Deal Or No Deal

"Some deals are better no deals."

Garry and John were sitting on the verandah, smoking and drinking along with Karthik. Garry looked at the girls playing outside in the mud, "Girls grow up so soon. My niece was just four years old when I last met her and now she has a boyfriend and goes to community college. John's daughter, Alenna also grew up so soon. When I got injured in that unfortunate accident, she sat beside me all the time and would even sleep near me. Now, she is happily married and expecting her first child. One day, these girls will grow up too and some traders will come and buy them." John chuckled, "That's a very pessimistic opinion, brother. Maybe, they will study hard and become doctors, engineers or anything they want." Karthik intervened, "No. Garry is right. These girls have been born with a predetermined future from their mother's womb. Their mothers, grandmothers, sisters were prostituted to traders and their fate won't be any different. These optimistic thoughts are nothing but tomfoolery." John smiled, "Do you have a sister?" Karthik asked, "Excuse me?" "Do you have a sister?" John said with a little force. "No. But, I have a cousin." John asked in a serious tone, "How will it take to buy her?" Karthik asked angrily, "Excuse me? What the hell are you saying? She belongs from a reputable family. She is no whore to sell and buy." John smiled, "Why? Is she that ugly?" Karthik fumed, "You are crossing your limits." John laughed, "I am a trader of flesh. But, I never wanted to forcibly push a girl into prostitution. I respect every girl because a woman gave birth to me and a woman gave birth to my child which is a girl too. Learn to respect girls, Karthik." Garry smirked, "Respect? What is respect? Something that you earn or are born with. These girls have accomplished neither. Why should Karthik respect them? These girls that you are seeing are nothing more than chickens. Born and raised to be sold to the highest bidder. Their own family will turn the world upside down to gain as much money as they can from their daughters. These all respect crap is just as Karthik said. Tomfoolery." John rose, "You two share the same brain. There's no point explaining goodness to you guys." He walked inside his room. Garry smiled, "I am sorry for my brother's behaviour. He sees the world in a "different" way." Karthik smiled, "Yes. Guys like him don't understand the reality of the world." They cheered their glasses and continued ogling the girls.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I opened it slowly, finding John standing there with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a box of cigars in the other. Without waiting for an invitation, he pushed past me and entered the room. He uncorked the bottle, lit a cigar, and tossed one in my direction. I caught it and lit it without a word.

"What the hell are you doing with these idiots?" he asked, his tone sharp.

"Bad luck and a little money trouble," I replied with a faint sigh.

John scoffed. "Don't sell your soul for a few scraps of paper. It's better to starve than to rot in this filth."

I glanced at him. "Why did you get into this business, then?"

"Because of my brother. His drug addiction drained every cent I had. Keeping him alive on a bartender's salary became impossible." He exhaled a long stream of smoke. "Maybe you're right—desperation leads to bad choices. But you had a choice. You had no siblings to look after. You could've chosen a different path."

"It's easy for you to say. America offers more opportunities than India."

John waved his hand dismissively. "Bullshit. Opportunities are the same everywhere—whether it's the U.S., Britain, or India. The poor always have to struggle."

He gestured for me to sit beside him and poured a glass of whiskey. "Drink."

I took a sip, feeling the burn as it seared down my throat. John watched me with an amused smile.

"I don't know why, but you don't strike me as someone who enjoys seeing others suffer," he mused. "There's a fire inside you."

I returned his gaze, a slight smile forming on my lips. "People tend to see in others what they fail to see in themselves."

John chuckled. "Maybe. But I'm too far gone. I've sunk too deep into this filth to crawl out. You, on the other hand, still have a chance."

I narrowed my eyes. "What are you planning?"

He waved a hand lazily. "Nothing. Just heard that a girl managed to escape from this hell. Got me thinking… if something like that happened again, it might make things interesting."

"Aren't you here to buy those girls?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "But girls escaping? That's not my problem. I get paid for delivering and handing them over. If a few go missing along the way, my money stays the same."

He pulled out a bundle of cash and pushed it toward me. "If you're interested, consider this payment for your trouble."

I hesitated. "Is this some kind of trick?"

He smiled. "Why would it be?"

"On one hand, you talk about change, but on the other, you only want half the girls to escape."

He chuckled. "You're young and inexperienced—that's why you don't understand the equation. If I let all of them go at once, my bosses will suspect me. Change has to be gradual. Sudden shifts only bring chaos."

He took another sip of whiskey before I asked, "Is there anything good waiting at the end of the road for these girls after their sacrifice?"

His expression darkened. "I won't lie."

"Then how will there be real change? Gradual change might work in other cases, but here, we need something strict and immediate."

He leaned forward slightly. "And you? Don't you want to make some money from this change?"

"Wouldn't that just be business?"

"Business?" He smirked. "Yes, you could call it that. But tell me—where do you think those freed girls will go after they escape? Home? Another city? Even if they do, who will take care of them? How will they survive? Sooner or later, most will have no choice but to drift back into prostitution. But if we control the process, the money we make can help them sustain themselves. Maybe even educate some of them, give them a shot at a respectable profession."

I fell silent. As much as I hated to admit it, his words held some truth. Aanchal and Ravi had found protection under Ms. Maria, but she couldn't take in all the girls. It was too risky—almost impossible.

John stood up. "Give me your answer by tomorrow morning."

He walked out, leaving the door ajar for a moment before it clicked shut. I exhaled, then knocked back the rest of my whiskey, the burn lingering in my throat.

Somewhere past midnight, a barrage of knocks shattered my sleep. My head was heavy with whiskey, and my breath reeked of it as I stumbled toward the door.

I cracked it open, and there stood Meera. She waved a hand in front of her nose. "Were you drinking?"

I rubbed my eyes. "John came over. We had a couple of drinks."

"Whatever. Let's talk inside."

Before I could react, she pushed past me, locking the door behind her. Just as I was about to ask what was going on, she pressed her lips against mine and shoved me onto the bed.

I pushed her back. "What the hell are you doing?"

She panted, her eyes dark with intent. "Isn't it obvious?"

She leaned in again, but this time, I pushed her harder. "This is wrong. Stop it!"

She sighed, lying down beside me. "It's not wrong."

I sat up, still groggy. "Why weren't you there when I went to meet you?"

She wrapped her arms around me. "I want a child, Suraj. And I want it to be yours." She kissed my palm.

I stiffened. "What the hell are you talking about? How can I give you a child? You're Sarla's wife. It's unethical. It's immoral. And besides... weren't you infertile?"

Meera smiled grimly. "That's what the world thinks. But I'm not. I bribed every doctor to lie so Sarla would stop harassing me."

I stared at her, stunned. "Why?"

She frowned. "I just don't want to bring another man like him into this world."

I narrowed my eyes. "Because of his skin color?"

She scoffed and smacked my chest lightly. "No, you idiot! I'm talking about his personality."

"How do you know his child would turn out like him?"

"If you're about to give me some 'lotus grows in the mud' nonsense, don't bother. I know exactly what will happen."

"Then why do you want a child from me?"

Meera cupped my face, her voice softening. "Because I want to be a mother. Sarla's life is slipping away, and when he's gone, I don't want to be alone. I want the world to believe I bore his child—to keep his family name alive."

I pulled away. "That's no reason to make me a father."

She touched my cheek. "There is. Your goodness speaks for itself. Your relentless fight to save those girls, your bravery, your heart—you."

I stood abruptly. "That's not a reason. Get out."

Meera caught my wrist, her fingers tightening. "One day, you'll regret saying no tonight."

Then she stormed out, leaving the door open behind her.

A sudden downpour of cold water jolted me awake.

Karthik sneered, "Wake up, princess. Should I bring you some tea?" He kicked me in the back. "Get up and take a bath. We're making the deal today."

I clenched my jaw but nodded. He smirked and walked out. My blood boiled, but I kept my temper in check—John's words echoed in my mind, keeping me grounded.

After a quick shower, I stepped outside towards the car, where Karthik, John, and Garry were already waiting.

Karthik shot me an irritated glance. "How long does it take you to get ready? We're already two hours late. Sarla Uncle is waiting."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is Sarla himself coming?"

Karthik grunted. "He said he might, but knowing him, I doubt it."

Without another word, I got in and started the engine.

As we drove toward the beach, Garry turned to Karthik. "The girls are good, but some look too young. You should've used some growth-enhancing drugs on them."

Karthik rolled his eyes. "That's not my department, Garry. I've told Sarla Uncle a hundred times—he needs to be sharper on the business side. Advertising is everything. If the product lacks quality, we'll be the ones suffering."

John cut in, his tone casual. "It's fine. There's a market for younger girls too. Not every customer wants the same thing, and demand shifts constantly. A few imperfections won't hurt sales."

A tense silence followed.

By the time we reached the meeting point, nearly twenty girls stood in a line, dressed provocatively, their faces caked with excessive makeup.

Sarla was absent, but Mukesh and Sumeet were there. Karthik stepped out and embraced Mukesh. "Where's Sarla Uncle?"

Mukesh offered a measured smile. "He had some urgent business. Couldn't make it. But he's proud of you—you've done excellent work."

Garry and John got out as well.

John placed a firm hand on my shoulder and lowered his voice. "If your answer is yes, there's a boat waiting a couple of miles away. I'll make sure they let you board with the girls. My men will be stationed there. You'll split them—half go to another boat, half continue with you to Goa. A contact will meet you there and take the girls to safety. Once it's done, take the money and disappear. Go wherever you want."

He gave my shoulder a reassuring pat before walking away.

Karthik waved me over. Mukesh smiled. "Have you been taking good care of my nephew? He can be difficult, but he has a golden heart. He even asked me to make you his personal butler."

I forced a smile. "It would be my pleasure."

Karthik smirked. "No, the pleasure will be mine."

John, having overheard, approached. "I was thinking of sending Suraj with the girls. It's a long, lonely trip—I want someone trustworthy with them. Don't worry, I'll pay him."

Mukesh nodded. "No problem, John. He can go."

Karthik started to protest, but Mukesh silenced him with a pinch.

John grinned. "Perfect. Let's get moving."

Mukesh crossed his arms. "Aren't you paying us first?"

John's smile didn't waver. "The money will be delivered once my bosses confirm the consignment."

Mukesh's expression tightened, but he said nothing as the girls were led onto the boat.

I was about to board when Sumeet grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?"

"Playing along," I muttered.

His voice dropped to a whisper. "Don't. We don't have to obey their every command."

I met his eyes. "We do. We're too close to catching Sarla. If we slip up now, they'll suspect us."

Sumeet hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Whatever. Just be careful."

The boat pulled away from the shore, carrying us toward the location.

Dusk had nearly settled when a small boat emerged from the mist, its flag barely visible over the dark waters. As it drew closer, a wooden plank was lowered, and two men swiftly jumped onto our boat.

One of them barked, "Hurry up. Send half the girls over."

I turned to the group. "Do as he says."

The girls hesitated for a moment, then, without a word, half of them boarded the other boat. Within minutes, it vanished into the thickening fog, leaving only the sound of distant waves in its wake.

By the time we reached Goa, dawn was breaking. We disembarked and made our way toward the pier, where a man in a dark green shirt and maroon pants stood waiting.

His gaze swept over the girls before he spoke. "Don't worry. You're safe now. John has already arranged a place for you. A new life begins from here."

The girls exchanged uncertain glances—first at him, then at me. Their expressions were a mix of confusion and fear, but they followed his lead without protest.

As they disappeared into the morning haze, I tightened my grip around the fat envelope in my hand. Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone and dialed Ms. Maria.

After a few rings, she picked up, her voice groggy. "Harsh? Why are you calling so early?"

"I want to initiate an attack on Sarla."

She was silent for a moment. Then, sharper now, she asked, "An attack? Why?"

"We have everything we need—evidence, intel. It's time to move."

"Are you sure? I need to run this by my seniors. Mr. Henderson is out of London, and Mr. Mitusawa has been under the weather. But not sick enough to ignore a request like this. I'll talk to him." She paused. "Where are you?"

"Goa."

"And Sumeet?"

"Still back there."

"Go meet Aanchal. She's been asking about you. You know where she lives?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Stay put until I give the word. No reckless moves."

The call ended. I slipped the envelope into my pocket and turned toward the city, vanishing into the dense morning fog...