1. Sold

"Next is your turn," Maalik (master) said as the girl nodded her head. She was sitting quietly on a chair in the makeup room. Hooriya stared at her henna-clad hands, the maroon color stood out on her pale skin. She was donning a gorgeous long fancy skirt with a blouse, it was heavily embellished. The work on it was expensive.

She was their most thriving pawn. The girls who were dancing now were just a start, Maalik (master) loves to make his customers wait before dropping the bomb on them and Maalik's bomb was none other than Hooriya. The dancer everyone awaits to get a glimpse of.

She had lived her whole life in a brothel. She was allowed to study till twelfth grade. After that, she was made to work as a maid at the brothel. The dance teacher there taught her dancing and with time she was known in the brothel as the most graceful dancer. The first time she performed, she already snatched the hearts of many men.

Maalik was the proudest. He had told her countless times, that when she would turn 18 he would sell her off but luckily she earned a name in those mehfils (gatherings) where she danced. When the income rolled in; high, Maalik decided to keep her as a main dancer until her demand was high in these gatherings. 

The days passed and then slowly many vultures wanted to buy her. In some twisted way, Maalik used to think of her as the Jaan (life) of their brothel. So when she begged him to spare her, he turned down all the offers but in compensation Hooriya had to work double. She would dance the full night until her feet would give up on her.

But she would dance her whole life if this could save her from those monsters behind those rich respectable faces.

Her mother brought her into this world and died after birthing her. She was born in the cage of this brothel. Maalik (master), was a shemale and the boss of this brothel. It was the rule of the brothel, whoever child was born in this life would serve in this brothel for at least thirty-five years. Then after that, they can leave. But how could someone leave with no soul in their bodies?

"Come on," A voice called and she stood up padding towards the door. The music was loud and blasting through the air as she took in deep breaths to control her emotions and when she opened her eyes again. She was numb.

She plastered a beautiful smile on her face and just when the beat dropped white smoke billowed on the stage as she took her place in the center of the stage just as the smoke cleared a little, the beat shoot up and there was a loud chorus and hooting as she danced with other on her sides.

The song changed and the other dancers left her side. She stayed fierce and confident. Twirling among the crowd of men who were now on their feet trying to get closer. Few of them were throwing wads of cash in the air, within seconds there was money pouring on her like rain as she danced. Their evil laughter, those sinister whistles, lust-full gaze, everything was so overbearing but she bears it all. She had to.

This was her life.

No other way out.

By the time the song was riding its high, the mass of men was immensely close to her. She still danced and finally her soul fluttered back to life when the song ended. The smoke covered the whole place again and she immediately ducked away from the group of men.

She scurried into the makeup room where other girls were waiting. She joined them as one of them offered her a bottle of water but she politely declined, she wiped her sweat with the back of her hand breathing heavily. They were waiting for Maalik to show up so they could leave this farmhouse soon.

She didn't like staying at such places after her performance. She felt so unsafe. It was obvious some of the men would try to buy her again and every time it scares her to the core. Every night after a performance she lived through this trauma, hoping Maalik won't sell her off.

The door banged open and all the girls jumped in shock. A man in his mid-30s stood at the door and behind him stood Maalik. Sweat broke on her forehead and like every other time she prayed it wasn't her.

The man stepped in and moved aside so Maalik sauntered in, towards the girls. "You all go with the driver," Maalik ordered and Hooriya was the first to stand up to leave.

"Not you," Maalik blocked her way and her heart dropped down into the pit of her stomach. The other girls gave her a sympathetic look because they all know how much she works hard and tried her hardest not to fall into the line of prostitution.

The girls left as the other man eyed her. She didn't dare to look in his way. Her eyes were cast down to the floor just the way Maalik had thought them.

"This man is Zeeshan Saifi. You've to take care of him for tonight," Maalik said calmly and all her thoughts went haywire.

Just when he was about to leave she forced her lips to move. "M..Maalik p..please," She pleaded as tears brimmed in her eyes. 

Zeeshan narrowed his eyes at Maalik who paled. He turned to face Hooriya. "Don't disappoint him," Maalik warned.

"No... pl..please... I'll work triple shifts. I'll dance the whole day... Maalik... not this please..." She pleaded with eyes still on the floor.

And next thing she knows, she was on the floor. A brutal pain smeared through her cheek as she cupped the side of her face. She felt dizzy and her ear was ringing with the impact of the slap.

This wasn't the first time Maalik has raised his hand on her. He often hit them when he was pissed or angry, or when they did something to offend him.

"He has paid me five million for your one night. It'll take you a whole damn year to make me that much just with your dancing," He hissed at her venomously as she stared down at the floor.

This can't be.

But deep down she knew that this day would come. When someone would bid high enough to buy her soul one day.

Her heart pounded in her ears when she heard his footsteps retreating and the door closed behind him.

"This is the first time a woman is begging not to spend a night with me," the man menaced as he approached her.

She scrambled to her shaky legs as she stood her ground. She winced when he grabbed her nape in a brutal hold and yanked her closer. Her heart rattled in her chest when he smirked down at her.

"Begging won't work on me," He smiled at her. Letting go of her nape, he seized her arm and dragged her out of that makeup room.

He had already got the whole place deserted. Zeeshan Saifi was a well-known politician of the emerging opposition party. The man was evil.

She tried to snatch her arm from his hold but it was of no use. She tripped on the stairs but the man continued to brutally drag her.

He pushed her inside a room and slammed the door shut. Her ears were ringing in alert and panic as she looked around the room for an escape. She tried to run for the restroom door when he grabbed her arm and tossed her on the bed.

"No." She screamed as she scooted back and attempted to get off the bed when he grabbed her ankle and yanked her down on the bed. 

"HELP! PLEASE! HELP!!!" She screamed as he laughed. "No one is here to hear your screams," He said darkly and her heart clenched in raw trepidation as she clawed at his face and neck, drawing out blood as a few of the buttons of his shirt snapped. Her eyes widened when she noticed the capital letter 'H' tattooed on his chest.

He slammed her wrists on the bed and with all her force she hit him where the sun doesn't shine. He grunted in pain as she pushed him away. Hooriya crawled to the other side of the bed but he was back on her. A loud cry left her lips as she aimed to grab the lamp but she was yanked back and her eyes widened as a cry of pain tore through her lips. He did exactly what she did to him. He kneed her between her legs.

She sobbed as she placed her hands between her legs and curled into a ball. It hurts so bad.

"You bloody bitch, how does it feel? Wait, you whore and I'll show you your place!"

He was cursing profanities, she could hear him working on his belt. He was still sitting on the edge of the bed. 

She would rather die than let him ruin her. With everything she got, she lunged for the lamp, grabbing it, she slammed it on him not caring where it would hit him.

No words left his lips as he fell forward to the floor. He grunted and growled, "You bitch!"

She didn't look his way. She stumbled out of the bed and fell to the floor. Her legs were shaking and the pain in her lower region restricted her but this was her only chance.

She grabbed her dress and ran out of that room, descending the stairs. There was no one in sight as she hurried out of that farmhouse. The cold breeze chilled her skin. 

No guards. Nothing. Just half an hour ago this place was buzzing with men but now it was deserted.

She ran out of the gates. The place was in the middle of nowhere, away from the city. Tears fell on her fluffy cheeks as she looked around. 

The full moon shined brightly down at her as she stared at the inky sky in gripping hopelessness. A sound of window crashing came from the farmhouse she tucked down behind the bark and muffled her cry. It hurts so bad, his hit was hard, and she couldn't even walk. 

She cannot just sit there and wait for a death warrant, with new determination she stood up and her feet took off in the direction of the highway. With her hands fisting her heavy skirt in her small fists. She ran with all she got.

The need to get away was stronger but where would she go?  Back to that brothel so Maalik would kill her for hurting that client. The man had paid so much money, that it was obvious he was one of the whales of this country.

If she goes back to the brothel. She will be killed brutally. That man would surely take his revenge on her. But... she didn't know anywhere else. Where would she go?

A car coming in her direction had her going berserk as she jumped in front of it. The car stopped with a screeching sound as she fell back on her bump in fear of the car hitting her.

Her eyes widened when she saw Maalik coming out of the car and approaching her, she abruptly wiped her tears. "What are you doing here?" He asked vexed, looking around. 

She didn't dare say a word. Her eyes were wide and brimmed with tears. "Get up," He ordered and she immediately stumbled to her feet.

"I'm impressed. What did you say to him that he let you go without any refund?" Maalik asked with narrowed eyes and she was tongue-tied. Her heart was drumming in her ears.

"I... d..don't understand..." She stammered in a controlled voice.

"He texted me, asked me to take you back as he had kicked you out and he didn't ask for his money back," Maalik (master) said calmly as he stared at her with a scowl.

Didn't that man want to kill her for what she did?

"Get in the car," Maalik hissed, giving her an irritated look. Her mind was numb and at that moment she just wanted to hide under the bed and cry her life out.

She quietly got into the car as the driver drove them back to the city. He stopped the car at their destination and she was back in the brothel. 

She cried that whole night. Not a brink of sleep consumed her. Nor did she eat anything. Her heart kept on squeezing and twisting as she recalled those horrible scenes again and again.

One thought kept raking her mind and rattling her heart. For how long was she safe?

Maybe just for tonight...