Chapter 2

Radhika

I drifted off from my sleep when I heard Arjun waking me up. I hardly slept for an hour, and it was the sweetest sleep I've had in a while. “We've landed, let’s go,” He said to me, advancing towards the exit already. I followed him as soon as I had his jacket on. Noticing many of his men in black suits were there to greet him. In seconds, their eyes were glued to me as they suddenly turned to me and glared at my body shamelessly. Their dirty stares made me feel so anxious and uneasy. As if they were undressing me in their imagination. I paced up to Arjun, he didn’t seem to notice them. He just acknowledged their presence with a nod as he helped me get into the expensive-looking car that was waiting for him outside of the plane. Those men hopped into another car when the car we were in started to drive. I breathed in relief when I was out of their sight.

“Where are we?” I asked him with an eyebrow raised.

“In Mumbai,” 

“Where are we going?”

“To my home,” He replied and got busy on his phone. To keep myself busy, I stared out of the window. As a kid, my mom used to tell me that only strong-willed and rich people could afford to live in Mumbai. The city of dreams has always fascinated me until today when I am actually here and seeing it in person. As we passed through slums and skyscrapers, I couldn't recall the last time I left that hell and traveled somewhere new. I have been caged by Sikha and Javed there for so long that I have forgotten how the sky, the sun, the birds look. I lost hope that someday I would get to see them again.

A half-hour later, the car stopped in front of a huge gate. It was a grand entrance, a blank canvas with massively tall walls surrounding whatever was inside. It looked like they were protecting the inner world from everything that was outside of them. Two guards outside the gate came running towards the car, opening the door for both of us. I kept my head low because I seriously had no desire to attract more stares at me. 

A five-story mansion stretches out over the land as far as my eyes could see, guards bearing guns protecting each part of the house. At first glance, anyone could mistake them for actors and locations from a movie. Advancing in with him, I spotted the lavish black main door. Another guard opened it for us to enter.

My mouth dropped somewhere on the Italian marble floor, which was crystal clear and reflected back my reflection like a mirror as I stepped inside. Each wall and piece of furniture screamed 'worth a king's ransom. My eyes only wandered around the exterior of the property. This is because the interior architecture is made up of depressing colors like black, grey, the darkest shade of red, slightly white as if designed to showcase the pain of the owners. Arjun is really extravagant I guess. 

I reckoned him as a colorful person, and here, the walls are telling a different story.

I noticed a few women in black uniforms rushing around carrying different things in their hands. Some held dirty clothes to wash, and some held buckets of undone dishes. They all seemed in a hurry to complete tasks before the deadline.

“Meher di (Sister) She’s the girl I talked about earlier,” Arjun’s voice yanked me back to reality. I looked up at the woman he was talking to. She was tall, she had the prettiest complexion and beautiful bob hairs. She neither seemed friendly nor rude to me by the way she was scanning me from top to bottom. His address to her was 'Di,' meaning sister, but they don't look like siblings, they seem unrelated.

“Oh, what a lovely little girl she is.” She said, smiling affectionately at me, “She is more gorgeous than you described her over the call."

So he believes that I am beautiful?

A smile waved at my lips and a blush crept into my face. “Thank you,”

“Are you sure you didn’t bring her as your girlfriend to meet the boss?" She jokes, teasing him on purpose while gesturing at my clothes, yet I felt a weird sensation in my stomach over her words.

He leaves a long, anguish sigh, rubbing his eyes with the help of his fingers as he speaks, “No, Di, I don’t want her to meet Vikram bro. He'll kill me if he finds out the truth, he's not at home, right?” 

What truth did he mean that his brother would kill him for? He told me I was a gift from his friend to him when we were on the plane. I am not getting what is going on? What exactly happened to me after I blanked out on the stage? I should try to ask him this in the near future.

"All right, he will be back later in the evening. So, then? Are you planning to hide her in our home?” She asked, her eyebrows rising up along with her hand as a reaction to shock.

“Well….” He looked at me, brushing his hand over his hair seeming puzzled about something that is none other than me. Meher crossed her hands while waiting for him to finish his sentence. He breathed out finally coming to the conclusion, “Umm, do you know how to do house chores?” He asked me.

I nodded my head in yes, “I do know,”

“Great. She can work as a maid here like everyone else,” He told her.

She sucked in her cheeks in thought but she agreed nonetheless with him, “As you say, for now, I am letting things slip but you gotta tell me everything after your birthday party,” 

His face falls infuriated, pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn’t look a bit excited about his birthday instead he looked distressed, “I would be lying if I say I remember about today’s party, anyways, I am honestly in no mood for it,”

“I sensed that. You should rest for a while, you’ll feel fresh,” she suggested to him.

“That’s the plan. You will…”

“Don’t worry, I will manage everything,” She assured him.

He nods, thanking her, and walks away to his room. I was left alone, clueless about what to do next. Meher looks around as if she was searching for someone and called out a young girl, probably a few years older than me, she instruct her things and turns to face me, “What’s your name?” She asked in a softened tone.

“Radhika,” My voice came out lower than I had expected.

Gladly, she heard me say, “Beautiful name. Radhika, you can call me Meher. I am the person in charge of the house, maids, and servants. You will be living with Alisha, who also goes by Lisa. She recently joined the team, and she will inform you further about your responsibilities. If you need anything you can count on us. I live on the fourth floor,” She told me, flashing a grin. 

“Thank you, Meher,” I said, returning her grin. She waves off like she doesn’t like me thanking her. She walked past me after quickly patting my head.

“Come with me,” Alisha said, holding one of the friendliest and sweetest smiles I have seen on anyone since my arrival here. Looking around a bit, I followed her to the first floor of the mansion which was mainly available only to maids. A door at the corner of the floor led to a room. She turned on the lights, making it easier to see the surroundings. There were a couple of folded mattresses laying on the floor, a small table next to them, and a metal wardrobe right behind the door with an attached mirror. There was a balcony that was closed and hidden by the yellow and white curtains. I found this room to be lively and vibrant, miles better than my previous living quarters and the entire mansion.

I shifted around and looked at Alisha, who enters as she closes the door behind her, “So, you can use any one of the mattresses there, we are short on blankets and pillows, I will check in storage if we have extra, and will get them for you later today,” 

“That would be a huge favor, thanks,” I said, giving her a flickered smile.

She chuckled, walking over to the wardrobe and shuffling through her clothes. “I am just doing my job, so don’t call it a favor, by the way, can I ask you something?”

“Yes?” 

“You look like you are from a nice rich family then why are you here?”

This was the question I would do anything to run away from. What would I say? I have a father who sold me into the hands of agents who made me do prostitution, abused me, beaten me, tortured me to death, and left me to die in a basement with no food or water for days. A heavy weight of sadness would have prevented my body from floating on the ocean. I burst into tears as my balance trembled and I fell on the floor. My past trauma hit me. She hurried up and brought a glass of water for me to drink.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to bring your past up. I should have to know,” She says, rubbing my back to soothe me.

“No, it’s okay, it’s just something that brings me to tears whenever I think of it,” I said, wiping off my cheeks.

“I can relate, but I need you to open up to me. It may not heal your old wounds, however, it will make you more relaxed." 

I told everything that happened to me, her serene face replaced by shock, anger, and grief for both my father and Sikha and Javed, for what they did to me. She heaved an upset sigh and placed her hand on my shoulder as she embraced me, tightly in her arms.

“I’ve no clue how I managed to survive the worst,” I said, slowly shedding more tears.

“Whatever you’ve suffered through has only made you stronger than ever, so cheer up. I know this isn’t the most ideal job or place to stay but still, it can provide you with healthy food and a night of peaceful sleep that you need at the moment," She smiled. I shook my head in acceptance. She stretched my lips upwards with her thumb and pointer finger in an attempt to lift my smile. I smiled nevertheless, “Now, get up, today is Arjun Sir’s birthday, we need extra hands in decorating the whole damn mansion,”

“I don’t know if I could work in these clothes…” I trailed off. She got up and walked to her wardrobe, removing an outfit exactly like the one she’s wearing, and handed it over to me with a pair of black sandals. 

“Change into them and meet me down in the hallway,” She said, leaving the room, so I could change without being uncomfortable. I quickly showered, dried my hair, then got into a uniform made up of a white plain office shirt, a black pencil, and stockings. I noticed there was a small place above my shirt’s left side for a nameplate. I haven’t gotten one, so I left it and wrapped my hair as high as I could in a ponytail. I wore my sandals, strolling straight to the hallway.

Other maids were still busy decorating the mansion, so I couldn't find anyone to guide me. A maid approached me, hurriedly asking, "Hey, what are you doing here? Take this upstairs," She handed me a seagrass basket that contained the rose crochet led string lights. She sprinted away before I could ask her exactly where she wanted me to take them.

Confusingly, having no idea, I began to take them upstairs. It was getting heavier with each step I was taking and my sandals were making sure to make it more difficult for me than it already was. My basket was in my arms and I kept adjusting it in my arms out of fear that I might fall. I couldn’t take the help of my hands because Sikha stood on them and the hurt in my knuckles is too much to handle, I cannot give pressure to my hands unless resulting in pain. However, somehow I managed to get to the fourth floor. 

Standing near the stairs to catch my breath, I felt a rush of footsteps behind me and I misplaced my balance. The basket in my hands slipped forward, and my sandals tripped, causing me to fall backward from the stairs. Screaming, I grabbed at the steel rail of the stairs for safety. I could feel my heart beating in my mouth. Unfortunately, the rail was slippery and I was losing my grip. I closed my eyes so I couldn't see myself getting fractured. I was on the verge of crumpling when a strong hand pulled me up and I collapsed on a rock-hard chest.

Feeling myself alive, I reopened my eyes. A pair of familiar brown orbs met mine, finding it was Arjun, who held my hand. A strange sensation crossed throughout my body and I froze in my place. Having blinked a few times to stabilize himself, he simply let me go once I was a safe distance from falling straight on my back and from him as well. "I hope you're okay," He said, worriedly.

“Y-Yes, I guess,” I replied, pulling me back out of my frozen state.

“What were you trying to do exactly? If I was a minute late, you would have been rolling down the stairs,” He says in a high agitated voice like he was super concerned. My eyes widened at the worried look on his face, mesmerized by his reaction. No one had ever seemed concerned for me. I hardly knew him, he barely knew me and I had no idea how to reply to his sudden care. I am definitely overthinking. It must be out of humanity, no?

“I was taking this basket upstairs when I lost my balance,” I replied to him, indicating the fallen basket on the ground, the lights were spread everywhere, “Oh no!” I immediately began to pick them back up in the basket and Arjun leaned down to my height to help me over it. We packed the lights back and I looked up to thank him, instead, I caught him looking aimlessly at me. Is he holding his breath?

“What happened to your hand?” He suddenly asked, taking my hand in his, to examine, “It has gone blue,” I withdrew it to myself. I cannot tell the truth, can I? What he would think of me? 

“There you are, Arjun!" Meher's voice jolted us, nevertheless, it saved me from answering him. As he turned to face her, we both stood up. "I was looking for you in your room, and you're here," she said, walking towards us.

“Actually, I wasn’t able to rest so thought a walk would freshen me up a little,” He replied to her, “Anyways, is there anything I could assist you with?” 

“Um, yes, the boss is arriving in an hour. Would you be able to meet him at the airport? I wouldn't have bothered you if I didn't have all the responsibility of the party on my shoulders, and it was the boss's order that the party should be extra special so that the entire city of Mumbai knows whose birthday it is today," She said, leaving him with a sigh of relief.

“No problem,” He said, shifting to me, “And please walk carefully." 

I nodded my head as he walked off. I also got back on my way when Meher stopped me. “Don’t you think, Radhika, he’s too handsome?” Her question threw me off guard, a wave of shock crossed over me.

“Means?” I asked, dumbfoundedly.

“Uh, nothing, you leave this basket here, I have some other work for you,” She said, gesturing to me to follow her. In my head, I was still trying to figure out why Arjun looked at me in that way. I could be wrong. However, I saw some emotions running through his eyes when he was helping me. What was it?

“Radhika? If your legs haven’t stuck to the ground, can you come with me?” Meher's voice broke my chain of thoughts.

“Y-Yes,”