Chapter - 02
1545 Words
Kabir shouted in a firm voice, “Stop! You ruined my clothes completely and instead of apologizing, you’re just running away? Hmm? Is this how you do your job?”
The girl stopped for a moment upon hearing Kabir’s loud voice, but before he could reach her, she hurried away without turning around. After she left, Kabir looked at his stained clothes, shook his head in frustration, and returned to his room.
Next Morning
Kabir stood in front of Nawab Sahab in his room and asked, “Abba, when are we going back?”
Without looking up from the file in his hands, Nawab Sahab replied, “On Wednesday.”
Kabir asked, surprised, “What? Wednesday? But why?”
Nawab Sahab looked up and said, “Son! you seem to be forgetting that this hotel belongs to us, and we’re responsible for overseeing its operations.”
Returning his focus to the file, he continued, “We’ll only leave after all the work here is done. And since you’re here, you might as well spend a day or two ensuring everything’s running properly.”
Kabir clenched his jaw in frustration. He was desperate to return to Bhopal. He felt guilty about leaving Noor behind. Plus, he had his own business to look after — a footwear business involving the manufacturing and retail of shoes, sandals, and slippers both offline and online.
But he couldn’t disobey Nawab Sahab, so without arguing, he quietly left.
That Night
In hotel B town
Kabir was standing with the hotel manager at the bar, discussing something, when he once again saw the same face he had bumped into the night before.
It was the same girl who had collided with him outside his room. He observed her closely and saw that she was again carrying drinks in her hands.
She was a waitress. Dressed in her knee-length uniform, she still seemed somewhat flustered. While she was serving a customer, the man gave her a tip with a pleased smile, which she hesitantly accepted.
Kabir inexplicably felt anger rise inside him. He frowned knowing she was a waitress.
As she walked away, Kabir muttered to himself, “People can do anything for money.”
His mood now soured, he spoke briefly with the manager and then left the bar.
Just then, the same customer ogled the waitress and touched her inappropriately on the waist. She jerked back in shock.
Laughing, the man said, “What’s wrong, darling?”
The waitress backed away in fear, trying to leave, but the sleazy man grabbed her hand and forcibly pulled her into his lap. His companions nearby laughed crudely.
Terrified, the waitress pleaded, “Sir, please let go! You’re crossing the line!”
The man continued groping her and said, “Really, baby?”
Tears welled up in the waitress’s eyes as she struggled to free herself.
Just then, Nawab Sahab, who had entered the bar, noticed the commotion and shouted for the manager.
As soon as the manager arrived, Nawab Sahab snapped, “What is going on in my hotel?! What kind of filthy people are allowed in here? Throw that man out immediately!”
The manager chuckled and replied, “Sorry, sir, but this is common in the bar. The waitresses are used to it by now. Don’t worry, she can handle it.”
Nawab Sahab’s expression hardened. “Maybe that’s normal elsewhere, but not in my hotel! If even the staff isn’t safe here, what’s the point of having a manager? Throw him out now!”
Startled, the manager stuttered, “Sorry sir, right away!”
He rushed over, freed the waitress from the man’s grip, and had him thrown out.
The waitress ran out crying.
Watching her leave, Nawab Sahab sternly warned the manager, “If this happens again, remember — you’ll be thrown out just like him. Ensuring staff safety, especially for women, is our responsibility. They work here — they’re not slaves! I will not tolerate this!”
The manager nervously replied, “You’re right, sir. I’m sorry. This won’t happen again. I’ll be more careful.”
The other waitresses quietly smiled, pleased to see their arrogant manager finally put in his place.
Nawab Sahab soon left — he never liked staying in areas where alcohol was served. His assistant usually handled such matters.
He walked into the garden under the night sky, looking for peace, when his phone rang.
He saw Farhan, his personal assistant.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Hello, Nawab Sahab,” Farhan said.
Farhan on call, “I’m sorry, but the girl’s parents have rejected the marriage proposal. They said they can’t let their daughter marry a man who already has a living wife. They thought Kabir’s first wife was dead!”
Nawab Sahab snapped, “Didn’t you tell them about Noor?!”
Farhan replied nervously, “Even if I had, sir, no parent would want their daughter to marry a man who’s already married!”
Nawab Sahab controlled his rising anger and said, “Forget that girl. Find someone else for Kabir. We must get him married as soon as possible!”
“Yes, sir,” Farhan replied.
After the call ended, Nawab Sahab sat down on a nearby bench, troubled. Nothing was going according to plan. He had hoped this trip would end with Kabir’s marriage.
He was lost in thought when he heard soft sobbing nearby. It was late, around 10 p.m. Who could be in the garden at this hour, crying?
He followed the sound and saw a figure sitting on a bench — the same waitress who was harassed earlier.
He approached her and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Startled, the girl looked up and recognized him. One of her coworkers had told her that this was the hotel’s owner.
Seeing her teary eyes, he asked, “What happened? Why are you crying?”
She wiped her tears but said nothing.
He sat beside her and asked gently, “What’s your name?”
She softly replied, “Piya Agarwal.”
“Why haven’t you gone home yet?” he asked.
“I was just about to leave,” she answered hesitantly.
Sensing her pain, he asked again, “Are you upset about what happened earlier?”
Her eyes filled with tears again. She had lost her previous job unfairly and had barely secured this one. Since arriving, she has faced one challenge after another. Even last night, while delivering room service, she was mistreated by two men — but she managed to escape. But today… it happened again. She was frightened.
She was starting to understand how hard it was for women to work outside.
Seeing her silence, Nawab Sahab said gently, “Look, if you’re working outside, tears and fear won’t help. You’ll face men like that often. You just need to learn how to fight back — then life becomes easier.”
Piya looked at him. He gave her a kind smile.
“How kind he is… speaking just like Papa,” she thought.
Just then, her phone rang.
She checked the caller ID and quickly answered, “Hello, Doctor Uncle?”
On the other end, the doctor said, “Hello Piya. Did you arrange the money?”
She hesitated and whispered, “N-no.”
The doctor scolded her, “Piya, I’ve helped you as much as I could! Mr. Agarwal’s condition is serious. He must have surgery within three days. Please arrange the money soon!”
“I will. I’m trying,” she said through tears.
After the call ended, she turned around — Nawab Sahab was still there.
He stood beside her and asked, “What happened?”
She shook her head, wiping her tears.
“You seem worried. If something’s wrong, tell me. Maybe I can help,” he offered.
Piya looked at him and thought, Maybe he’s right. Maybe he can help. He owns this big hotel — maybe he can lend me the money.
Wiping her tears, she said, “Sir… my father is a heart patient. He recently suffered a heart attack. The doctor says he needs urgent surgery, but I don’t have the money.”
Nawab Sahab looked at her intently as she lowered her gaze and continued, “If you could help me, I would be so grateful. I promise I’ll return the money as soon as possible.”
“How much do you need?” he asked.
“About four to five lakh rupees,” she replied hesitantly.
He smiled faintly and asked, “And what guarantee do I have that you’ll return such a large amount?”
She felt insulted by his laughter, but forced herself to speak again. “Please trust me, sir. I’m not a thief. I’ll repay every penny. And if I can’t, I’ll work here for free until I’ve paid it off.”
Nawab Sahab remained silent.
She said, “Please help me, sir. I have no one else in my life... my father is my life. If something happens to him, I’ll be all alone.”
His silence made her even more hopeless. She didn’t know what else to do… where to go… how to raise such a large sum.
To be continued ✍️ ✍️ ✍️
- Writer
