news these days, I think. Parv Maheshwari is the one who was engaged to Nisa Bansal, Mukesh Bansal's daughter, who ran from her house," he told me. "He must think he is a self-made business tycoon, eligible, young and desirable; how could a girl ever ditch him." Yasim shook his head in slow-motion as dismay.
The strange sadness on his face was now understandable by me. The whole story seemed to have been unfolded in my little understanding.
"And that girl in blue top is his sister, Garima." He further said.
The moment I turned my eyes to the two girls, I was able to identify a familiar face among them. The one who sat beside Garima, was someone who I could remember encountering in my past several times.
As I continuously stared at her trying to find her in my memories, I realized that she was Ridhi. Her eyes caught me and widened as she found me there.
I shifted my eyes off their lounge and left the side of Yasim. I got back to my work, roaming around serving snacks and drinks. But strangely Ridhi's gaze never budged from my face. I could constantly feel her staring at me even when I wasn't looking. And then I got the feeling that she was walking toward me; I turned and there she was, standing in front of me.
"Can we talk?" she said.
We stepped outside to have a word, in the open night sky. She looked restless, and panicked having unsaid words in her mouth.
"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to ease her worries.
"I am just surprised to see you here," she said. "It has been so many years since we saw each other; how are you?"
"I am doing just fine. But a little busy with my work. So, may I know the purpose for being here?" I was outright blunt and indifferent to her skeptical amiability.
She was silenced and couldn't find words to speak next.
"You are still the same. Maybe, that's the reason you are alone. You like to push everyone away and seem like a threat whenever somebody tries to get close to you." She said. "I just wanted to know if you have been in contact with my Father."
At that moment, it was clear for me what concern she had with me and I spoke, "Okay! I understand. I didn't see you here. I am not in contact with your father, there's no way I can tell you on him. Plus, I would hate to do that."
"But you have the perfect opportunity for the revenge; you must have been waiting to get back at me," she finally let her fright show.
I flashed a little chuckle, trying to humiliate her, "I have better things to do, you must know. And you call this an opportunity for revenge. When are you going to grow up?" I said, as I laughed like a crazy person.
"Laugh all you want. You wouldn't know what it's like have a controlling father, or having any father; you are a free bird, there's no one to control your life."
"And you think I like that?" I suddenly got a little moisture in my eyes. "And why are you even comparing? I was an orphan girl getting support from your family."
"You were my best friend," she told, silencing me.
"Ridhi," I said her name with depth, "you were anything but a friend to me."
I came back inside and I stayed still a moment to feel the proud. I could sense a flow of power running through my body. I did right. She deserved it. It was all that was going in my mind.
I would have been adopted and having a family if not for that girl. 15 years back when her uncle decided to adopt me as their child, the little princess prevented it from happening, the reason being that she didn't want me to be taken to America, where her uncle and aunt lived. She called her actions an act of friendship. Saying that she didn't want me to leave, she eventually left herself only after a year. And there I was again, forlorn and uncared for.
I took a deep breath till my chest inflated with self-esteem. Among the wild crowd, I saw a hand waving slightly to have my attention. It was the melancholic Parv gesturing to call me, a waitress. I grabbed a tray of snacks and went to his lounge. I could that he was already on the brink of falling wasted on the floor, his sister kept pestering him to leave the place and the other two boys were lost somewhere on the dance floor.
I stood in front of him, "Would you like some snacks? Or shall I bring you something else?"
He looked devastated, and didn't even take the notice of me asking him, "Sir, how may I help you?"
"Can you please get me another drink?" he said in a faint voice.
Garima grabbed her head in exhaustion, "Bhai! It'enough. We should leave now."
"We will leave, Garu. Just let your brother have one more drink to help fall asleep."
I leaned a bit forward to hear his faint orders clearly, "what can I get you, Scotch, Whiskey, Champagne or Vodka?" I asked.
"Umm… Scotch please."
"You want it on the rocks?"
"No, pure and neat."
"Anything, you would like to munch on?" I asked.
He lift his head to look at me, and smirked at my face. Then, he suddenly got up on his feet; struggling to balance himself, he came closer to me. The stench of the alcohol forced me to hold my breath and his approaching steps caused me to retrieve myself backwards.
He grabbed my shoulders from behind, drove and pushed me to sit on the lounge. "Yoou siit, I go an get drink. Tell me if you want anything."
I rose from the lounge but, "uh huh!" he made me sit again. "Just wait right here, I will get it real quick."
"Bhai! You will sleep just fine. Just let go of it already."
He suddenly burst in a strange laughter and turned his eyes to me, "do I look drunk to you? Look at her overreacting."
That moment, both the siblings were standing straight while I was the only one who sat on the lounge listening to them.
"Bhai, it's obvious that you are upset for that stupid arranged marriage."
"No I am not." He spoke in a tone of total disgust. "I hadn't even seen that bitch for once. What I may be upset about is that I didn't get to ditch her first."
Garima fell by my side, grabbing one of my arm in ecstacy. She asked me, "your opinion? Does he not look like he is going to kill himself?"
Before I could answer her, Parv also came bouncing on the lounge beside me, "think about it. Why would I be upset if someone I have never seen in my life doesn't want to marry me.; to the extent that she runs away from her home."
I turned my right to face him, but her sister again whispered in my left ear, "he looks devastated. Doesn't it look like he wanted to marry her badly?"
Then again, Parv spoke in my right ear, "I want you to rate me from 9 to 10."
I suddenly looked at him thinking that he may have made a mistake, "no one can find me below nine," he said.
As the siblings surrounded me from either sides, and kept pestering me to answer; Arun and Varun came. The brothers were also on the edge of passing out. It looked like they had finally made up their minds to end the night there.
"Are we all good to leave?" Varun asked, looking at Parv.
Ridhi also came following their arrival. The moment she saw me sitting with Parv and Garima, her expressions declared unease and anxiety.
"Who is she?"
Only when Ridhi pointed out did Arun and Varun became curious about me. For a moment all five of them surrounded me by peculiar gazes and out of the context questions.
I rose from the lounge at once and quickly stood away from the siblings. Those eyes still didn't budge, waiting for my answer.
"Let me repeat your order, sir : you wanted a neat scotch with no snacks on the side. Is there anything else?"
Telling that I was only a waitress, I knew they had lost all their curiosities.
"Bro, seriously you are trying to get more drunk?" said Varun.
To this Arun replied, "She isn't worth it. Why are you ruining yourself?"
Parv appeared to have had it enough, "why do you guys keep saying that? I don't care about it more than a lying pebble on the road." He turned to me and said, "I don't want anything anymore. Forget it."
"Alright, sir."
When I was about to turn back to leave, he seek me again, "excuse me- taking out from his pockets a note of INR 500.- sorry for the trouble."
At that moment, I knew what I had to do was to grab that note from his hand and saying a thank you, putting it safe and secure in my wallet. But to my surprise, I found it the most difficult task to accept that tip. While he just looked at my face, holding that note, I wondered what went wrong with my head for not taking it.
Even that night, I had collected tips from the customers and didn't have trouble with it. But what happened to me when this man was offering the biggest sum for the night. I felt that I would lose something bigger if were to accept that.
"Sorry, but the bill has been paid already." I said.
"It's your tip." He replied.
"I don't accept tips. Have a nice time." Saying this, I left.
I didn't look back to know if he still looked at me or not. Not too late, an alternative side of me began to regret the decision of not taking that.
"Why on earth did I reject that?" I asked myself. "I have absolutely no chance of seeing him again, why did this silly self-confidence came in me, that too only in front of him? Why?"
What I was sure that I was subconsciously trying to impress him. I would have felt terrible to have accepted that. I sssss
Dairy Of Parv Maheshwari
11:44 PM
Thursday, 26 December,
I find it difficult to be up at this hour, more so because I have just came back home from a party night with my friends. It is unusual of me to bother writing about my day, when I am this tired. But surprisingly, I do not wish to forget this night. That's the reason I am resisting my sleepy eyes from shutting down until I pour the events of this special day in my diary.
26th December was the far-most coldest day this winter. I wonder how I was able to leave the house, and even ended up going to a club. Although, New Delhi is not a city where a white Christmas can be experienced, still it was nothing short of Antarctica for me.
At around 10:30 this morning, I was asked by Arun if I wanted to join them for clubbing at night. At that moment, the thought of stepping out in that weather was no different than a suicide for me. Therefore, I was quick to answer 'No'. I tried getting up from my bed but didn't quite find any purpose to be up already. So I just lay appreciating the warmth of my bed and comparing it with the bluish fog outside my window, giving me chills just by its sight.
But as the afternoon arrived in the clock, there were the nosy family members of mine, knocking my door one by one; making sure that I was not dead. "I am alive." I said.
I had already expected; they have been acting weirdly since days now. Always making sure that I am around, asking me if I am okay or not; and I just can't understand why. They say that I look devastated since my so called 'engagement' went off. But I myself don't feel a thing as much as the sting of an ant.
Then, finally the last family member to wake up, came at my door to see if I was still breathing. It was Ridhi, she didn't just knock but also barged inside before I could say anything. The moment she saw me comfortable and happy in my bed, she yelled at me for it.
In my defense, I could only say that I was perfectly fine and that I don't care about that engagement thing at all. I didn't even know what she looked like to be crying for her. But she came and sat beside me, taking my hand in hers. I asked her the reason why everyone is being so wary around me when I am nothing but normal. She said that she realizes that I am completely normal but she said that being normal was the problem with me.
"It's not that you look sad or dead to me, but we have seen you when you were at the jewelers picking out a ring for her, also when you were trying out your wedding suit. You smiled like you were a psychopath but now you are normal. Of course we are worried."
I got up from my bed immediately, hearing that. I realized that in order to show that I am completely okay, I need to become a psychopath not normal. So, I called Arun again and told him that I will be coming with him, and I also promised Ridhi to take her there.
I tried enjoying at the club like I usually do but it was difficult to be smiling all the time. And I also tried to ease down the worries of my sister and family. I hope they stop fretting over my well being.
The club full of spirited people was first time seeming exhausting to me. The people were dancing, but it appeared fake to me. But there was one thing that caught my attention there, a girl staring solemnly at the dancing crowd, I spent time wondering about what she might be thinking.
From the uniform worn by her, I could see that she was a service staff. I don't know what kept my eyes at her face, but it did seem like her face was the only real emotion I could find there. She didn't have the most perfect skin, instead her face was full of light freckles but surprisingly it was glowing to appear differentiated in that place. I wanted to talk to her, but was too afraid of her strong aura.
As I kept drinking more and more alcohol, she was starting to appear more and more beautiful. At one point of time, I didn't know when I mustered up the courage to wave at her. She came with a bunch of snacks and asked me to order something. I didn't want to have anything that moment, but somehow I ended up asking for more drinks.
As she kept on naming the options to me, I lost track of what I said to her to bring. Until, I lost my mind and made her sit there and spoke a bunch of nonsense about my life to her. I wonder what she would be thinking of me. I was already embarrassed when I went out of my way to tip her. She looked at me in a way that intimidated me more than anything to the date has.
I stayed there for another hour but that girl couldn't be found anymore. And then, I was too drunk to be able to remember what happened. When I next found myself conscious, I was being pulled outside of my sister's car. I could hear her cursing me for being a pain. Then she called Bholi outside in secret and they both brought me inside.
Fearing the eyes and ears of Papa, they made sure that they made no noise. And all that time, I didn't even try to make it any easier for them. The lobby was dark, and they couldn't turn the lights on because Papa was in his study.
Then suddenly, my left foot got caught in the railing of the staircase and I tripped making some serious noise. Both Garima and Bholi were quick to leave me there on the ground. The fall brought my consciousness back and I grabbed the railing to get on my feet. But as I was about to raise myself, I saw Papa's toes coming towards me, as I lifted my head up, I found him glaring at me.
He didn't speak much as usual except the words that he always throws on me, "Disgrace on the family!"
Saying this, he left.
I got on my knees and then helped myself up; holding the railing, I barely climbed the staircase and coming inside my room, I grabbed the diary and sat writing about this awfully interesting d
Chapter 2
I read the 'art of seduction' continuing from page 162, on the night when I for the first time found myself unconsciously lying to get someone's attention. The book was done categorizing the types of seducers and began the chapter of anti-seducers. From that point of time, I began to lose my interest, thinking that seduction is not even that powerful of a weapon after all; or probably, the lack of interest was caused by the lack of money that I had, with 5500 rupees promised to the landlord by 7 that evening.
I kept calling the manager of the restaurant, Mr Singh that morning, to know if I could go and fetch my pay before 7; I couldn't wait till my shift that started at 8. No matter how many times I called, there was no answer. In the end, I decided to go and grab that old hag from his scruff. I further imagined choking him till he doesn't spit out money from his mouth. I couldn't despise people like him more; knowing that I was in a dire need of some money, he made me beg for it again and again. Such people would never understand how it feels to acknowledge and say that one is too broke to have a shelter above head.
I went to the restaurant with a firm mind to quit the work that day. I pushed the door to his cabin open till it slammed against the wall. And adding to my anger, the old hag was not there. I asked a waiter working in that shift.
"Why Singh is not in his cabin?" I barely kept myself from addressing him as an asshole. "Where the hell is he?" I asked.
"Cool down babes. Go find him in the kitchen," said the waiter. "But make sure you knock before you enter."
"I have left my manners at home from where I am going to get kicked out tonight."
The leaps of my steps were bigger knowing that he was inside the kitchen. I grabbed the doorknob with utmost hatred and turned it imagining Singh's head in my hands. The door opened and I barged in calling his name behind my grinding teeth, "Mr. Singh."
At that moment, I recalled being warned about knocking before I entered. I saw a petite female body in the grip of giant Singh's. The buttons of his shirt were undone to a point where I could see that he was hairy till the belly button, at least. He was panting heavily, while pulling up his pants, which I was glad I didn't notice were down. The girl was sitting on the kitchen counter, with her back towards me. But I knew seeing the golden brown hair in a lose braid, that she was Nargis.
I closed the door back, and stepped two feet distance first and then far away another second. I stood at the reception, recalling those five seconds. I hoped and hoped that I was saw wrong and it wasn't Nargis but someone else. Even the idea of that girl being Nargis was so horrifying that I felt nauseous thinking about that moment again.
"No, No it can't be her. She is just sixteen and that old hag, with four children. How disgusting would it be," I was speaking aloud without even realizing it myself.
"The world was always disgusting babe," said the waiter, who pointed me to the kitchen earlier.
"How long has this been going on?" I asked.
"Isn't she your best friend?" he said. "You must know how long."
"This is sick!" I shrugged. "She is sixteen. I am…"
"Speechless?" he said. "That's what I felt as well."
I had never been this furious for someone else's interest. I had always admired Nargis for being young, courageous and independent, but that moment, all I could regret was to associate with a person like her.
As I talked to the waiter, standing at the reception, Singh walked out of the kitchen with a normal demeanor. He was still reluctant to look me in the eye. He approached the empty reception and passed through the desk.
"Good luck with your pay," said the waiter and went on for his work.
He pulled open the cash drawer at the reception and grabbed a few 500 rupees notes, stashed them in a sleek bundle with an elastic band, without even counting for once. His eyes still wandered here and there, without meeting mine.
I took my money from his hands and counted the sum: it came out to be having an extra thousand rupees. I raised an eyebrow pulling two notes out of the stash.
"What's the extra one thousand for?" I asked.
"I thought you might need it, you said that time is tough."
"Indeed, the time is fucked up." I said, putting the two notes back on the desk. "But I still choose to accept the money which I worked for."
"Just think of it as an increment," he persisted. "And I remember that you still have unpaid leaves, why don't you use them and enjoy the New Year."
"I will consider, sir."
I had so much going on in my mind which I could speak and humiliate him in front of all the customers. I was so furious that I the words 'I Quit' were on the verge of spilling out of my mouth, but I restrained, thinking that it would only make me suffer.
"I have considered, sir. Thanks. I am on my leave from tomorrow."
As I went inside the kitchen to take a look at Nargis after this incident, I heard her crying hiding herself behind a counter. My heart ached for a second; I thought that I had made my judgement about her, without even listening to her once.
"I know you are there." I spoke.
A meek snort followed and she rose from there. She looked at me straight in the eyes.
"It's hard to face you now." She said.
I slowly approached her, sitting behind the counter; and tapped on the ground for her to take her place back. We both sat with our backs leaning against the counter.
"You don't have to look at me, if it's difficult. Why don't you –pointing at calendar that hung on the wall- look at that calendar over there? It's the last month page of 2022."
"It has been going on for eight months, it started almost the time I came for work here," she said. "You should learn to be straightforward with your question."
"Nargis!" I exclaimed. "why are you in this? You are not that kind of a person."
She scoffed wryly looking at me. "What kind of a person?"
"You know what kind."
"You mean, a person in need and a person who is lacking in more than one ways."
"I can't think of one reason that you should be with that perverted old man."
"You can't think of one reason?" she asked. "I can give one hundred but I won't because I am already embarrassed enough."
She tried to distance me again. I always wanted become a genuine friend to her but she never gave me any chance to understand her. She was always a closed book. My eyes looked downward in disappointment. I sensed her looking at me, upset because of her.
"Penny!" she called. "I have a family to support. Being a minor, I could not sget a job anywhere in this damn city. When I got a job as a dishwasher here, I knew that I would have to endure a lot more than just dirty dishes coming one after another."
My skin was numb listening to her talk. It was the first time she was opening up to me, though I did not expect her story to be so heart-wrenching.
"It wouldn't have happened to you because you are strong and independent. You don't have a mother and five siblings, all looking towards your face for a piece of bread, just because you are the eldest."
I always thought that a girl like Nargis doesn't belong to a job like this because she was intelligent, smart and too sophisticated to be working as a dishwasher as a minor.
"Things were different when I was around 10 years old and my father lived with us. I was the most beloved child of my parents. We lived in prosperity, happiness and harmony. Then my mother got pregnant with her third child. There were already two daughters in the family and my father wanted a son at any cost. He was a typical Indian man after all. He completely lost his mind when even the third child came out to be a girl. He changed into a totally different person after that. He would drink excessive amount of alcohol and beat us all. Fixated upon having a son, he had no regards of my mother's deteriorating health. She got pregnant again, with the fourth child being a girl yet again. The happy family that I once had, completely turned into a terrible mess and my father left us one random day. And you know what the craziest part of the story was? My mother got pregnant again, this time she was determined to have a son so she could appease the anger of my father. She didn't even consider her health before delivering the fifth child, who was surprisingly a boy this time. She was happy, to be precise she was the only one happy, because I was more worried about her crippled legs. Yes, the baby came with the cost of her ability to walk. My mother had never went to school or knew anything at all to be able to support herself, the only thing she thought was enough was to marry a wealthy man and she thought of herself as a complete and able woman. But what she did receive after serving that man for all these years, and carrying five damn babies in her weak body, was that my father didn't even come to see the face of the son he wanted so bad. He found herself a younger wife and settled with her in another state. I was left with a devastated, half dead mother and four little ones to take care of.
'I wouldn't be able to feed all of them if I don't use my powers as a woman, to control the mind of a man with an undone button on my chest. You can call me a prostitute all you want. But I am someone who is more aware of how men, either husband, boyfriend or… or Singh, would only be under your influence until you give them what they want."
I couldn't get it through my mind that these words came from a sixteen year old. She sounded so solemn that for a second I lost myself in her story.
"Stop giving me that look, apparent sympathy is mean."
The aRT Of Seduction (Applied)
A Play Of Hearts
Arang
XYZ Publication.
[Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.]
Characters :
1. Penny (lead) – Played By X (Female Lead)
2. Parv Maheshwari – Played By Y (Male Lead)
3. Nisa – Played By X and Z (Female Lead / Supporting)
4. Naira – Played By A (Supporting)
5. Other Supporting Characters : Tina . Jatin . Gaurav. Niharika.
Plot
This novel is based on the theory of seduction by Robert Greene in his book 'The art of Seduction'. Penny is an orphan girl working as a waitress in restaurants and bars to meet her ends. However, she is discontent with her life that allows her to barely survive; she has no one beside her to call a family. One day, she gets in her hand, a book named 'The art of seducers'. She gets heavily influenced by the contents of the book and tries to practice it in her own tasteless life.
She sees a dynamic opportunity when while working in a restaurant, Nisa, a run away heiress of a big conglomerate pays her bill with a ring given to her by his childhood lover, Parv.
Parv happens to see that ring with Penny and misunderstands her for Nisa. Penny sees this as a sign by the universe, and decides to exacerbate his love by using the tricks of seduction. This story shows how she manipulates him forgetting that he is an individual being and plays with him like a subject to her motives.
The Citizen Paper
Arranged Marriage Caused The Princess To Elope Her Palace.
As the morning struck on 21st December in the residence of congressman Mukesh Bansal, his only daughter Nisa was found missing along with the jewelry made for her wedding. At first, it was reported as a case of burglary and kidnapping but it has slowly come out to be a mere family affair. Nisa, his 25 year old daughter was betrothed to the businessman Parv Maheshwari (Trisur Group Of Hotels). The match was arranged by their respective families and the wedding ceremony was to be held next year.
Earlier, the disappearance of Nisa was meant to be kept confidential by the family, until a mysterious insider broke this twisted story to media.
December 23rd, after two days of her disappearance, a letter arrived at the residence, allegedly written and sent by Nisa Bansal herself, clarifying the step taken as an act of resistance towards marriage that was being forced upon her. She has also mentioned in the letter, her will to refuse the inheritance of her father because she desires to have an independent life of her own. It is worth mentioning that she was betrothed to a man whom she had never met. The saddening part is that she was raised in an extremely conservative environment, where she was homeschooled, and was never allowed to leave the house without anyone accompanying. That is the reason that there is not even a single picture of her to be found.
Chapter 1
On December 25th, the name of 'Royal Eats Restaurant' shone brightly in the heights of the night sky. Not more than 2 percent of people living in India are Christian, but still the festival of Christmas is widely celebrated with glee and delightful feasts; together with loved ones. The restaurant, on that specific night was more crowded than the rest of the year, and to intensify the situation, we were short on service staff.
I worked to fill the place of four waitresses that day, who were probably out celebrating Christmas with their lovers. My feet danced through the occupied tables, taking orders, serving, accommodating the payments and to request the customers to appease their wailing children. Although, I never had the luxury to celebrate any particular day in my orphan life, I felt bitterly forlorn that day. But I managed to divert my mind to the perks of working extra on a festival day: double pay and bonus, which was all that I wished for. The thought of getting some cash was the force that drove me to work tirelessly.
That night, all the tables remained occupied till midnight, after which the restaurant started to get empty as families walked out one by one; what remained were empty dishes on the tables that were to be cleared by only three of us. I stacked the dishes and spoons from four tables at a time and brought them to Nargis, a minor girl who worked in the kitchen.
A sixteen year old; young and a beauty as phenomenal as a goddess, she was Nargis. She had long brown hair which she always put them in a lose braid; her skin was as flawless as the surface of spring water. She was tall and petite, had immaculate body lines.
She and I had a complex chemistry in friendship. She was the only co-worker with whom I had a plethora of subjects to talk about. Unlike other young girls, she didn't enjoy gossiping and make up; rather she could talk for hours about society, politics, and more sophisticated subjects that strangely amused me.
She not only shared her own opinions but also quoted views from published literature for she was an avid reader of informative books. For these reasons, I used to enjoy her company. She brought me books from her collection and I would spend my nights reading them. Her taste in books seemed to have had grown on me and I could not sleep at night without having read them.
However, she was defensive whenever asked about her background. It was natural to have curiosity regarding her past for she didn't seem to belong to this job.
Nargis sat beside by the basin, innocently reading a newspaper. I placed the stack of dishes before her to do and she released a sigh so solemnly. She tossed away the newspaper that she was reading, and it landed before my eyes. As she reluctantly took liquid soap in her sponge, I searched through the kitchen, looking for something that I was eager to find. She caught my eyes wandering and spoke up.
"It's inside my locker as always. I didn't forget this time." said Nargis.
I was nimble to reach for her locker, grabbing her plain cotton bag, and rummaging through her stuff; searching for the book that she had brought me this time. The title said 'The Art Of Seduction'.
"This time, I am lending you the best I have ever read," she said.
I was familiar with the title. I knew it was a highly popular book, though it had received mixed reviews from its readers around the world. It was normal to have the prejudice that the book glorified the manipulation of human mind and abuse of sexual desires.
"Come on! Shake off all those negative thoughts, just give it a try," she said, as she scrubbed the dishes.
Though I was reluctant to give it a chance, fearing that I would end up wasting my time and energy, I cleared my mind of doubts and decided to go for it. I packed up my stuff and was ready to leave. I waited for Nargis to finish her work and ended up looking at the headlines on the newspaper, one of them was particularly peculiar, compelling me to sit there and read the full article, "Arranged Marriage was the reason for Nisa Bansal's elopement."
The headline was too ridiculous and petty to become a part of a national daily. I wondered why people would be interested to know the story of a grown up girl leaving her home. It rather sounded outrageous to me that even the all-possessing could find a reason to be unhappy and give up something that people like me would die to have.
"How gullible she is." I commented. Nargis slightly looked at me while rinsing a dish under the running water. "I would happily marry a pig if I were the daughter of Mukesh Bansal," I further said.
"Many would!" She replied, "But I won't call her gullible."
I put the newspaper down, baffled; and asked, "Isn't stupid to give up everything for this mere reason? Rich people can never learn to appreciate.
Nargis was finished with her work, and untied the apron from her waist. "Yes, instead I would say that she is clever; she knows how she can make her parents give in; she is aware that her parents love her more than anything in this world and will eventually change their mind," she said.
I found her argument quite amusing and believing, I forgot how this is the basic psychology of a child to control his parents by the threat of their absence. I could not relate to this for I had no parents to manipulate for getting my ways.
"Once you finish reading that baby, you will learn that this basic child psychology is so much similar to seduction tricks, which concludes that we all have a seducer inside us, this art instinct driven."
I was intrigued to talk more about this subject but at that exact moment another waitress friend of ours came and placed another stack of dirty dishes, stealing the bright smile from the girl's face.
"Wow!" she exclaimed. "I believe t is going to be morning till I finish up; you can leave by yourself," insisted Nargis.
"Fine, I will be on my way then. My body is screaming for some rest."
I left Nargis in the kitchen alone and went to the adjacent cabin to look for the manager; what awaited me was the knowledge that the manager had took off a while ago.
The disappointment that I felt made me realize how quick rewards are a remedy to exhaustion. I would rather work in place of five employees and smile if I get my reward right away. That way I could experience the illusion of having extra money with me, even when I don't.
The Christmas night passed like any another night shift, only with more labor done. I lay awake in the night time, with the luminous source being an old lamp on my nightstand, and faint rays of moonlight falling in my room through a hole in the wall of my small cubical house; I wondered if celebrations are only meant for families and lovers. Because people like me can have the same meal as them; we can dress; we can dance and we can be happy but it would still not count as celebration.
Then I sought to open up the book lying beside me. The very first page had me intrigued to read it further: it described how we all possess the power of attraction, and that we are always unconsciously or consciously trying to draw people toward us, using this art. However, it was rather new for me to think of seduction as an art. For me, the word mostly meant a dirty game of manipulation, using physical pleasures as a weapon.
I further read about the several types of seducers, having different characteristics and ways to acquire someone's heart. Some may use their physical appearance or sexual appeal (Siren), some may play a game of push and pull (the coquettes), or any other out of nine techniques of seduction.
The text also contained the stories of every type of seducer, who were able to rule the world and charm the hearts of people, irrelevant of their average appearance. The story of Cleopatra (a Spectacular Siren) who had the Caesar, Roman leader, at her beck and call, trapping him in an ever expanding net of her charm, had me admiring the Egyptian Diva. She knew how to retrieve a man, who is caught in worldly responsibilities, into wanting the warmth and pleasures of a woman.
This book showed me how seduction has been a way of conquering the world, without even having to wield a sword at your victim. The possessors of these talents are displayed like heroes.
As I turned the 160th, completing the first part, the dawn had broken outside my window. I didn't get even a wink of sleep that night and just as I shut the book close on my chest, my eyelids dropped as if some resistance was removed. Falling into a deep slumber, while the thoughts about this book still roamed in my head, I recalled every quote and story that had left a grave mark on my subconscious.
Next day, I was pulled out of my sleep with a fervent knocking at my door. I snapped into the reality from my dreams, and caught a quick glance at the time, which was already past ten. It was the day I promised the landlord the rent of my room, weeks after it was due. I had already missed the opportunity of early morning escape.
"Hey! Lady, I know you are inside, just give me the rent as promised or better start packing up your stuff," came through the door.
I opened the latched door and raised my head to face him with a shameless yawn. "Oh! Mr. Jeetu, I am sorry to make you wait. I had to stay up late last night for work, that's why I slept till late."
"Okay! Whatever, I am not interested in knowing that. Now, you better pay me the rent, I have other things to do."
I slightly scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment, "I know I promised to give it today, but the matter is that I still haven't received my pay." As I spoke my voice became fainter, "if you can give me one more day, I promise to pay it by tomorrow at any cost."
Mr. Jeetu, although straightforward and mean at times, was not a bad person. I had lived in that tiny room set ever since I had left the church's orphanage. He was divorcee and always became the target of neighborhood aunties' gossips. He preferred to be inside the four walls of his house most of the day.
"But then, I will have to come here again. Do you have any idea how inconvenient this is for me?"
The main cause of his trouble was not that he didn't get his rent at time, but it was the visit that he despised the most. "You don't have to bother, I will be the one bringing the rent at your doorstep by tomorrow."
As soon as I mentioned visiting at his doorstep, he snapped, stammering and raising brows. "That's not necessary and you're not welcome. Just remember that tomorrow, either you're paying or leaving with your stuff."
I slightly nodded my head in affirmation, "I will keep that in my mind."
I came inside back and fell lifeless on my bed. I was in dire need of money by tomorrow. I knew that I would get it somehow for one thing that I had observed in my life was the pattern through which problems would come and will eventually solve on their own, when only I would end up with mental exhaustion.
The pattern that I had observed was that my life was like a fixed wage system, where not matter how hard I worked, the reward that I would get was only limited to help me survive, no more no less. But it was almost certain that subsistence was not to being hindered.
But for I am also a human being, I am greedy for something more than just daily bread and an independent life. Being raised up in a church, where the nuns named me Penny, as if degrading my whole existence. There were other children that I grew up with, none in my knowledge could surpass their status with hard work.
I went outside for some fresh air in a neighborhood park. I had planned my day off sleeping through the afternoon hours, but after the reminder that even the small room does not belong to me, I could no longer fall asleep with peace. However, as the park is called a public property, I could sit all day long, being assure that no one can tell me to leave from here.
I didn't mind the stares of little children, while I spent long hours on the swing and I just wouldn't get off. One of those kids, also came and tried to seize the swing from me.
"Get off, already! It's my turn now."
I looked at her little face and said, "Listen kid! I am not leaving here, you at least have a home where you can rest. But the only place I am welcome right now is this park, so you better find yourself something else."
The kid went wailing to his mother. She wiped his tears off and hugged him for just being her child and crying.
I closed my eyes as I was swinging against the winds, picturing myself to be flying, being lighter than air and I went on doing it until the sun went down. Now, was the time for my other job: at a bar; same service and same pay, but more tips and free food.
The people in this place felt more alive compared to those in restaurant. Music resonated in every corner of its precincts, along with the clinking of the glasses and bottles; people of my age, squandering money and time relentlessly; having no worries of future whatsoever; their only concern is living up to the fullest in the present.
The difference between me and those I served grew even baffling here. I could only imagine living a day as them, when I didn't have to fret over the coming morning and I could just lose the track of the time, forgetting about day or night; crossing every limit that my fate assigned me.
Just as I stood in one corner of the bar counter, Yasim, the young bar tender, spoke to me "A lot of crowd today," he shouted, because the music didn't allow the conversation otherwise.
"I know! The holiday week is the reason. I work at a restaurant on weekdays and a café at daytime. Everyone but me seems to be chilling and having fun all these days," I also had to speak loudly.
"You're right!. By the way, my name is Yasim," he introduced. He had no idea that every girl in that place knew his name, though he hadn't told himself. The young lad was a candy for everyone's eyes, he was also the reason for the frequent visits of female customers.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." I pretended.
"I said my name is Yasim," he said, again, susceptible of my trick.
"The music is too loud, I can't hear you."
He took a few steps toward me and leaned his body further to reduce the distance, "can you hear me now?" he asked.
"Now it's good, Yasim," I said, barely able to control my laugh.
He was taken off guard and displayed the most beautiful smile ever. "I have said my name like three times now, I think I deserve to hear yours for at least once."
"Myself… Penny."
"Penny?" he asked, surprised. "It's amazing, not many I have heard with this name."
"You will not meet another Penny; at least not here, they are all pounds. Plus, only the parents who loathe their children would ever name one Penny."
"Then what did you to make your parents hate you that much?" asked Yasim, with his flirtous smile.
He stood waiting for my answer, getting a little worried listening to my silence amidst the deafening music. He had started to wonder if he had made a mistake.
"I remember to have been a professional wailer, at nights, I guess that's the reason they hated me," I lightened the weight off his lips and his smile was back with a sigh.
"Now, I think I must return you your company and get to work."
As I was leaving, he stretched a handshake gesture with a blinding smile on his face, "I would see you again then, hopefully!" I grabbed that hand waiting for me, and was about to leave when he spoke again, "And, just as an insight from your new friend, make sure to be near the last lounge tonight."
I turned my eyes to look for it, the lounge was the only vacant arrangement at that time. "There's no one though," I said,
"They must be here soon, the lounge is reserved for the VIPs. Soon that will be the place you will get some serious tip money from."
"Okay, thanks," I said.
Yasim suddenly cried out loud, seeking my attention, "Woah! Name of the devil and the devils are here."
There was a group of five most attractive people, coming through the crowd. Two women and three men, appearing to be in their late twenties, clad in almost simple yet extravagant attires; their auras spoke for their status. They were simply like stars in that place, and just like stars they had an orbit around; people stepped back on their own to give them way because of that orbit, and it was apparent that they don't allow many to be near them.
My gaze was locked at them walking like gods and goddesses; and taking the reserved lounge by themselves. Two of those girls settled themselves on one side of the U shaped couch and two of the other men had gotten the company of a few girls who were dying to join them. I could sense flirting, flexing and ignorance from those two.
However, one of them had settled himself in the middle, at a good distance from others. This man had a charm that glinted in his narrow, intoxicating eyes. His was face was indeed a piece of art, but his eyes were simply heavenly; they displayed diverse emotions. He had the body stature of a stereotypical manly man; had a plain white shirt on, a bit loose and sleeves rolled up to his elbows (of course).
His aura was easily differentiated from others: the air around him spoke of his glory, intensity and an uncanny sadness. I got lost in catching every little detail in his entrancing looks, while Yasim began to introduce those people to me by whispering in my ears.
"You see those two boys on in that corner," he asked.
"I can only see those girls on their laps, and I didn't know that we are offering pleasure girls in bar," I commented.
"We don't do that yet, but it's not completely impossible because the family of the brothers own the franchise of this place," he said. "Arun and Varun."
"Oh! I wonder what it's like to be an owner of anything," I replied. "Tell me about the other one," I ended up asking.
"I thought you must have recognized him by now," he wondered.
"Well, I don't remember him being my neighbor," I jested. "Just say already."
"You must not be following news these days, I think. Parv Maheshwari is the one who was engaged to Nisa Bansal, Mukesh Bansal's daughter, who ran from her house," he told me. "He must think he is a self-made business tycoon, eligible, young and desirable; how could a girl ever ditch him." Yasim shook his head in slow-motion as dismay.
The strange sadness on his face was now understandable by me. The whole story seemed to have been unfolded in my little understanding.
"And that girl in blue top is his sister, Garima." He further said.
The moment I turned my eyes to the two girls, I was able to identify a familiar face among them. The one who sat beside Garima, was someone who I could remember encountering in my past several times.
As I continuously stared at her trying to find her in my memories, I realized that she was Ridhi. Her eyes caught me and widened as she found me there.
I shifted my eyes off their lounge and left the side of Yasim. I got back to my work, roaming around serving snacks and drinks. But strangely Ridhi's gaze never budged from my face. I could constantly feel her staring at me even when I wasn't looking. And then I got the feeling that she was walking toward me; I turned and there she was, standing in front of me.
"Can we talk?" she said.
We stepped outside to have a word, in the open night sky. She looked restless, and panicked having unsaid words in her mouth.
"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to ease her worries.
"I am just surprised to see you here," she said. "It has been so many years since we saw each other; how are you?"
"I am doing just fine. But a little busy with my work. So, may I know the purpose for being here?" I was outright blunt and indifferent to her skeptical amiability.
She was silenced and couldn't find words to speak next.
"You are still the same. Maybe, that's the reason you are alone. You like to push everyone away and seem like a threat whenever somebody tries to get close to you." She said. "I just wanted to know if you have been in contact with my Father."
At that moment, it was clear for me what concern she had with me and I spoke, "Okay! I understand. I didn't see you here. I am not in contact with your father, there's no way I can tell you on him. Plus, I would hate to do that."
"But you have the perfect opportunity for the revenge; you must have been waiting to get back at me," she finally let her fright show.
I flashed a little chuckle, trying to humiliate her, "I have better things to do, you must know. And you call this an opportunity for revenge. When are you going to grow up?" I said, as I laughed like a crazy person.
"Laugh all you want. You wouldn't know what it's like have a controlling father, or having any father; you are a free bird, there's no one to control your life."
"And you think I like that?" I suddenly got a little moisture in my eyes. "And why are you even comparing? I was an orphan girl getting support from your family."
"You were my best friend," she told, silencing me.
"Ridhi," I said her name with depth, "you were anything but a friend to me."
I came back inside and I stayed still a moment to feel the proud. I could sense a flow of power running through my body. I did right. She deserved it. It was all that was going in my mind.
I would have been adopted and having a family if not for that girl. 15 years back when her uncle decided to adopt me as their child, the little princess prevented it from happening, the reason being that she didn't want me to be taken to America, where her uncle and aunt lived. She called her actions an act of friendship. Saying that she didn't want me to leave, she eventually left herself only after a year. And there I was again, forlorn and uncared for.
I took a deep breath till my chest inflated with self-esteem. Among the wild crowd, I saw a hand waving slightly to have my attention. It was the melancholic Parv gesturing to call me, a waitress. I grabbed a tray of snacks and went to his lounge. I could that he was already on the brink of falling wasted on the floor, his sister kept pestering him to leave the place and the other two boys were lost somewhere on the dance floor.
I stood in front of him, "Would you like some snacks? Or shall I bring you something else?"
He looked devastated, and didn't even take the notice of me asking him, "Sir, how may I help you?"
"Can you please get me another drink?" he said in a faint voice.
Garima grabbed her head in exhaustion, "Bhai! It'enough. We should leave now."
"We will leave, Garu. Just let your brother have one more drink to help fall asleep."
I leaned a bit forward to hear his faint orders clearly, "what can I get you, Scotch, Whiskey, Champagne or Vodka?" I asked.
"Umm… Scotch please."
"You want it on the rocks?"
"No, pure and neat."
"Anything, you would like to munch on?" I asked.
He lift his head to look at me, and smirked at my face. Then, he suddenly got up on his feet; struggling to balance himself, he came closer to me. The stench of the alcohol forced me to hold my breath and his approaching steps caused me to retrieve myself backwards.
He grabbed my shoulders from behind, drove and pushed me to sit on the lounge. "Yoou siit, I go an get drink. Tell me if you want anything."
I rose from the lounge but, "uh huh!" he made me sit again. "Just wait right here, I will get it real quick."
"Bhai! You will sleep just fine. Just let go of it already."
He suddenly burst in a strange laughter and turned his eyes to me, "do I look drunk to you? Look at her overreacting."
That moment, both the siblings were standing straight while I was the only one who sat on the lounge listening to them.
"Bhai, it's obvious that you are upset for that stupid arranged marriage."
"No I am not." He spoke in a tone of total disgust. "I hadn't even seen that bitch for once. What I may be upset about is that I didn't get to ditch her first."
Garima fell by my side, grabbing one of my arm in ecstacy. She asked me, "your opinion? Does he not look like he is going to kill himself?"
Before I could answer her, Parv also came bouncing on the lounge beside me, "think about it. Why would I be upset if someone I have never seen in my life doesn't want to marry me.; to the extent that she runs away from her home."
I turned my right to face him, but her sister again whispered in my left ear, "he looks devastated. Doesn't it look like he wanted to marry her badly?"
Then again, Parv spoke in my right ear, "I want you to rate me from 9 to 10."
I suddenly looked at him thinking that he may have made a mistake, "no one can find me below nine," he said.
As the siblings surrounded me from either sides, and kept pestering me to answer; Arun and Varun came. The brothers were also on the edge of passing out. It looked like they had finally made up their minds to end the night there.
"Are we all good to leave?" Varun asked, looking at Parv.
Ridhi also came following their arrival. The moment she saw me sitting with Parv and Garima, her expressions declared unease and anxiety.
"Who is she?"
Only when Ridhi pointed out did Arun and Varun became curious about me. For a moment all five of them surrounded me by peculiar gazes and out of the context questions.
I rose from the lounge at once and quickly stood away from the siblings. Those eyes still didn't budge, waiting for my answer.
"Let me repeat your order, sir : you wanted a neat scotch with no snacks on the side. Is there anything else?"
Telling that I was only a waitress, I knew they had lost all their curiosities.
"Bro, seriously you are trying to get more drunk?" said Varun.
To this Arun replied, "She isn't worth it. Why are you ruining yourself?"
Parv appeared to have had it enough, "why do you guys keep saying that? I don't care about it more than a lying pebble on the road." He turned to me and said, "I don't want anything anymore. Forget it."
"Alright, sir."
When I was about to turn back to leave, he seek me again, "excuse me- taking out from his pockets a note of INR 500.- sorry for the trouble."
At that moment, I knew what I had to do was to grab that note from his hand and saying a thank you, putting it safe and secure in my wallet. But to my surprise, I found it the most difficult task to accept that tip. While he just looked at my face, holding that note, I wondered what went wrong with my head for not taking it.
Even that night, I had collected tips from the customers and didn't have trouble with it. But what happened to me when this man was offering the biggest sum for the night. I felt that I would lose something bigger if were to accept that.
"Sorry, but the bill has been paid already." I said.
"It's your tip." He replied.
"I don't accept tips. Have a nice time." Saying this, I left.
I didn't look back to know if he still looked at me or not. Not too late, an alternative side of me began to regret the decision of not taking that.
"Why on earth did I reject that?" I asked myself. "I have absolutely no chance of seeing him again, why did this silly self-confidence came in me, that too only in front of him? Why?"
What I was sure that I was subconsciously trying to impress him. I would have felt terrible to have accepted that. I sssss
Dairy Of Parv Maheshwari
11:44 PM
Thursday, 26 December,
I find it difficult to be up at this hour, more so because I have just came back home from a party night with my friends. It is unusual of me to bother writing about my day, when I am this tired. But surprisingly, I do not wish to forget this night. That's the reason I am resisting my sleepy eyes from shutting down until I pour the events of this special day in my diary.
26th December was the far-most coldest day this winter. I wonder how I was able to leave the house, and even ended up going to a club. Although, New Delhi is not a city where a white Christmas can be experienced, still it was nothing short of Antarctica for me.
At around 10:30 this morning, I was asked by Arun if I wanted to join them for clubbing at night. At that moment, the thought of stepping out in that weather was no different than a suicide for me. Therefore, I was quick to answer 'No'. I tried getting up from my bed but didn't quite find any purpose to be up already. So I just lay appreciating the warmth of my bed and comparing it with the bluish fog outside my window, giving me chills just by its sight.
But as the afternoon arrived in the clock, there were the nosy family members of mine, knocking my door one by one; making sure that I was not dead. "I am alive." I said.
I had already expected; they have been acting weirdly since days now. Always making sure that I am around, asking me if I am okay or not; and I just can't understand why. They say that I look devastated since my so called 'engagement' went off. But I myself don't feel a thing as much as the sting of an ant.
Then, finally the last family member to wake up, came at my door to see if I was still breathing. It was Ridhi, she didn't just knock but also barged inside before I could say anything. The moment she saw me comfortable and happy in my bed, she yelled at me for it.
In my defense, I could only say that I was perfectly fine and that I don't care about that engagement thing at all. I didn't even know what she looked like to be crying for her. But she came and sat beside me, taking my hand in hers. I asked her the reason why everyone is being so wary around me when I am nothing but normal. She said that she realizes that I am completely normal but she said that being normal was the problem with me.
"It's not that you look sad or dead to me, but we have seen you when you were at the jewelers picking out a ring for her, also when you were trying out your wedding suit. You smiled like you were a psychopath but now you are normal. Of course we are worried."
I got up from my bed immediately, hearing that. I realized that in order to show that I am completely okay, I need to become a psychopath not normal. So, I called Arun again and told him that I will be coming with him, and I also promised Ridhi to take her there.
I tried enjoying at the club like I usually do but it was difficult to be smiling all the time. And I also tried to ease down the worries of my sister and family. I hope they stop fretting over my well being.
The club full of spirited people was first time seeming exhausting to me. The people were dancing, but it appeared fake to me. But there was one thing that caught my attention there, a girl staring solemnly at the dancing crowd, I spent time wondering about what she might be thinking.
From the uniform worn by her, I could see that she was a service staff. I don't know what kept my eyes at her face, but it did seem like her face was the only real emotion I could find there. She didn't have the most perfect skin, instead her face was full of light freckles but surprisingly it was glowing to appear differentiated in that place. I wanted to talk to her, but was too afraid of her strong aura.
As I kept drinking more and more alcohol, she was starting to appear more and more beautiful. At one point of time, I didn't know when I mustered up the courage to wave at her. She came with a bunch of snacks and asked me to order something. I didn't want to have anything that moment, but somehow I ended up asking for more drinks.
As she kept on naming the options to me, I lost track of what I said to her to bring. Until, I lost my mind and made her sit there and spoke a bunch of nonsense about my life to her. I wonder what she would be thinking of me. I was already embarrassed when I went out of my way to tip her. She looked at me in a way that intimidated me more than anything to the date has.
I stayed there for another hour but that girl couldn't be found anymore. And then, I was too drunk to be able to remember what happened. When I next found myself conscious, I was being pulled outside of my sister's car. I could hear her cursing me for being a pain. Then she called Bholi outside in secret and they both brought me inside.
Fearing the eyes and ears of Papa, they made sure that they made no noise. And all that time, I didn't even try to make it any easier for them. The lobby was dark, and they couldn't turn the lights on because Papa was in his study.
Then suddenly, my left foot got caught in the railing of the staircase and I tripped making some serious noise. Both Garima and Bholi were quick to leave me there on the ground. The fall brought my consciousness back and I grabbed the railing to get on my feet. But as I was about to raise myself, I saw Papa's toes coming towards me, as I lifted my head up, I found him glaring at me.
He didn't speak much as usual except the words that he always throws on me, "Disgrace on the family!"
Saying this, he left.
I got on my knees and then helped myself up; holding the railing, I barely climbed the staircase and coming inside my room, I grabbed the diary and sat writing about this awfully interesting d
Chapter 2
I read the 'art of seduction' continuing from page 162, on the night when I for the first time found myself unconsciously lying to get someone's attention. The book was done categorizing the types of seducers and began the chapter of anti-seducers. From that point of time, I began to lose my interest, thinking that seduction is not even that powerful of a weapon after all; or probably, the lack of interest was caused by the lack of money that I had, with 5500 rupees promised to the landlord by 7 that evening.
I kept calling the manager of the restaurant, Mr Singh that morning, to know if I could go and fetch my pay before 7; I couldn't wait till my shift that started at 8. No matter how many times I called, there was no answer. In the end, I decided to go and grab that old hag from his scruff. I further imagined choking him till he doesn't spit out money from his mouth. I couldn't despise people like him more; knowing that I was in a dire need of some money, he made me beg for it again and again. Such people would never understand how it feels to acknowledge and say that one is too broke to have a shelter above head.
I went to the restaurant with a firm mind to quit the work that day. I pushed the door to his cabin open till it slammed against the wall. And adding to my anger, the old hag was not there. I asked a waiter working in that shift.
"Why Singh is not in his cabin?" I barely kept myself from addressing him as an asshole. "Where the hell is he?" I asked.
"Cool down babes. Go find him in the kitchen," said the waiter. "But make sure you knock before you enter."
"I have left my manners at home from where I am going to get kicked out tonight."
The leaps of my steps were bigger knowing that he was inside the kitchen. I grabbed the doorknob with utmost hatred and turned it imagining Singh's head in my hands. The door opened and I barged in calling his name behind my grinding teeth, "Mr. Singh."
At that moment, I recalled being warned about knocking before I entered. I saw a petite female body in the grip of giant Singh's. The buttons of his shirt were undone to a point where I could see that he was hairy till the belly button, at least. He was panting heavily, while pulling up his pants, which I was glad I didn't notice were down. The girl was sitting on the kitchen counter, with her back towards me. But I knew seeing the golden brown hair in a lose braid, that she was Nargis.
I closed the door back, and stepped two feet distance first and then far away another second. I stood at the reception, recalling those five seconds. I hoped and hoped that I was saw wrong and it wasn't Nargis but someone else. Even the idea of that girl being Nargis was so horrifying that I felt nauseous thinking about that moment again.
"No, No it can't be her. She is just sixteen and that old hag, with four children. How disgusting would it be," I was speaking aloud without even realizing it myself.
"The world was always disgusting babe," said the waiter, who pointed me to the kitchen earlier.
"How long has this been going on?" I asked.
"Isn't she your best friend?" he said. "You must know how long."
"This is sick!" I shrugged. "She is sixteen. I am…"
"Speechless?" he said. "That's what I felt as well."
I had never been this furious for someone else's interest. I had always admired Nargis for being young, courageous and independent, but that moment, all I could regret was to associate with a person like her.
As I talked to the waiter, standing at the reception, Singh walked out of the kitchen with a normal demeanor. He was still reluctant to look me in the eye. He approached the empty reception and passed through the desk.
"Good luck with your pay," said the waiter and went on for his work.
He pulled open the cash drawer at the reception and grabbed a few 500 rupees notes, stashed them in a sleek bundle with an elastic band, without even counting for once. His eyes still wandered here and there, without meeting mine.
I took my money from his hands and counted the sum: it came out to be having an extra thousand rupees. I raised an eyebrow pulling two notes out of the stash.
"What's the extra one thousand for?" I asked.
"I thought you might need it, you said that time is tough."
"Indeed, the time is fucked up." I said, putting the two notes back on the desk. "But I still choose to accept the money which I worked for."
"Just think of it as an increment," he persisted. "And I remember that you still have unpaid leaves, why don't you use them and enjoy the New Year."
"I will consider, sir."
I had so much going on in my mind which I could speak and humiliate him in front of all the customers. I was so furious that I the words 'I Quit' were on the verge of spilling out of my mouth, but I restrained, thinking that it would only make me suffer.
"I have considered, sir. Thanks. I am on my leave from tomorrow."
As I went inside the kitchen to take a look at Nargis after this incident, I heard her crying hiding herself behind a counter. My heart ached for a second; I thought that I had made my judgement about her, without even listening to her once.
"I know you are there." I spoke.
A meek snort followed and she rose from there. She looked at me straight in the eyes.
"It's hard to face you now." She said.
I slowly approached her, sitting behind the counter; and tapped on the ground for her to take her place back. We both sat with our backs leaning against the counter.
"You don't have to look at me, if it's difficult. Why don't you –pointing at calendar that hung on the wall- look at that calendar over there? It's the last month page of 2022."
"It has been going on for eight months, it started almost the time I came for work here," she said. "You should learn to be straightforward with your question."
"Nargis!" I exclaimed. "why are you in this? You are not that kind of a person."
She scoffed wryly looking at me. "What kind of a person?"
"You know what kind."
"You mean, a person in need and a person who is lacking in more than one ways."
"I can't think of one reason that you should be with that perverted old man."
"You can't think of one reason?" she asked. "I can give one hundred but I won't because I am already embarrassed enough."
She tried to distance me again. I always wanted become a genuine friend to her but she never gave me any chance to understand her. She was always a closed book. My eyes looked downward in disappointment. I sensed her looking at me, upset because of her.
"Penny!" she called. "I have a family to support. Being a minor, I could not sget a job anywhere in this damn city. When I got a job as a dishwasher here, I knew that I would have to endure a lot more than just dirty dishes coming one after another."
My skin was numb listening to her talk. It was the first time she was opening up to me, though I did not expect her story to be so heart-wrenching.
"It wouldn't have happened to you because you are strong and independent. You don't have a mother and five siblings, all looking towards your face for a piece of bread, just because you are the eldest."
I always thought that a girl like Nargis doesn't belong to a job like this because she was intelligent, smart and too sophisticated to be working as a dishwasher as a minor.
"Things were different when I was around 10 years old and my father lived with us. I was the most beloved child of my parents. We lived in prosperity, happiness and harmony. Then my mother got pregnant with her third child. There were already two daughters in the family and my father wanted a son at any cost. He was a typical Indian man after all. He completely lost his mind when even the third child came out to be a girl. He changed into a totally different person after that. He would drink excessive amount of alcohol and beat us all. Fixated upon having a son, he had no regards of my mother's deteriorating health. She got pregnant again, with the fourth child being a girl yet again. The happy family that I once had, completely turned into a terrible mess and my father left us one random day. And you know what the craziest part of the story was? My mother got pregnant again, this time she was determined to have a son so she could appease the anger of my father. She didn't even consider her health before delivering the fifth child, who was surprisingly a boy this time. She was happy, to be precise she was the only one happy, because I was more worried about her crippled legs. Yes, the baby came with the cost of her ability to walk. My mother had never went to school or knew anything at all to be able to support herself, the only thing she thought was enough was to marry a wealthy man and she thought of herself as a complete and able woman. But what she did receive after serving that man for all these years, and carrying five damn babies in her weak body, was that my father didn't even come to see the face of the son he wanted so bad. He found herself a younger wife and settled with her in another state. I was left with a devastated, half dead mother and four little ones to take care of.
'I wouldn't be able to feed all of them if I don't use my powers as a woman, to control the mind of a man with an undone button on my chest. You can call me a prostitute all you want. But I am someone who is more aware of how men, either husband, boyfriend or… or Singh, would only be under your influence until you give them what they want."
I couldn't get it through my mind that these words came from a sixteen year old. She sounded so solemn that for a second I lost myself in her story.
"Stop giving me that look, apparent sympathy is mean."