Sold by My Father’s Ghost
Chapter 9: The City and Betrayal
With some money from selling salt, the spirit father wanted to take me to the district town.
He jingled the coins in his pocket, chest puffed up with pride. We felt like royalty, heading to see the world. My heart thudded with excitement and fear.
Afraid of thieves, I carried our only valuable—Ma’s anklet—tucked deep into my waistband, my dupatta double-knotted.
Looking at the bullock cart, I asked, “Where did you get this?”
He brushed me off: “Udhar liya hai, itna poochh kyon rahi ho?”
His big hand waved, and I instinctively dodged back, old habits hard to break.
We climbed onto the cart, and after an hour, reached the city gate.
The guard, moustache bristling, waved his lathi: “Utar jao! Kya kaam hai?”
“Sahab, kapda khareedne aaye hain, bachche ke liye. Gaon walon ko bhi madad karni hai.”
He flashed coins, pressing them into the guard’s hand.
The guards’ eyes widened, their stance softened. One joked about ‘dilwale log’ being welcome.
They tucked away their lathis, let us through.
This was my first time in the city.
Everything was bigger—houses blue and yellow, people rushing, vendors shouting, cows blocking the road. Red paan stains splattered the walls, horns blared, a child sold balloons by the temple, and the air smelled of frying jalebis and incense. My two eyes weren’t enough.
The spirit father steered us down a quiet side street, avoiding the market. I clutched my bundle, nerves prickling.
Something felt wrong. He avoided the busy lanes, leading us into the shadows.
I grabbed his sleeve: “Kahan le ja rahe ho?”
He just grinned: “Bechne le jaa raha hoon, hahaha!”
His laughter echoed, sharp and unsettling. The whip cracked, the bullock cart sped up. My heart thudded.
I whispered, “Bura aadmi ho! Mere pita mujhe kabhi nahi bechte.”
He scoffed, “Tere baap ne teri behen ko bhej diya tha. Ek aur ko bechna kya badi baat hai?”
The truth hit hard. My life was never mine; even fate played games with us.
After a heavy silence, I pleaded, “Didi ke paas bhej do, main uske saath rehna chahti hoon.”
He agreed easily: “Theek hai.”
I let myself believe, just for a moment, that things might turn out all right.
