When Asrar’s eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room, he saw three girls sitting on a bed. The girls looked at them with smiles on their faces. The wall right across from the women had four photos hung on them. One picture was that of Goddess Lakshmi, but Asrar wasn’t aware of who the other goddess was. She was dark, had an elaborate nose ring and big eyes. It felt as if the goddess was staring at Asrar. The third picture was that of Lord Krishna and the fourth was of the grave of Haji Malang Baba. All the four pictures had garlands made of pink paper flowers. When the conversation between Madhuri and Ali ended, she turned towards Asrar and said, ‘This is the best place for your first time!’ She said it with a lot of mischief in her voice. Mohammad Ali smiled. Madhuri called out to a girl. The girl seemed to have just entered her adolescence. She was either the same age as Asrar or one or two years older than him. Her name was Shanti. Asrar looked at her. She stared back. Her facial features were proof of her Marathi origin. Her ears had four piercings each and she wore three pairs of earrings. Her nose wasn’t prominent, but her eyes were white and big. She was two fingers shorter than Asrar and had large breasts, which had formed arches. The string of her lehenga hung outside. She wore a silver toe ring in her second toe. Mohammad Ali looked at Shanti, too, with a passing glance. Shanti smiled looking into Asrar’s eyes. Ali gestured to Madhuri that the girl was acceptable.

Madhuri called out to Shanti, ‘He is new, be careful.’

Shanti grinned and shook her head. Mohammad Ali gestured Asrar to accompany Shanti to her bed.

3

For Want of a Voice, in Answer of My Own

(Mein Ab Sada Ke Sile Mein Koe Sada Chahun)

Asrar held his second month’s salary in his hand. The notes reminded him that two and a half months had passed in the kholi so quickly that he didn’t even realize it. He decided to take two days off and visit his village. He shared this desire with Mohammad Ali, who took permission from Moosa Patel and Asrar got the leave approved for Monday and Tuesday. He decided to go to Ratnagiri on Saturday evening by train.

In the two months that Asrar had spent in Mumbai, he had tried understanding and adjusting to the culture and chaos of the city. Sunday being a holiday, he spent it on recreation and visiting the houses of his fellow villagers who lived in Mumbai with his friends. Now he knew places like Churchgate, VT, Haji Ali, Dadar, Andheri, Malad, Borivali, Mumbra and surrounding areas. He had seen these places innumerable times. He was well acquainted with the routine and weekend schedules of Mumbaikars. He also knew the dressing styles and cultures of the people and communities who came from various Indian states to find employment there.