Naked

"The tumor in her brain is getting bigger and bigger. If this goes on, she will die soon. Maybe in a minute or an hour. We can't say anything. If you want to save her, then arrange 4 million for her operation, including her medical expenses. After arranging the money, deposit it at the reception so that we can start her surgery. Now please get aside; we have other patients to look after," the bulky doctor said rudely and harshly pushed her.

Celestine stumbled on her feet and fell to the ground on her knees.

"From where will I arrange this much money? I don't have any family, and my relatives can hardly earn for their regular necessities." Celestine knelt in a corner of the hospital with puffy black eyes.

After sitting there for some time, she managed to stand on her feet and walked with trembling steps. All the way, her mind was repeating one word: "money."

She entered her village and begged everyone for their help.

"I am begging you all, please lend me your gold jewelry. Celia is in pain. She is swinging between death and life. Please help me with her surgery." Celestine joined her hands and pleaded with everyone.

All the village people looked at her with pity, but none of them were ready to help her.

"Sorry, Celestine. You know we all are poor just like you. Let her die. At least she will be free from this painful life," her aunt said, and everyone agreed with her.

They all left her there alone. She cried hard. Her heart was filled with bitterness.

Her parents helped them all. In the past, when any of the village families were in crisis, her parents would sell their valuable things and help them.

Even the house in which Julia (her aunt) was living was hers, the only belonging that her parents left for her and Celia.

Celestine wiped her tears and walked back to the hospital where her younger sister Celia was admitted.

***

"She was asking for jewelry?" Amanda, who was Julia's elder daughter, said, blowing out a sneer in the air.

"Yes. And thanks to Jesus she did not ask for the house." Julia sipped tea from a clay cup.

"How shameless. She wants to make us all suffer just for that dying bitch," Amara, the second daughter of Julia, said with disdain.

"Enough! I shooed her for now. If you both see her near the village, just push her out. Those two sisters were only a burden on us." Julia walked to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

They were having lunch on someone else's property. The field from where they earned was of the poor girls. But none of them had even a bit of humanity. They couldn't understand the pain of others until they went through it themselves.

***

Celestine sat near her sister, holding her hand which was void of any flesh. Only bones were visible.

Celia opened her almond eyes weakly and looked at her sister who was trying hard to control her emotions.

"How much time do I have?" Celia asked with bitterness in her voice. Although she was seven years old, she was very smart.

"Shut up, stupid! I will not let anything happen to you." Celestine covered her pale lips.

"You don't have to beg for money, Celes. They will never help us and you know that." Celia said and a small drop of tear left her eyes.

"Stop it, Celia. I don't need their help. I will arrange the money and then we will leave from here. Jesus will help us. After all, we are his children." Celestine smiled.

"You are too stubborn, Celes." Celia laughed but it ended up as a cough.

"Don't talk much. Here, I have brewed energy soup for you. Taste it." Celestine made her drink the soup and after tugging her to sleep, she walked to the nearby city.

Celestine looked at tall buildings and expensive cars. She walked carefully, afraid of dirtying those highly expensive cars.

The public looked at her as if she was an alien. She felt uncomfortable under those mocking gazes.

Her steps halted outside a small bar. Loud cheering of men came with clapping sounds.

Celestine peeked in through the window and saw women doing belly dance and some were serving men while some were rubbing their ass cheeks on the fat thighs of big tattooed men.

Celestine's jaw dropped seeing all this. So this was why people of the town were different from village people, Celestine thought in her mind.

She walked into the bar and silently sat in a corner. Thinking of her sister, she gathered her courage but tears came out without her notice.

A young lady who seemed to be in her mid-twenties was noticing her. She sat opposite Celestine.

"Are you in need of money?" she asked Celestine while swirling her vodka glass.

"Yes, but how did you know?" Celestine asked in utter shock.

"Your face is enough to show me your story. I have work for you, and you will get a lot of money from it. Do you agree?" Lisa asked.

"Yes, I can do anything to save my sister," Celestine said with hope shining in her eyes.

In her excitement of earning money to save her sister, she forgot to ask about what type of work she was going to do. Legal or illegal?

***

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Thank you

Author KK