Episode 31
Mystery Words Revealed
Ganga made her way through the narrow streets, which grew even narrower as she ventured deeper into the slum area. The cramped alleys eventually opened into a small market, a stark contrast to the previous quiet. This part of the slum was bustling with people. Ganga moved through the crowd with ease, but it became increasingly difficult for Srinu to keep track of her in the chaos. The crowd jostled him from all sides, making it hard to focus.
Suddenly, someone from the crowd collided with Srinu, sending both of them crashing to the ground. Without paying much attention to the person who had bumped into him, Srinu scrambled back to his feet, frantically searching for Ganga. But she was gone, nowhere to be seen. Panic surged through him as he scanned the area, but all he saw were multiple narrow alleys branching off in different directions. It was as if Ganga had vanished into thin air.
Srinu ( thinking, panicked): "Where did she go? Which alley did she take?"
At that moment, a woman's voice rang out from behind, filled with anger.
Unknown Woman ( furiously): "Arey, wo benchod! Kaha dekh ke chal raha hai? Kamar tod di meri, ahhh!"
[Hey, you motherfucker! Where are you looking while walking? You broke my back, ugh!]
Srinu briefly glanced at the woman yelling at him, dressed in worn clothes, waving her hand in anger.
But he didn’t have time to engage with her. He ignored her insults and rushed down each alley, desperately trying to find any trace of Ganga. His heart pounded harder as he realized he was running out of options. His worry intensified with each dead-end he encountered, and frustration set in. How could he have lost her?
Srinu ( cursing himself): "How could I let this happen?!"
The woman’s voice was still following him, full of rage as he passed her by once again. Her insults continued to rain down, but Srinu was too distracted to care. He ran back to the junction where he had last seen the auto, hoping to catch the driver and ask where Ganga had gone. But when he arrived, there was no sign of the auto either. He looked left and right, running in both directions, searching in vain.
Srinu ( frantically, fear creeping in): "Where is she? What the hell is happening?"
Just as he was about to give up, he heard the same woman’s voice again, but this time, she sounded calmer. She called out to him from the junction, sitting with one of her female friends.
Unknown Woman ( mockingly): "Abey, oh chomu! Iddar aah!"
[Hey, you idiot! Come here!]
Srinu hesitated for a moment but decided to approach her.
As soon as he got closer, the woman started yelling again, this time with more vulgar language.
Unknown Woman ( angrily): "Madarchod, mujhe dacha deke kaha bhaag raha hai?"
[You motherfucker, where are you running after crashing into me?]
Srinu ( distracted, absentminded): "I’m sorry, madam."
The woman laughed at his apology, clearly amused by him calling her "madam."
Unknown Woman ( laughing): "Arey, madam kisko bula rahe ho? Main koi madam nahi hoon."
[Who are you calling madam? I’m no madam.]
She paused for a moment before adding something that immediately caught Srinu’s attention.
Unknown Woman ( teasing): "Madam toh wo hai, jise tu dhoond raha hai!"
[The madam is the one you’re looking for!]
Srinu’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.
Srinu ( alarmed): "What? What did you just say?"
Unknown Woman ( smugly): "Haan, mujhe pata hai. Maine sab dekha. Kaise tu uska peecha kar raha tha."
[Yeah, I know. I saw everything. How you were following her.]
Srinu, feeling caught, tried to play it off, stuttering as he spoke.
Srinu ( nervously): "I... I wasn’t following anyone."
The woman smirked, seeing right through his weak denial.
Unknown Woman ( laughing): "Abey, itna daro mat. Yeh toh sab us madam ka peecha karte hain. Magar mujhe pata hai, wo koi madam nahi, badi randi hai."
[Oh, don’t be so scared. Everyone follows that madam. But I know, she’s no madam, she’s a big whore.]
Srinu’s blood boiled at the woman’s words. The idea of someone calling his wife Ganga a "randi" sent a surge of anger through him.
Srinu ( furious): "How dare you call her that?!"
The woman raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his outburst.
Unknown Woman ( sarcastically): "Huh, itna gussa kyu ho rahe ho? Wo kya lagti hai teri?"
[Why are you getting so mad? What is she to you?]
Srinu realized he needed to be careful. He quickly controlled his emotions and pretended he didn’t know Ganga.
Srinu ( calming down): "Oh, I’m not angry. I just wanted to know where she went."
The woman, sensing an opportunity, leaned closer to him, speaking with a hint of mischief.
Unknown Woman ( teasing): "Haan, mujhe pata hai. Sab uske paas hi jaana chahte hain."
[Yeah, I know. Everyone wants to go to her.]
Srinu ( anxiously, lowering his voice): "Do you know where she went?"
The woman leaned in even closer, a sly smile on her face.
Unknown Woman ( whispering): "Agar main tumhe bataungi, toh mujhe kya milega?"
Srinu’s heart raced. He quickly pulled out his wallet, thinking he could buy the information he needed.
Srinu ( eagerly): "If you tell me, I’ll give you as much money as you want."
The woman’s eyes lit up at the sight of his wallet.
Unknown Woman ( teasing, her voice lowering): "Accha! Itni garami chadi hai kya? Chal, toh phir chalega kya? Baju wali gali mein ek jhopdi khaali padi hai."
[Oh really? You’re that eager? Come, will you do it? There’s an empty shack in the alley next door.]
She winked at him, clearly suggesting something far more intimate.
Srinu’s mind went blank for a moment, realizing what she was implying.
Srinu ( shocked, thinking): "Is she asking me to fuck her?!"
He quickly put his wallet back in his pocket, trying to regain control of the situation.
Srinu ( panicked): "Oh, no, I didn’t mean that!"
The woman sighed, disappointed.
Unknown Woman ( smirking): "Haan, main jaanti hoon. Tum bhi uske paas hi jaana chahte ho. Is jhopadpatti ke saare mard usi ke paas jaate hain."
[Yeah, I know. You just want to go to her. Every man in this slum wants to go to her.]
Srinu’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Srinu ( wide-eyed): "Every man in the slum goes to her?!"
Unknown Woman ( nodding): "Haan, na jaane kaisa jaadu kiya hai us randi ne in mardon par."
[Yes, who knows what kind of spell that whore has cast on these men.]
Hearing her call Ganga a "randi" again made Srinu's blood boil. But he knew he had to stay calm and find out more.
Srinu ( controlled, asking): "How do you know this?"
Unknown Woman ( nonchalantly): "Mujhe kya? Yah sabko pata hai. Isiliye toh yahan ke saare mard usko pyar se 'Raniganj ki Randi Rani' bulate hain."
[How do I know? Everyone knows. That’s why all the men here lovingly call her 'Raniganj ki Randi Rani.']
Srinu’s world spun. His head felt light, and he nearly lost his balance. He grabbed onto a wall for support, his mind unable to process what he had just heard.
Srinu ( thinking, stunned): "Raniganj ki... Randi Rani?!"
The woman noticed him standing uncomfortably and mocked him.
Unknown Woman ( sarcastically): "Abe chutiya! Tumhe kya ho gaya?"
[Hey, idiot! What’s wrong with you?]
Srinu ( emotionally, tears welling up): "Nothing happened."
He wiped away the few tears that had escaped and started walking mindlessly, his thoughts consumed by what he had just learned. His feet moved, but his mind was in turmoil. The words kept replaying in his head: 'Raniganj ki Randi Rani'.
His search for Ganga continued aimlessly for nearly an hour, each thought stabbing at him. "Why is she calling Ganga a randi? What are these men doing with her? Are they… fucking her?!"
Even though he now understood the meaning of the mysterious words he had heard, it brought him no comfort. Srinu eventually decided that the unknown woman might be his only link to finding more about Ganga. He resolved to befriend her, keeping his identity hidden.
Srinu returned to the woman, who smiled slyly at him.
Unknown Woman ( teasing): "Mili kya teri rani?"
[Did you find your queen?]
Srinu looked at her with defeated eyes. Seeing his state, the woman felt a slight twinge of pity.
Unknown Woman ( comforting): "Arey, koi baat nahi. Chal, chalte hain baju wali gali mein."
[Hey, don’t worry. Come on, let’s go to the alley.]
Srinu stammered, unsure of what to say.
Srinu ( awkwardly): "Actually, I’m busy today."
Unknown Woman ( grinning): "Achcha? Toh kal aa jana. Mera naam Swathi hai. Is junction pe kisi se bhi poochh lena, sab mera ghar dikhayenge."
[Oh really? Well, come tomorrow then. My name is Swathi. Just ask anyone at this junction, and they’ll show you my house.]
Srinu, acting as though he was interested, replied.
Srinu ( pretending): "Oh, you’re a celebrity too?"
Swathi ( cockily): "Haan, main is jhopadpatti ki sabse badi kaamwali hoon."
[Yes, I’m the biggest worker in this slum.]
Srinu ( curious): "Oh, you’re a maid?"
Swathi ( smirking): "Sirf kaamwali nahi, bade kaamwali."
[Not just a maid, a big worker.]
Just as Srinu was about to ask more about Ganga, a man from a distance called out Swathi’s name, telling her to come over.
Man ( shouting): "Swathi, idhar aa!"
Swathi ( rolling her eyes): "Itna kyun chillaa raha hai buddhe? Aa rahi hoon!"
[Why are you shouting so much, old man? I’m coming!]
Swathi turned back to Srinu, smiling.
Swathi ( smiling): "Achcha bacchu, mujhe jaana padega. Mera papa bula raha hai. Kal isi time pe aa jana."
[Okay kid, I have to go. My dad is calling. Come tomorrow at this time.]
Srinu watched as Swathi left, still burdened by all the unanswered questions swirling in his head.
Srinu rode home with his mind tangled in a web of conflicting emotions. The chaotic scenes at the slum, Ganga's mysterious disappearance, and the strange encounter with Swathi swirled in his thoughts like a storm he couldn’t escape. The tension in his chest only grew with every passing second.
As the wind hit his face on the ride, questions kept assaulting him. "What the hell was Ganga doing in that slum? Why did she meet those men? Was she really there to help the poor, or... something else?"
The possibility that she could be involved with them in a way that went beyond mere charity tore at him. "No... no, it can't be. She wouldn’t... she wouldn’t do that!" But the more he tried to shut those thoughts out, the more vividly they filled his head. "Are they fucking her?!" The image of those men surrounding Ganga, her body taken by them, made his stomach turn. He gripped the bike's handles so tightly that his knuckles whitened. For a moment, he felt like driving his bike under a passing lorry, just to escape the torment in his head.
Srinu ( inwardly, distressed): "Goddammit, no! I can't let this get to me. She was just distributing food, that’s all! She has to be."
His mind raced faster than the bike beneath him, thoughts bouncing between rationality and madness. He had always considered himself an atheist, never believing in divine power. But today, he prayed with all his heart, desperate for some form of solace. "Please, let her be there only for the poor. Please don’t let it be what I fear."
No matter how much he prayed the blade of rationality was pointing right at him with a simple question why would someone call Ganga 'Ranigunj ki Randi Rani'? If she was there only for nobel act like distributing food for the poor. No matter how much he thought he could not answer this question the reality was he didn't want to know the answer for this question.
But as he wrestled with these torturous thoughts, something unexpected happened. His mind shifted suddenly to Swathi. Her image flashed before his eyes—the way her boobs bounced when she first yelled at him after they collided in the market. Srinu, without thinking, felt a wave of arousal wash over him. He couldn’t help but remember how hot she looked, her body moving as she scolded him. Then he remembered the way she had leaned in, asking him to fuck her in the empty shack, winking at him with that naughty expression.
Srinu ( involuntarily, thinking): "Swathi... that woman..."
Srinu felt an instant hardness between his legs as he thought about it, his body betraying him in that moment. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" he cursed himself. "How can I be thinking about another woman when I have Ganga?"
Feeling ashamed, Srinu tried to focus, pushing Swathi’s image out of his head. He forced himself to concentrate on the road, determined to clear his mind of any distractions. It wasn’t right, he told himself. He loved Ganga—he shouldn’t be thinking about anyone else.
Keeping his head straight, Srinu rode quickly the rest of the way home. As soon as he arrived, he parked his bike behind the house, out of sight so that no one would notice he was home. He didn’t want anyone asking questions. Quietly, he used the spare key to let himself into the house, slipping inside with a heavy heart. He locked the door behind him.
Srinu sat down heavily on the sofa, his heart filled with regret and frustration. His mind replayed the scene over and over—the moment he had lost sight of Ganga in the crowded slum, how close he had been to following her, and how he let that chance slip away. His anger built up with each passing second, and in a fit of rage, he started throwing the items on the table: a remote, a glass, whatever his hands could reach. He grabbed his phone next, ready to hurl it across the room, but stopped at the last moment.
Why don’t I just call her? he thought. Maybe I can ask her where she is... but what if she gets suspicious? What if she realizes I’m following her?
The thought made his blood run cold. He couldn’t risk that. Pacing around the house like a caged animal, Srinu muttered to himself in frustration.
"Why is this happening to me?" he asked the empty room. "When will this torture end? Am I just overthinking everything?" His head throbbed with unanswered questions, and there was nothing he could do to silence them. "If only I could hear her side of the story..."
Suddenly, a memory jolted his mind—the book. The book that Ganga had been hiding in her closet.
That book… what’s in it? Could it have answers? Srinu’s heart pounded as he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this is the way to know her side of the story.
Srinu darted upstairs into their bedroom, heart pounding, as he fumbled through Ganga’s wardrobe. Sarees rustled as he anxiously searched beneath the neatly stacked pile. His fingers brushed against something solid — the diary. His pulse quickened.
Carefully, he slid the diary out, closing the wardrobe behind him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he hesitated before opening it. Two words on the first page sent a cold chill down his spine: The Confession. The weight of the title felt like a dark omen. What could she possibly be confessing? Srinu wondered, a knot forming in his stomach. His hands trembled as he flipped through the pages, noting the many entries. She had been writing in it for a long time.
When he reached the first page, dated around the time of his hospital stay, his eyes settled on the initial words:
Hi Srinu, if you're reading this, it means I am dead.
The shock hit him like a punch. Dead? Srinu froze, his mind spinning. Was she sick? Hiding something from him? With a heavy heart, he reopened the diary, feeling the dread rise within him as he read on:
Yes, I should be dead for what I’ve done… for betraying the trust you placed in me.
His breath caught in his throat. Betrayed? His thoughts tumbled over each other. What could she possibly mean?
The paragraph continued, and it was like a knife twisting in his gut: After reading this, I don’t expect forgiveness, but I hope you won’t hate me. This is about the night we were attacked. When you got hit and collapsed, I thought you were dead. I was terrified, crying uncontrollably, but those bastards grabbed me before I could get to you. I screamed, but no one came. Those fuckers dragged us into a building.
Srinu’s mind reeled. Ganga, always so composed and kind, using words like fuckers to describe Javed and Chacha? He swallowed hard, a sick feeling rising as he read on. Holding the diary in his trembling hands, he noticed something he hadn’t before — the pages felt different, slightly crinkled. He ran his fingers over the paper and saw faint, warped bumps scattered across the page. They were marks left behind by dried tears. Ganga had been crying as she wrote this.
His chest tightened at the realization. She was in so much pain while writing this… The damp marks on the paper seemed to echo her anguish. Srinu could almost picture her, alone in the dimly lit room, pouring her heart out, her tears soaking into the diary. He could feel the weight of her sorrow in every word.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry, as the rawness of her emotions hit him. This wasn’t just a confession of guilt or betrayal; it was a painful outpouring of everything she had been carrying
The paragraph continued, They left you on the ground floor, unconscious. They dragged me up to the second floor. I fought to get to you, but it was no use. They overpowered me, took me into a room, and… The words trembled off the page. I beg you, Srinu, don’t hate me for what I’m about to tell you. I wish I were dead rather than have to explain this to you. No husband should ever have to read something like this from his wife.
Srinu felt nauseous. His hands trembled as the words blurred on the page. No, Ganga… what happened to you? His mind flashed back to the video recovery. Soon, he would see it all with his own eyes.
The page ended with, Please… don’t hate me.
Srinu was about to turn the page when the distinct sound of an auto-rickshaw echoed outside. His heart raced. Ganga must be back, he thought. Quickly glancing at his watch, her usual time. Hastily, he closed the diary, stashing it back under her sarees. With a final look around the room, he bolted for the back door, barely making it out in time. Srinu jumped over the compound wall and crouched in the bushes.
He watched as the auto stopped in front of the main gate. Ganga got out with her handbag and the lunch box bag. Before Srinu could get a clear look at the auto driver's face, the auto took a U-turn and left.
Srinu ( cursing under his breath): “Damn that auto driver. Slippery as always.”
He saw Ganga open the front gate and walk towards the main door. Before she could reach it, the neighbor's aunt called out to her.
Aunty ( curiously): “Ganga beti! Where are you coming from?”
Ganga walked up to the neighbor, her expression brightening slightly.
Ganga ( smiling): “Yes, Aunty! We’re going to have a family function in our hometown next month. I went to Ameerpet regarding that.”
Hearing how expertly Ganga was lying by mixing some truth about the family function, Srinu felt a chill run down his spine.
Aunty ( nodding in understanding): “Oh, you went for the function planning? Acha, beti… How much are the auto drivers charging from Ameerpet to here these days?”
With a cheeky expression, Ganga casually replied,
Ganga ( with a cheeky expression): "Main auto wale ko paise nahin deti."
Auntie's face twisted in confusion.
Aunty ( puzzled): “I didn’t understand, Ganga beti. You don’t give money to the auto driver?”
Ganga quickly shifted her demeanor, becoming more alert.
Ganga ( stammering slightly): “Ah... Aunty... I mean... I don’t give the auto driver the money directly. I pay him with UPI, PhonePe.”
Srinu ( clenching his teeth, feeling a mix of anger and confusion): “What did she mean by not giving money? Then what did she give instead of money? Did she actually tell the truth? Was that a slip of the tongue?”
As Ganga turned to walk towards the door, Srinu remained hidden in the bushes, wrestling with his thoughts and the rising tide of emotions.
Srinu looked at his watch again. There was still some time before he usually returned from the office. He had to make it look like he was just arriving home. So instead of rushing into the house, he decided to wait in the bushes.
He watched as Ganga moved around the house. It was clear that she was a little tired. She placed her bag on the table and started picking up all the things Srinu had angrily thrown earlier when he was sitting on the sofa. Oh shit, I completely forgot about the mess I made, he thought, feeling a pang of guilt. Ganga paused, looking around in confusion, trying to figure out what could have knocked things off the table. However, she didn’t dwell on it too long and headed to the kitchen to make herself some coffee.
A few minutes later, she took her coffee mug upstairs to their bedroom and sat down with her diary. From his hiding spot, Srinu could see her going through a multitude of emotions as she wrote, just like before. But this time, she seemed to take her sweet time, sipping her coffee and writing.
Suddenly, Srinu’s watch gave a soft beep, signaling the time he usually got home. It’s time, he thought. He quickly made his way to his bike and drove back to the house, making it seem like he was returning from the office.
Ganga greeted him at the door with a big smile, as usual. Srinu forced a smile in return and went inside. He sat down on the sofa, and Ganga brought him a cup of coffee, sitting adjacent to him.
Ganga ( smiling): "How was your day at the office?"
Srinu ( distracted but trying to stay calm): "Oh, you know, the usual. Busy. And yours?"
While they engaged in their usual chit-chat, Srinu couldn’t help but notice things about Ganga he hadn’t before. Her hair was hastily tied in a bun, strands falling loose in an untidy manner, indicating she had retied it several times. Her makeup from the morning had worn off, and there were light smudges of lipstick around her lips. She was wearing a deep-neck, sleeveless blouse that showed off her back and a generous amount of cleavage.
when he saw her soft boobs clearly from her beautiful cleavage, suddenly his mind flashed her boobs with cum sprayed all over them.
That’s how they must like it, he thought bitterly, as his eyes moved over her saree, which was folded in multiple places—not her usual pristine, ironed look.
Ganga had to call him twice to snap him out of his thoughts.
Ganga ( concerned): "Srinu, what happened? You seemed lost for a moment."
Srinu ( quickly, trying to cover up): "Oh, nothing, Ganga. I was just thinking about work stuff. Anyways, you look a bit tired today. How was your day?"
Srinu was expecting her to lie and tell him she had been working at home and got tired, but to his surprise, she said:
Ganga ( casually): "Oh, I went to Ranigunj."
Srinu's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Srinu ( questioning, trying to keep his voice steady): "Why?"
Ganga ( smiling, as if it were no big deal): "I go there a couple of days a week to feed the poor."
Srinu ( pretending to be interested): "That’s nice. When did you start doing this?"
Ganga ( softly, with a hint of nostalgia): "Oh, when you were in the hospital. I promised my favorite god that I would feed the poor every week if you got better soon."
Srinu's mind raced. Wow, She’s telling the truth... well, half the truth at least.
Srinu ( playing along): "You should’ve called me. I would’ve taken you there myself."
Ganga ( with a dismissive wave): "Oh, I didn’t want to bother you. You must’ve been busy with work. I went in an auto."
This was Srinu’s opportunity. He had been waiting to ask about the auto.
Srinu ( curiously, trying not to sound too eager): "Oh, you took an auto? Did you book it on Ola or Uber?"
Again, to his surprise, she told the truth.
Ganga ( nonchalantly): "No, I went with Ramesh bhaiya's auto."
Srinu's blood boiled. She’s even telling his name now? His face tightened as he asked:
Srinu ( with a questioning look): "Ramesh bhaiya?"
Ganga ( explaining, as if it were nothing): "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Ramesh bhaiya was very helpful when you were in the hospital. He’s the one who used to take me to the hospital and back home every day."
Srinu could barely contain his rage. He stood up abruptly, his anger simmering.
Ganga ( concerned): "What happened, Srinu?"
Srinu ( forcing calm, through gritted teeth): "Oh, nothing. I need to go to the washroom."
He rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. Inside, he furiously paced, cursing under his breath.
Srinu ( to himself, fuming): "That lying whore! She has an answer for everything! How can she keep dodging every damn question?"
He considered confronting her directly but paused. Maybe it’s better to wait, the rational side of his mind told him. You’re too close to the truth now.
Srinu ( frustrated, talking to himself): "Why shouldn’t I just tell her that I followed her and saw her in Ranigunj?"
The rational voice inside him answered, But you didn’t really see anything, did you? You lost her in the crowd. Besides, you can follow her again. And don’t forget the diary. She’s probably written everything in there.
Srinu ( nodding to himself): "Yes, I can read her diary and know her thoughts without confronting her directly."
His mind raced back to the video recovery. Soon, I’ll have video proof too, he thought, feeling a sense of grim satisfaction.
He calmed himself down, deciding to wait until the right moment. After a few minutes, Srinu stepped out of the bathroom and rejoined Ganga. They chatted casually as usual, waiting for dinner.
As usual, they had dinner while watching Ganga’s favorite TV shows. Srinu was eager to finish eating and lock himself in his room to watch the recovered video, but he had to wait until Ganga went upstairs.