VI

Returning back to Eliseva’s mansion, Eliseva could not help but walk on air upon seeing Hazel and hug her. Tightly. It was imperative for her to be happy to see Hazel because she only got to hear Hazel’s praises from the party she had gone to last night. She knew that Hazel’s beauty would entice everyone there. 

She had also seen purple marks on her neck and shoulder which anyone could understand what happened last night. It was also necessary to drag Hazel under suspicion for a moment by Eliseva, because she had thought that Hazel would do some work that would embarrass her in front of her customers. But nothing like that happened. 

Eliseva was loving Hazel as her own daughter without giving any reason behind it. She was pouring honey with her bitter tongue, pampering Hazel like her own daughter. And all this surprised Hazel. It was also bound to be surprising because Eliseva had never treated her so sweetly. 

But Hazel did not declare Eliseva as her goddess like the rest of the girls in that mansion. She lived her day as usual, not paying much attention to Eliseva. 

Even at night, when they all sat down to eat, Eliseva wanted to feed Hazel the first morsel of food with her own hands which Hazel refused without raising a voice. She just did not like that artificial sweetness of Eliseva. Hazel never promoted fake love, care and treatment.

Eliseva also did not mind that and started munching on her food. 

“Why didn’t you accept it? Eli rarely gives so much attention to anyone. If you are being given, why are you not taking it?” Irene whispered into Hazel’s ear while filling her spoon with fried rice from her plate in front. 

“I don’t know why she is kind today?” Hazel whispered back, wrapping her lips around the spoon and taking the bite. 

“Because finally you stepped in this work. She’s happy because you slept with them last night.” Hazel’s breath hitched as soon as she heard Irene. That was a pure lie. 

“H-How did she know t-that?” She stopped eating and looked at Irene. 

Irene looked around. She found all of the girls eating silently, not even looking at her and Hazel. She looked back at Hazel, finding concern in her eyes which amused her. 

“Guess?” She smirked when Hazel panicked. 

“Tell me, Ire!” She glared at her. Irene palmed her mouth, hiding that amused grin plastered over her lips. She nodded her head, giving Hazel a headache. She was worried how Eliseva was able to see that she slept with those men when she never did it in real! 

“Ask the marks on your neck and shoulder, Haze!” 

Her eyes widened which earned a smirk from Irene. Her hand flew up to palm the side of her neck, caressing the skin absentmindedly. “Relax, Haze! That’s normal!” 

“But it’s embarrassing. I never realised it.” 

Suddenly Irene began to suspect Hazel after she heard her. Under the guise of doubt, she did not ask her anything at the dining table there. She just told Hazel not to worry in a low voice, and started eating food. 

But Irene could not let anything suspicious get carried away. As Hazel went to her room after having dinner, Irene asked her to let her in and know about the previous night. Not wishing to turn her question around, she put it directly in front of Hazel which Hazel could not deny. 

Hazel did not consider it necessary to hide anything from Irene and told her everything. Irene was surprised to know that yesterday’s man did not drag Hazel forcibly in that work and did not take anything further considering her age. 

That was something unexpected. 

Customers do not care what age the girls living in the brothel are. They are only concerned with quenching the thirst of their lust. In such a situation, his decision not to pursue anything with Hazel earned Irene’s praise. 

Hazel did not give any expression even after hearing the praise of the man from Irene’s mouth. Irene had not seen him. Irene had not felt his touch. In such a situation, she could never even be familiar with his touch which was burning Hazel. 

It felt wrong and rough. It was dominating. It was burning. She did not like it at all. That touch was only scaring her. There was nothing like tingling sensations in his touch. Raw need was reflected in his eyes, not any soft emotion. 

She could not even expect those soft emotions!

But there was one thing which it was necessary to worry about. Irene had just caught one scared and restless look from her and gained suspicion, then Eliseva was the aunt of foxes! For her, it will be easier than Irene. 

She did not want Eliseva to catch her! Because if she realised that Hazel did not obey her at all and did not satisfy the men there, then she could not even imagine what brutal thing Eliseva would do to her. 

She was the woman of her words! 

 ~♡♡~

Next day when she woke up with an uneasy feeling, she tried to calm herself down. She felt as if something bad was about to happen. But it could only be the imagination of her scared mind. She tried to calm her heart by placing her hand on her chest. 

He prayed as usual. 

After a moment, Eliseva called her down. She took a bath and dressed up in a white cotton fabric anarkali. Putting a red dupatta on her head, she then went downstairs. 

There on the dining table, everybody was taking their seats. She took her seat next to Irene and prayed before eating her breakfast. 

Eliseva watched her with amusement, ready to give her a heart attack as it was her habit. 

After Hazel finished eating breakfast, she got up to leave. Eliseva stopped her right there and told her something. Something that made her tremble right there as soon as she heard that famous surname. The powerful name which was the cause of her trembling body every time.  

“He’s coming tonight.” Oh no! Another bomb. She could not believe her ears but she did not believe the man either. Why? Why was he coming tonight? 

“But why? Isn’t it done? I danced that night, isn’t it enough?” She asked in one go as trepidation clouded her mind and heart completely. She did not even realise when the hasty words escaped her mouth. But she did not care at all. 

“Oh Hazel..!” She chuckled and patted her shoulder, “you’re so cute! Why are you nervous when you’ve already had a night with him?” 

“Then why? I-I mean why again?” 

“No idea.” She shrugged her shoulders, giving Hazel a mischievous grin. “Maybe not satisfied!” She chuckled. 

Blood rushed to her cheeks when she heard Eliseva. She was so casual but Hazel was uncomfortable. Not because Eliseva was straightforward, but the mention of the man she met last night scared her, embarrassed her. 

“B-But…” she was getting nervous as she did not know what excuse she should use to escape the man tonight. Eliseva looked at her confused face that started working on her. Hazel looked up at her, seeing a frown forming on her brows. She was thinking something. Something that could trouble her very soon. 

“But?” Eliseva asked, narrowing her eyes at Hazel. 

Her heartbeats increased. Eliseva was doubting her. And she was afraid that she might catch her just like Irene did last night. 

She sucked a deep breath. “I-I don’t… I don’t want this, Eliseva.” She quickly averted her eyes, hiding them because she was aware of her vibrating orbs. Eliseva could read her eyes easily. 

“Why?” The sudden welcome of irk in her voice made her flinch as she looked up at her. 

“I… because—”

“No excuses, Hazel. You’ve done it, no? So what’s the problem in doing it again? There’s no choice for you. Sleeping with every man who pays for your body is the only option for you.” 

Her eyes widened. “But that’s wrong!” She uttered immediately, not regretting her sudden and unexpected words. 

“Like I don’t know? Don’t start with your stupid lecture now. Do as I say or you know the consequences.” 

“Eliseva, please?” 

“I cleared myself! Now wait for him tonight, dressed in an attractive attire, understand?” Saying that, she stormed out of that place, not wishing to listen to Hazel anymore. 

Hazel stood there, looking down in defeat. Finally Eliseva did not listen to her. She felt tears burning her eyes. Not again. She did not want to meet that man again. He was horrible. Scared her to no end. His touch was filthy. His eyes held dirt. She did not want to meet him again and that was clear in her mind. 

But did she have any choice? No. Eliseva made it clear already. It was one and only option for her. 

She was bound to meet him tonight. 

She huffed and went into her room. She locked herself in and walked to the terrace side of her room. There she stood silently and looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were hovering above, earning a sigh of content from her. 

The anxiety building inside her by that news started subsiding because of the change in weather taking place in front of her eyes. Cool air started caressing her skin and she found herself closing her eyes in bliss. 

It was going to rain. Her favourite.

She loved rain and every time it gave her a different kind of happiness. Wow. Was the only word she could whisper inwardly. She loved everything about rain. 

A cold drop of water landed on her cheekbone. Her eyes flickered open at that cold touch. Her lips stretched into a small smile, realizing finally the sky was about to open up and let its cold tears meet the thirsty ground. 

Her chest heaved up as she inhaled that hypnotizing scent. The winds intensified. The green vine leaves standing on the wall of her room started swaying. That creeper was reaching the roof of that mansion while traveling from the ground. The pink flowers on it always gave peace to her heart.  

A pigeon came to her on the terrace. Light drops started falling from the sky. That dry and hot ground started getting wet. A light shower of water did not quench its thirst and the place dried up in an instant. 

She looked at the pigeon who was making its way to her room. She giggled softly and then turned her eyes away from that pigeon. She wanted to enjoy that moment so stayed there under the slow drizzling. That slow pace of falling water droplets could not wet her down, of which she took advantage.