The Kite Broken by the Wind
The sea wind drew the map of Mexico on Jessica’s face. Sister Carmel, Jessica and Fatima walked through the beach. Some couples were lying on the beach. A man was trying to save his hat from the strong wind. Jessica asked.
“Isn’t the wind fine?”
“Yes.” Sister Carmel replied. “Sea has a magical power. It loves and attract us, but also punishes us. Jessica, we two are happy that you wish to be released from the dark life you are leading now. Fatima is also a woman who has come out of darkness. Now she travels with me.
The sister’s words kindled Jessica’s courage and self-confidence. She thought: “what have I achieved in my life till now? By wriggling and writhing in the silk beds of rich men like splinter in a furnace, I have amassed a lot of money. But what rose out of my life was black smoke till now. I wish to turn it into white smoke.”
She asked sister Carmel with both doubt and hope at the same time. “Sister, tell me. What shall I do now?”
The sister laughed affectionately and said. “My child, we think that we can achieve everything with money. God has sent us to this world not to own these temporary material gains we call ‘wealth.’
He has paid a great price for our life. If we hand it over to sin we will have to answer for it at the time of Judgement. God evaluates our thoughts and feelings always accurately. Put an end to this luxurious and voluptuous life and begin to organize the women who lead a wayward life. Let us approach prostitutes, criminals and miscreants, talk with them and bring about a change of heart in them. Let us lead them into the path of hope and expectation. That is a virtuous deed. Our people are present in every country. This Fatima is one among them. We work under a trust. The church is only one of the trustees. The others belong to different walks of life. This activity goes on because of the help and cooperation of many good people. We have an economic crisis. Many governments stand against our work. Some do not even cooperate with us. They think that we use the money collected for this purpose for our personal expenses. If you examine the accounts of the trust you will be able to understand that this is a fake statement. What is important to us is the freedom of women.”
Sister took Jessica’s hands and requested her. “You too should join this noble venture.”
“Of course sister, I will be able to start the ladies care home for prostitutes in this country.” Jessica was very confident. A ray of hope shone in her mind. From the place where the authorities ignored the Sister she would be able to make a good start. She knew much about the fake accounts and personal secrets of many well-placed men. She had already become a part of Sister Carmel’s volunteer squad, mentally. Jessica felt that her heart itself was murmuring to her the mantra of success.
They had conquered Jessica once using a videotape. Gradually it amused her too. Taking and collecting video pictures of the bed room secrets of the rich and mighty became her favourite pastime. She had also recorded their conversations. Once she had cursed the video and even God who had left her in this path. Now she felt that he was standing in front of her in the form of Sister Carmel.
She declared. “All the wealth I have accumulated will be used for the functioning of the Care Home. This is my firm decision.”
The Sister hugged her and thanked profusely. They walked through the beach and reached the place where her luxury car was parked. They went to a large pub and sat on the chairs in front of it. Jessica went in with Fatima and brought coffee in three cups. Many passengers and vehicles were passing through the streets. Men and women were drinking coffee, wine or beer in the nearby seats.
“Sister, you should stay with me for at least one week. I want to meet many of my friends and to convert them to our side if possible. The presence of sister will give me courage.”
“I respect your words, Jessica. But we have only two more days here. After that I have to go to America and then to London. All these were decided beforehand. When I come next, I will stay with you not for one week but for one month. Now I have only two days at my disposal. I will spend this night with you. Let us go to my hotel and collect the luggage. Agreed?”
Jessica nodded her head.
“Jessica, you should come to our office in London and see directly the activities going on there. You should learn them too. It will be an inspiration to you. You can also meet our manager Dr. Sister Norin there.”
Jessica asked quickly. “If so, shall I come with new, Sister?
Sister agreed happily. She felt that Jessica was becoming more and more close to her heart. She said.
“Then you have to book your seat.”
Jessica said firmly. “That is not a problem, Sister whatever I decide will happen in this country.”
Fatima looked at her with interest. ‘She is not at all an ordinary prostitute like me.’ She thought.
Jessica called her secretary and asked him to book her seats for the New York and London journeys. She realized that it was high time that her wounds should be healed. They drank coffee.
Sister Carmel was doubtful. If Jessica threw away her job and left the country itself, would her group let her go? That thought worried her much. She was a prostitute bidden in an auction held in another country. Wouldn’t their guerillas find her out? Had this girl strength enough to fight with those in power? Would her courage wane? She should not be harmed. Jessica was a woman with good conscience and human nature. The Sister was happy about it. But the wicked men who accompanied her might not think like her. Their reaction would be cruel or inhuman. Sister Carmel’s heart began to pound as she thought about the possibilities. She decided to discuss this matter and share her fear with Jessica.
“Will your companions allow you to start such an institution? Will they leave you alone?”
The emotion that was reflected on Jessica’s face was not fear, but vengeance and hatred.
“Do you say that I have to live with fear because I am a woman?”
Then one of her friends came to her “Sister, this is my roommate Teresa. We live together in that house. She too does my job.”
When a young man called her waving his hand, Teresa left them.
“When Sister comes home I will introduce her to you. She too can be brought to our way. There are many Mexican women engaged in this profession. I want to prepare some pamphlets copying what you have brought”.
Sister repeated her question. What would she do if her colleagues became her enemies? Jessica opened her bag, took out a pistol and showed it to the Sister. Sister Carmel was bewildered. The pistol danced in the open palm of her hand. She looked at the Sister firmly and said.
“If any one turns against me, howsoever highly placed he is, I will end him with this gun. Or else, if he kills me, their respectable faces will turn ugly. I have arranged that.” She put the pistol back in her bag.
“Tomorrow is Sunday. Sister, I will come with you to the church. I want to participate in the Holy Communion. I will acknowledge my sins and atone for them before the priest.”
A police officer who passed by said ‘Hi’ to Jessica. She returned the greeting. The car rushed through the busy road. Sister’s belief in Jessica was rising gradually. She closed her eyes and prayed and thanked God silently.
The trio reached New York and then London. In New York they had planned to conduct sexual awareness classes for a week. They appeared on many stages and got acquainted with many pop singers and dancers. Many of them knew Jessica who was an internationally famous model. There were many gay people and college students among the persons whom they met.
The Sister and others took classes for all of them. They were requested to say good bye to the sinful life. After promising a good life to everyone, they returned to London.
(Cont’d)
