She stood on the ridge road stretch asking for a lift; it was quarter to 11…few hours remained of Friday the thirteenth. The scorpio just braked in front of her to offer the free rider what she sought…a free ride that was not to be.
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He had been warned by his group not to pick up girls/ladies as passengers at night especially from and around connaught place; it was not as if Baiju turned out to be a lusty monster at nights – he was a jolly good young fellow from varanasi, taxing to make bucks. He needed some bucks that night for fuel; all he had a crumpled note of Rs. 50 and he was far away from his final destination – the T3. As he veered to his left, on to the barakhamba road, he did not fail to note a female figure standing under a dimly lit street pole, the yellow street light was enough to reveal the skimpy dress which her hugged her figure.
She had been standing there, under the pole, since quarter past ten; eyes nervously trying to peer through the dimly lit road, beyond the circle. She knew somewhere in the darkness men waited for her; her lips silently prayed for lift.
Baiju braked a few meters ahead and she came running in and sought lift upto kale khan. Wondering as to what this maal was going to do at kale khan, he said “aao ji” and she hopped into the front seat. He eyed her skimpy dress while changing the gear and said, “madam, 100/- rs. Ok na?” and she nodded. As the white indica negotiated few circles and neared mandi house, she heard the sound of following bullet. Very soon, Baiju saw two famous duos which he was supposed to avoid especially during nights…pair of constable and head constable, the ‘thullas’. As the duo parked the bullet, Baiju’s lips uttered abuses…silently. More abusive words poured out as Baiju was yanked out of the car…Baiju at receiving end. Soon the charges flowed out; that of carrying prostitution racket to trying to rape. Baiju realized the whole game of the trinity. He announced, “saab! Only 50 rs… diiesel fill karna hai”. Tarkeeb Singh went furious and came out set of volleys for the girl, “saali, bola than a night time only private cars and no taxis”. The girl shouted while hopping out, “time 11 ho gaya tha....”. And then the negotiations started and eventually settled for atleast the tea cost. Tarkeeb and Jaal (the sidekick) knew they could not push for more for a crazy driver may end up reporting to some cop. With private cars, this would not be the case; rich haul of cash was guaranteed in private car case and then there was the case of blackmailing. It was a bad day for the trinity. Baiju accelerated with a poker face till he could not see the trinity in his rear mirror…
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Soon the girl chose to quit the holy alliance; Tarkeeb had other ideas to up his income from the side business which roads gave him. He cajoled his wife to become part of the alliance…there was no risk; all she had to do was to hop in a private car and then they would intercept the car and money would flow in. She took her baby steps and soon the nervousness gave way to bold confidence…all went as per plan until Friday the thirteenth. Tarkeeb was posted on a night “route duty” near dhaula kuan; she announced that it was off being Friday the thirteenth but Tarkeeb persuaded her and assured jaal, his able sidekick was there and money was not to be lost because of silly dates. Jaal, for comfort level, agreed to take risk at 9 pm and that too at ridge road which was closer to dhula kual. Everything was arranged for. She stood near opposite the park entrance and she managed to hop into a black scorpio…Jaal was impressed…it was a mighty catch. She hopped into the front seat and delivered her dialogue…the destination. The driver eyed her and nodded; she could sense the scorpio picking speed and close to 7-8 minutes had passed, there was no sign of Jaal. She looked back hoping to catch the bikes light but she caught three men staring at her. Soon the power windows rolled up and the scorpio came to a stand still somewhere around side ridge road; she was pulled out to the back seat and she knew there was no Jaal coming and there was no point in protesting…it was a consensual rape…a rape which never became a ‘news’ in the Saturday the fourteenth paper.
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Jaal seeing Tarkeeb’s idea of profiting more had waited for the right moment and it was a simple deal with the scorpio chap…a simple web on Friday the thirteenth. Tarkeeb and his wife were not be seen thereafter…
