A Death in Shonagachhi: A Novel by Rijula Das

Author:Rijula Das [Das, Rijula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2021-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

‘Come along, my lovely, the car is here. You had a good night? I had a lovely one.’

Sonia was already walking towards the door. Lalee remained seated. ‘I have to wait for Chintu,’ she said. ‘Madam called me.’

‘Chintu is here already, waiting outside in the car. Mere saath chalo,’ Sonia spoke slowly, gesturing for Lalee to move.

Lalee felt annoyed that Sonia seemed to know what was going on but she didn’t. But it was impossible to stay in the hotel lobby – people were already glancing at her, knowing as she did that she didn’t belong in such a place.

She trailed after Sonia, feeling a surge of anger towards Madam and Chintu for keeping her off balance. Not for the first time she began to think that it may have been a mistake to accept Madam’s offer. But it wasn’t a choice. She had a debt to Madam in more ways than one. Maybe ‘upstairs’ could become a means of escape, or at least a better way of surviving.

Sonia pulled out a pair of giant sunglasses from a stiff, pale leather handbag dangling elegantly from her arm. Next to her, Lalee felt more legitimate, somehow more deserving of the space she was taking up. A black car pulled up in front of them with Chintu in the driver’s seat. Sonia walked around to the front and said, ‘Get in.’

Lalee found Rambo Maity occupying most of the backseat. Next to him, two girls, barely twelve, were huddled in a corner, one sitting on the lap of the other. They looked frightened and half-starved. Lalee knew instantly what that meant. Shonagachhi swallowed and spat out girls like them every day. She’d been one such girl a long time ago. But Lalee was an entirely different animal now. Her hide had thickened, her claws were sharp such that she could tear her way through Shonagachhi to survive. But her stomach sank when she saw these two girls’ faces.

Lalee realized they were twins. Both quite comely girls, under the grime and the matted hair. She felt nauseous, knowing full well what lay in store for them. Sonia turned on the radio from the passenger seat. Chintu, as usual, said nothing.

Something forceful rose up in Lalee, like a surge of anger she had come to know well. She turned savagely towards Rambo and hissed, ‘What is all this? Why are you here and where are you taking these girls?’

Rambo backed away from her in mock terror. ‘Arrey madam, slow down. They’re going where you are going. Shefali Madam’s orders.’

‘Tell me what’s going on now, Maity. I’ll scratch your balls off if you don’t. Where the hell are we going?’

Sonia, her face half covered in dark glasses, turned towards the backseat passengers and said, ‘Calm down. You’ll soon find out. You passed the test last night. Congratulations.’

As her unease grew stronger, Lalee screamed, ‘Let me out right now!’ She tried to open the door but it was locked and would not budge.

Chintu sighed loudly from the driver’s seat.

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