ONE NIGHT STAND

After months of lockdown, the city was returning to normalcy. It was then she received an anonymous call from a person who mentioned one of her customer’s names. Though she was reluctant, she accepted the offer for two reasons. First, it was her first income in the last few months. Second, she had to feed her children and send money to her family.

 

Hours later, there was a knock on the door. She opened the door and found a person waiting for her. Owing to the COVID-19 crisis, he was wearing a face mask. She invited and asked him to undo his pants and get comfortable.

 

As she started to undress, he asked "Can I ask you a question?"

 

She nodded.

 

"I'm feeling uncomfortable here. Can we have it in my place?" he suggested.

 

"You need to pay extra." She said rudely.

 

He agreed and asked her to inform the caretaker. He also asked her to wait outside the building so that he could get his car which was parked two streets away due to police patrol. Soon they left the building, before getting caught by the police.

 

The car cruised and stopped near a medical shop. He asked her to get a condom of her favorite flavor to enjoy the night. As she got down and went inside the shop, he lit a cigar and started to smoke. He pulled his mask when he saw her returning. Minutes later, she returned with the condom and showed it to him with pride. He gave her a thumbs up and started the car. The car again cruised and halted at a supermarket. He gave her some money and asked her to get 'Ferrero Rocher' chocolate box to savor for the night. She did as he said.

 

The car cruised once again and it stopped at "The Railway Station". He asked her to get down from the car and requested her to come along with him. Puzzled by his activities, she remained silent and walked beside him. Soon, they reached the ticket counter.

 

"Destination?" asked that gentleman from the ticket counter.

 

"Her hometown." He replied pointing his finger at her.

 

She stood rooted to the spot.

 

Despite in shock, she mentioned her hometown’s location to that gentleman in the ticket counter.

 

"First class or second class?" asked the gentleman in the ticket counter.

 

"One first-class ticket." He said and paid for it.

 

He inquired about the platform number of the train from a railway official and gave the ticket to her.

 

"What are you doing? What’s wrong with you?" she asked perplexedly.

 

"Change of plans. You go to your home and I go to mine." He answered removing his face mask.

 

Tears brimmed to her eyes when she recognized him. He was the same reporter who interviewed her a few months back. Seeing him standing before her, her thoughts went back to that interview day and the conversation played in her mind.

 

“Please cover your face and make yourself comfortable. Once you are ready, we shall start the interview.” He said.

 

She nodded.

 

After a few formal questions, he asked,

 

"How did you survive during the lockdown?"

 

She was taken aback with that question which was new to her. She wasn't used to this kind of question in her life. Over the past 10 years, her customers enquired only about the rates ranging from hours to per night. She was drowned in her thoughts. He broke her chain of thoughts by repeating the same question.

 

"Owing to COVID-19, everyone feared to come to brothels. In case if one was tested positive, then the whole building would be sealed as a contaminated zone. So, the business became dull and everyone was finding it difficult to survive. A few left to their hometowns to settle there." She responded.

 

“Does your family knows that you are a sex worker?” he shot his next question.

 

“No.” She said.

 

“Given an opportunity, would you quit this job?” he asked.

 

“Yes. But, I’m doing this because I’m the sole breadwinner in my family and my children survive only with my earnings,” she answered.

 

But, her eyes reflected her hidden desire. Deep inside her heart, she wanted to quit this job and desperately wanted to be with her children by finding a job in her hometown. Even the slightest idea of quitting the job haunted her.

 

As the conversation was about to reach its end in her mind, he snapped his fingers and brought her back to reality.

 

"Can I get that condom you bought?" he asked with a slight hesitation.

 

She laughed and fetched it from her handbag and gave it to him. He fetched his wallet and gave a whopping amount of ₹10,000 to her.

 

"This, I pay for the condom. Thanks for getting it. From now on, it belongs to my wife." He said.

 

"Wife?" she questioned.

 

"Yes. I'm married," he said.

 

"What about the chocolate box?" she asked.

 

"Since I have no kids, it's my gift to your children." He replied.

 

Tears gushed out of her eyes and she fell at his feet. He lifted her and comforted her. He made her board the train and bade her a final goodbye.

 

The one night stand ended with satisfaction for both.