Confrontation With The Other: Part 2

So the next day started with a nervous undertone in our household. I forced hubby to office and cajoled my dad to sit inside, in case they came home. The masis create unpleasant situations/scenarios, hurl obscenities, make rude comments at male negotiators or any male member of the house, we were told.

I was tensed, apprehensive - I had already given them hope of earning. The starry figures I had been hearing since the earlier evening had created a fear within. How much will they ask? 

I was startled by any little noise, couldn't finish my breakfast, listened to endless advices from all around and waited for the dreaded call. My heartbeat going faster with every passing minute.

Finally the white phone rang around eleven in the late morning. Security guard handed over the phone to the leader of the masi gang. I mentioned we were ready to pay Rs.3,000, she laughed and said,  "the railway platform beggers pay that and you are offering only that much?" As I hiked a little more I was compared to a vegetable vendor then to a grocery store help n so on. Then she quoted their price - it was Rs.25,000.

She soon started using choicest profanity, went on to cry for sympathy, then threatened a bit. She even dared to say that we need not pay anything, instead they would pay us hefty amount if my hubby married one of them! Mom and dad were continually signing for me to maintain my cool. But it was becoming very damn difficult. The phone call went on and on - all this while my baby was waiting to be bathed and fed.

The marathon phone call lasted for about two hours and the final price was set at Rs.10,000. Then they informed that one of their members would come to collect the money and the usuals. Usuals? Well, we learned that usuals would be 5 KG rice and 5 KG dal (lentil), 1Litre oil, masalas, vegetables and a new saree!

We just packed some of the things from that list which was available in the kitchen and a new saree along with the money and handed over to the harmless looking representative, who, we learnt, was a new recruit.

She performed some puja with a handful of mustard seeds and a one rupee coin. She wanted to dance with the baby and bless him too. But I had had enough and asked her to leave. She agreed and handed me a visiting card of her 'gurumata' (the Don), as a receipt of the money. In case other groups came to us we could show this card and buy our respite.

This incident made me question a lot of things:

1) who informed them? Any of our help or any employee of the apartment? or the hospital (as they had claimed)? 

2) who or what gives them the courage to overpower public to extort money in this manner?

3) why no one dares to voice out against them? The neighbours, the security, the police no one helped, why?

Well, I didn't get the answers. With time the terror and the anger faded from memory and I too, like everyone else forgot the questions. Life went on as usual.