Alleyway Trysts

"Damn it! Another wasted night. What say, Bindi?" Laila massaged the back of her neck.

"Saala, no one good. Only kadkis tonight." Bindi snorted, rifling through her purse.

Laila sighed. It had been the same on her side. All of them kadkis, meaning they wanted a lot of action but weren't willing to pay enough for it. She wanted to feed herself, but it didn't mean she'd take any random Tom who walked up to her. She had a rate to maintain.

"Glassy Junction used to be filled with the popular crowd. Saturdays used to be my money-making night. Now I get better offers at Jharokha."

Bindi made a face, "It's the new management. What can you expect when the owner is stingy? The only reason I come here is because it's a familiar place. The new places, I heard funny stories… so I stay away."

"Yeah. Well, I think I'm going to call it a night." Laila looked at the clock, and then scanned the crowd, searching for a potential client. "Besides, these new heels are killing me."

Laila bade Bindi goodbye, and then let the owner know she was leaving, before walking out.

The cool air that greeted her was a relief from the stale smoke that surrounded the Glassy Junction. She loosened her hair from the ponytail that she'd tied, and spread her arms as she welcomed the breeze. For that moment she felt free, and she closed her eyes, smiling at the thought.

Her mind wandered to Rikki Thukral, and his face popped in front of her sight, unbidden. His mischievous eyes sparkled with amusement, but still held enough kindness in them to warm his smile.

She opened her eyes and frowned. Why was she thinking of him, that too all of a sudden?

She pressed the back of her hand against her forehead. It was cold from the air, and there were no signs of fever.

"Laila, my love, meri jaan." A voice beckoned from behind her, too close for comfort.

Laila turned and scrunched her nose as the smell of alcohol smothered her. "Damn Haath Safaai. What are you doing here?"

"Why do you always stay away from me? If you want more money I can give you more." He stumbled a little towards Laila, and placed his left hand on her shoulder. His right found its way just below her waist.

Laila pushed away, slightly disgusted. She was used to men pawing at her, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Especially when Haath Safaai was the man in question.

"Come on, jaan." Haath Safaai tightened his grasp and pulled her closer. He was drunk but it didn't hinder his strength. It had only worked to lower his inhibition and caution that he usually practiced around Laila.

Laila struggled, but she found that the harder she pushed him away, the more strength he applied. He was bruising her now, and Laila winced in pain.

"Saale, leave me."

Laila tried to kick him, and managed to get his shins. He cursed, then pushed her backward roughly, causing her to fall on her back.

"You know…I've waited. You're always smiling… ignoring me. Someone like you, it shouldn't matter to me. Now you'll remember me."

Laila felt terrified. She'd always thought that Haath Saafai was pretty harmless, but drunk, he scared her. He overpowered her, too. She aimed her knee towards his groin, and while he attempted to kiss her, she raised it with all her strength.

She hit the mark as he fell and rolled away from her, cursing. Laila wasn't waiting to see whether he was okay. She took the chance to make a getaway, and ran.

Her assailant didn't take long to get back on his feet and chase her.

"Saala." If she made it out of this unscathed, she'd promise never to be anywhere near Hath Safaai when he'd had too much to drink.

Laila didn't run very far before her feet were screaming for her to stop. One of her heels had broken, and her ankles were bruised due to the strain. She looked around and saw no solace. Since it was nearly past midnight, there weren't any people around either.

She heard Haath Safaai, rather than saw him. His voice seemed to be getting closer, and she was tired.

"Oh Khuda, I swear… if you exist, a little help would be great."

She paused for a moment by a dark corner, felt her feet give beneath her, and slumped to the ground. She pulled her heels off her feet and winced.

"Stupid deal. Who cares anyways? If he didn't want the tickets he should have said so. He didn't have to get so nasty."

Laila turned at sound of the familiar voice. Of all places, and of all people, she'd found him.

She looked skyward, "Oye Khuda, thanks." She smiled and turned to look behind her, where she'd heard the voice.

"Oye…Thukraal…" Laila called. She knew that by yelling she was probably giving up her location to her attacker, but if she could get Rikki Thukral's attention there was hope for salvation.

"Bhatinda Boy…Oye…" Laila's voice got panicky as she heard Haath Safaai getting closer. He'd spotted her. Damn! Why was that idiot not responding? Had he left already? "Chikne…Teri to…Saale Suwar…can't you hear me?"

Rikki had heard her. At first he'd thought it was a figment of his imagination. Just another one of the numerous times her voice disrupted his thoughts. After he'd tried so hard to ignore her and stay away from her, what were the odds of running into her in a deserted alley after midnight?

He couldn't believe it. He was frankly too stunned to respond. Too afraid to turn around, and have his insanity confirmed.

Her voice sounded too desperate, though, to be in his mind. He finally turned and found her slumped on the ground, looking up at him with a slightly exasperated expression on her face.

"Finally. Are you hard of hearing? Here I am, screaming my lungs out, and you don't respond. I thought you'd left."

Rikki had already rushed to her side. Concern trumping caution, he examined her. "Are you hurt?"

"No, tough guy. I'm just sitting here crying for help, just for the heck of it. Saale Suwar."

"Don't have to get nasty, and can you please not curse. I have a name." He frowned as he studied her bruises.

"Well, you didn't respond to anything else." Laila looked in the direction of where Haath Safaai had been. He seemed to be watching her. It was too dark to tell, but Laila could feel his scowl and disdain for her.

"Your gentleman friend?" Rikki followed her gaze.

Laila's gaze hardened. "He tried to rape me. So no, I don't consider him a gentleman, and definitely not a friend."

Rikki looked at Laila in shock, and then at the man across the street. He was swaying a little, so Rikki guessed he was drunk.

"He tried to rape you?" Rikki studied her.

"You know what? Just help me up. I can take care of myself."

"Doesn't look like it. You seemed desperate for help a minute ago."

Laila was growing frustrated. "I was wrong, okay? I don't need any help from you. Obviously you don't think much of me or my profession."

"That's not…"

"You think I'm a prostitute, so what's rape to me, right? I don't need your judgment." Laila tried to get up, but now that she was down it was really hard to get up. She stumbled to the ground again.

Rikki gave her his hand and pulled her up. "I wasn't judging you." He wasn't. In fact, he'd been ready to go across the street and show her attacker a piece of his mind.

"He's gone. So you can go too." Laila steadied herself and then tried to push Rikki's helping hand away.

"I've nothing better to do." Rikki didn't know quite what to make of Laila. He'd seen helplessness in her when he'd rushed to help her. It had been momentary, but he felt that there was more to Laila than she put up. More than she wanted people to see.

He was curious to find out more about her, but was worried that the consequence would put him at risk of getting hurt. He wasn't sure if he could risk it.