Lajjo, aka Lajwanti, is one of the major supporting characters in Heeramandi, who kicks the bucket early on in the show, portrayed by Richa Chadda.
Lajjo is one of the old courtesans in Mallikajaan’s elite house called Shahi Mahal, and Mallika’s foster daughter.
Her prime days as a courtesan are over and now she spends most of her time in a drunken stupor.
Tragic love
Lajjo is in love with Imaad, aka Zoravar Ali Khan. He used to be her patron but then he went away, never to return to her.
However, she stuck to him and stayed optimistic about his return. She began drinking in her sadness and desire that never got fulfilled.
Her dreams of starting a life with Imaad, marrying him, and becoming his wife as he promised once, remained dreams that she now forces herself to believe have been realized.
Alcohol is her crutch
She is always drinking out of her bottle and flaunts her dresses and jewelry to others, lying to them that it’s all been given to her by Imaad, who she says will take her away.
Everyone knows about her lies already, since it’s been too long since she became like this. Gifts that her sisters at Shahi Mahal have brought her are the ones she pretends she got from her Zoravar.
In a constant drunken stupor, she giggles and laughs, telling others her Zoravar will take her abroad very soon. Daily, she goes out and into the restaurant where she waits for Zoravar, but he never comes.
The heartbreak & farewell
One day, Lajjo goes there and Zoravar is there already. He heart shatters when she sees he’s celebrating with his friends and the woman he’s about to marry. To rub salt on her wounds, Zoravar invites her to perform mujra at his wedding.
She goes there and performs her heart out, putting his wife-to-be to shame. Zoravar gets angry and slaps Lajjo, telling her to promptly get out, which is when Mallikajaan enters and asks Lajjo to finish her mujra.
When Zoravar challenges her and continues to insult Lajjo and Mallika for being Tawaifs, Mallika reveals the truth to him, that he’s her son. Lajjo finishes up and on the ride back home, she falls down inside the cart and dies.
The alcohol finally catches up to her, and she dies because of it. All the courtesans of Shahi Mahal grieve the dark day and bid farewell to their beloved Lajwanti.
Also Read: Heeramandi summary and ending explained