The Dupatta
Dive into a haunting tale set near a bustling taxi stand, where a beggar named Salim and an energetic driver, Kabir Daju, encounter a mysterious woman with a red dupatta. As Salim counts his earnings, and Kabir navigates his weary day, the apparition of a beautiful woman brings unexpected and chilling consequences.
The beggar was at his usual spot near the taxi stand where Kabi Rai, the energetic forty-two-year-old driver from the Development Area ran his livelihood.
The beggar’s broken spectacles were smudged and his deformed legs looked ghastly thin.
Salim, the beggar, was counting his day’s earnings, a total of six hundred and fifty-six rupees… not bad at all, and he was happy.
His daughter-in-law would be happy and he would get a second helping of rice and dal today.
His day was over, and he was now ready to drag his sorry body to his shabby home near Tibet Road.
After his wife and only son, both died last year when the pandemic hit the world with all its fury, he had none to share his life with except for his rude daughter-in-law, Feroza.
He had to support her out of the love he had for his late wife and son, but lately, he suspected a change in her.
She was applying too much of that red lipstick which he detested, and she was laughing and singing too.
She was also mistreating him, even though he was the sole bread earner.
Allah was a bit cruel to him but he had full faith that He would not fail him finally.
***
Kabir Daju, the most flamboyant driver from that particular stand where Salim begged daily, had had enough for the day too.
The double mask was a nuisance and as he was among the last drivers at the stand, with less earnings that day, his normally charming soul was getting dreary too.
The whole day had been a bit hard; the tourists were dwindling in numbers, and the locals were mostly out of town on their summer vacation.
He had to reach home fast, as it was his daughter’s birthday and he had promised to be there early.
Suddenly, a vision of beauty reached the taxi stand and his eyes caught her attractive figure.
She had a petite frame, was fair complexioned, with long and straight hair with a red bindi on her forehead, wearing a white kurta with a red dupatta.
She was a classic beauty, and as she was about to enter Kabir Daju’s taxi, she was beckoned by the beggar, Salim, who wanted to earn more, it seemed.
She turned towards him and walked gracefully and bent down, maybe to give him some money.
The beggar was still seated on the cold pavement as she came back and motioned Kabir Daju to start the taxi.
Kabir daju entered his Maruti Van. He started the engine and fixed the rear-view mirror, then he looked back.
“Bahini… bahini,” he called out. He was completely perplexed, for he thought he was dreaming: this beautiful woman had entered his vehicle, but now she seemed to have disappeared!
Kabir came out of his van and looked up and down the empty street, but there was not a soul there. So, perplexed as he was, he walked towards the beggar.
“Chasmay bajay tyo ramri keti khoi?“ (bespectacled old man where did that pretty girl go?)
The beggar was mumbling something Kabir couldn’t grasp what he seemed to say.
When he bent down to hear him, he heard Salim saying, “Jinn… jinn… churael churael!”
Kabir Daju laughed, and then he saw her inside his van, but he also saw her outside his van.
He was now scared and turned towards the beggar, but to his horror, he saw that woman uttering the words, “Jinn jinn… churael churael.”
***
Early the morning next day, a crowd was milling at the taxi stand.
Kabir had not gone home for his daughter’s birthday, and Salim finally was released from the clutches of his daughter-in-law.
And between the two bodies of chasmay bajay the beggar and Kabir Daju was a faded red dupatta.
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