Used as Her Stand-In for Seven Years / Chapter 5: Alone, but Finally Free
Used as Her Stand-In for Seven Years

Used as Her Stand-In for Seven Years

Author: Pooja Singh

Chapter 5: Alone, but Finally Free

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5.

When I woke up, the hospital window was covered with swaying ivy, sunlight dappling the white bedsheet. The sharp scent of Dettol mixed with the distant aroma of chai wafting from a nurse’s flask. Through the glass, the honk of an auto-rickshaw floated up—a reminder that the world outside moved on.

A sudden argument broke the hush.

The manager yelled:

"Pagal ho gaya hai kya? Priya ko maar pad gaya, aur tu abhi bhi us ladki ki side le raha hai? Bhool gaya kaise usne tujhe compete karne diya, votes ke liye kitna bhaagi thi?"

Twenty-seven-year-old Kabir answered, voice icy:

"Maine usse kuch maanga tha?"

The manager pressed:

"Toh chhod de na, kyun torture kar raha hai usko?"

"…Kyun chhod doon? Khud aayi thi, ab chhod nahi rahi."

"Yaad rakh, bhaiya, tu Ananya ko propose karne wala hai."

"Pata hai. Sirf Ananya se pyaar karta hoon. Ab Ananya wapas aa gayi hai, Priya, Sneha, Ritu—sab ek jaise hain. Thoda time chahiye bas. Jab bore ho jaunga, chhod dunga."

Kabir ran a hand through his hair, impatient:

"Aur haan, usko proposal ke baare mein mat batana. Scene create kar degi."

"Aaj toh hadh ho gayi—Ananya ko maarne ki koshish ki. Bilkul pagal ho gayi hai. Kaun samajhti hai apne aap ko."

"Kya sochti hai, main ek deaf ladki se shaadi karunga sirf kyunki main music banata hoon?"

He got up to leave.

The manager’s voice rose behind him:

"Kaun hai woh? Woh ladki jisne tera saath diya, jo New Voice Award jeeti thi tera girlfriend ban ke, dus saal teri zindagi mein thi. Bhool gaya? Tera sabse bada sapna tha na ki woh tere gaane sun sake?"

"Dawaayi mein itni tarakki ho gayi hai—agar kal ko Priya sun sake, toh pachtayega mat!"

Outside, a crow cawed and the city kept moving. But for the first time, the weight on my chest lifted—just a little. I realised I was alone, but finally free.

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