"Ma'am...Ma'am, I swallowed the eraser."

The small kid says to me.

"What?"

My reaction is instant.

"Come, try to vomit. Your stomach will pain. VOMIT."

My voice touches the highest pitch.

"But it was tasty. I want more...I want more...I want more...”

His voice keeps on ringing in my ear. I am trying to observe his faded face but all I can hear is the voice,

"I want more..."

Nandana jerks open her eyes. Gosh, it was a dream. But wait! That voice is still coming from this room. She looks around just to find her little brother Rishi. He is arguing with their mother Jaya. Nandana gets up on the bed.

"Maa, what is he demanding for? Give him...You know how stubborn he becomes during the morning.”

Nandana whines.

"Yeah...stubbornness doesn't see poverty. Otherwise, your lower-middle-class brother never has the taste of a rich kid."

Her retort annoys Nandana. Rishi is autistic. All know that these kinds of children remain stubborn. What if he is demanding more mango? Can't Jaya fulfil this small wish? She bought some mangoes yesterday with her salary.

"Maa, Rishi is not a normal child. How does he know that a lower-middle-class child can eat only one mango a day?"

Nandana smiles while rubbing her eyes. They are still itching with a lack of sleep.

"Why have you got up so early? Today is your off...right?

Jaya frowns while starts peeling one more mango to stop Rishi's nagging.

"Phew..! I am not so lucky, Maa. Today some politician cum businessman is coming to our school. The Head Master instructed all teachers to be present at the time. Heard that he is interested to donate some money to the development of our small school. Hope he likes our honest effort and works."

Nandana keeps the folded bedsheet on the pillow and corrects the creased sheet.

"Okay...you take bath...I am getting the tea for you."

Jaya gets up from the floor after wiping Rishi's mouth with her saree. Rishi again
starts doodling on his drawing book with a satisfied face.

"You and Papa had the tea? Where is Manvi? Did she leave for college?"

Nandana asks casually.

"Hmmm...your Papa has left for his office. Don't know what will he get to continue his job in this printing press which is going through a continuous loss for the last 2 yrs. He again didn't get the salary for the last month. And Manvi? As usual, she is lost in her world. Does she ever care how this family is running on your low salary? Sometimes I feel like leaving everything and going somewhere."

Jaya raises her hands in frustration. Nandana comes near and embraces her stiff frame.

"Don't worry, Maa. Keep faith in God. He probably has planned something better for us in future. We just have to keep faith and patience."

Nandana tries comforting her. She rests her head on Jaya's upper chest and sighs. A smile gradually appears on Jaya's lips. She fondles Nandana's head.

"I don't know how do you always remain so much positive in life despite all these hardships you have been facing since your childhood? But your words always give me hope. Hope to live. Hope to dream and hope to hope. Never change my dear. You are an angel in our life."

Watching his mother and sister in a hugging position Rishi gets up and runs towards them to embosom.

"Look Maa, he becomes jealous. Ha...ha...Can money buy this emotion and love? We are happy in our small world. With money or without money."

Jaya smiles at her daughter's content words and pecks both children's foreheads.

.......................

Zoo.......mmmmmm. The car is racing fanatically on the bleak road. Dad is trying his best to keep the steering steady. Sweat beads trickle down from his sideburns. Mom's panic-stricken eyes are looking at the road ahead.

"Dad...slow down...It's scary."

Finally, I gain my voice. Mom turns and stretches her hand towards me at the back seat.

"The brake is not working. I can't slow down the speed."

I never heard such a freaking voice of Dad.

"What do you mean by that? Do something. We can't die like this."

Mom yells grabbing my hand.

"It's not in my hand Malini. Only one thing can be done. Go to the back seat and open the door. You and Adi jump from the car. Maybe you both get saved."

Dad says with a stone-like expression.

"Are you crazy? And what about you? We are not leaving you like this. Come what may."

Mom sounds determined.

"Do what I say. Don't you want your son to be alive? This is the only possible way to save him. GO....OO…."

Dad pushes Mom in frustration. I start crying. Mom loosens the seat belt and tries to slide herself between the gape of the front seats to reach me. Suddenly a blinding light and a deafening crashing sound make all things upside down. I feel a pang in my head. Everything becomes blank.

"Mom...Dad...where are you? Dad...why can't I see anything? Mom...I can't hear you...Mom...It's scary...Dad....DAD...?

Aditya leaps up on his bed with wide-open eyes. His heart is beating like a drum. He skirts his palm on his sweaty face. The same nightmare which has been haunting him since his childhood once again welcomes another day of his life. Aditya looks at his side. A girl is sleeping by lying on her stomach. The comforter covers her to the waist. Her tangled hair slightly shields her bareback. The slow rising and falling of her back prove her deep slumber. Aditya scrunches his eyes in anger. How does a person sleep so peacefully? He clenches his jaw. He pushes her slightly to make her awake. She stirs and turns her face with a drowsy,

"Hmmm…"

This makes Aditya more vexed. He pulls up the comforter from her body leaving her fully naked. Maybe due to the low temperature of the AC, the girl finally blinks her eyes to open and immediately gets up. She lays her eyes on her naked body and immediately grabs the sheet to cover it.

"Get up...your job is over. I don't want to see your face any longer."

Aditya chides while pulling the side drawer to take out a bundle of notes. He throws it to the girl.

"Take this and OUT..."

His voice rises. The girl grabs the bundle and slowly gets down from the bed wrapping herself in the sheet.

"When will I come again?

She meeks out.

"Never. I don't fuck anyone twice. Last night was your first and last service. Now leave. I have other works”

Aditya gets up from the bed and heads to the bathroom.

"I don't want to see you here after I come back."

His voice is arctic. He slams the bathroom door on her face. Standing under the shower he turns on the knob. Hot water gushes over his stiff body. He closes his eyes. Water drips down from his rigid jaws.

"Till when? This nightmare is driving me crazy. I am scared to sleep now. I use sex as an escape. But how long? Is there anyone to pull me out from this never-ending darkness?"

He murmurs. Tears mingle with the water. Suddenly the intercom placed beside the bathtub beeps. Aditya turns off the shower and grabs the bathrobe.

"Hello...yeah, I remember. When do I have to go?...Have you informed the Head Master to show all the documents that I want? Otherwise, I will not approve the donation...Okay...one more thing...for tonight arrange some voluptuous girl, Man. Last night she was too skinny...I was not at all satisfied."

Aditya smirks and hangs up the call.

"Donations and all...we politicians have to do so many things to protect our image. Let's see how interesting this visit would be."

His tone is nonchalant.