The First Day

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From last week....

Madan and Premlatha have led a life, deprived of comfort for so long. So when Madan loses his job, their only hope was to take his beautiful wife to Bombay to make her a movie star.

Their luck seemed to change for the better when they meet Chaman Bhai. But then, his wife is forced to be treated like a commodity - a gold mine out of which Madan gets only a fraction of the profit.

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by A. W. L. Silva

All four of us are the partners of this gold mine." "But where is the gold mine?" Madan asked. In reply Chhagan Bhai took a photograph from his table and showing it to Madan, said: "Here it is." Madan was confused. He said: "But this is my wife. I mean my sister's photo."

"Yes this is the gold mine. I am taking your sister as the heroine of my film opposite the top hero of the film industry - Dev Raj. Not a single film of Dev Raj ran below silver jubilee.

Did they? Then after one film the potential of this heroine will be over two and half lakhs. won't it? So if I call her a gold mine am I wrong?" "But tell me how is it that my gold mine became yours." Madan asked in embarrassment. "Because I take her as the heroine." Chhagan Bhai retorted aloud.

"Otherwise she is just an ordinary girl from Gore Gaon slums. For her publicity I am going to spend seventy five thousand Rupees. Then I am casting her opposite the top hero Dev Raj. After that if I am asking fifty percent am I asking in excess? That too is only for five years."

"And you?" Madan asked turning towards Chaman Bhai. "Will you get this contract if I did not introduce you to Chhagan Bhai? Therefore I should get twelve and half percent commission." "And you?" he asked finally from Mirza Izzat Beg. "I am the Director." said Mirza Izzat Beg. "If I want I can make the heroine a first class actress. And if I want I can make her a third class actress.

Therefore I also should get twelve and half percent." "But this is real black mail!" Madan shouted in anger. "Speak with respect! Speak with respect!" Mirza Izzat Beg said angrily. "I always carry respect (Izzat) in my bag (Beg), that is why my name is Izzat Beg. I want respect and I want my share - only twelve and half percent."

Madan felt as if Premlata is not a woman but a business enterprise of which the shares are available for buying and selling at the Bombay Stock Exchange, like for example 'Globe Combine Alkaine' so is 'Premlata and Company Private Limited.'

"Where should I sign?" Madan asked in a tone almost emotionally broken down.

On the day the contract was signed Chhagan Bhai gave Madan a cheque for two thousand rupees, and procured a luxurious flat for Madan and Premlata in Malabar Hill area. Madan was also given a brand new Fiat car bought from the Globe Motors shop.

That same night Madan and Premlata moved to their new flat. Madan embraced Premlata and congratulated her on her success.

And Premlata touching Madan's feet promised that she will be for ever his own dear wife. So finally Madan's struggles and endeavour brought him to his goal. Victory came to his feet.

Today his wife became a heroine. Premlata became Saroj Bala and now it also is coming to end. Madan was seated in his new Fiat car outside stage No.1 and was impatiently looking at his wrist watch every now and then. When will be the pick up time so that he can take the queen of his heart in his Fiat and go for a drive along the faraway beach.

Finally the bell rang for pick up, and Madan's heart started to beat like a hammer. After a while the new heroine came out. Her hand was locked up in the hand of the hero, Dev Raj, and both of them were laughing and chatting freely, swinging their hands.

But instead of stopping at the Fiat car of Madan, they went past up to the hero's luxury car, Impala.

Madan opened the door of the Fiat and called: "Saroj!" "Coming brother." the heroine turned back and shouted. Then she came back to Madan and said in a low voice: "You go home, I will come in Dev Raj's car." "But why can't you come in my car?" Madan asked angrily.

"Are you crazy?" Premlata burst in to fury. "Now I am a heroine. How can I now get in to your small Fiat and go out of the studio. What will people say?" "Saroj!" the hero shouted and called her from there.

"Coming!" Saroj replied aloud and ran towards the hero's car. Dev Raj sat at the driver's seat and Saroj sat in the front seat next to him. The doors of the Impala closed.

And the beautiful blue car pulled out of the gate emitting a musical note from its horn. And Madan's car remained with its doors still open.

(This short story is translation of a Urdu story written by Krishan Chandra.)