HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS TO YOU
Once upon a time, in the sultry month of August with splashes of monsoon rain; an infant was born in a family where she was not desired. Her mother lay on the hospital bed suffering from the doctor’s prognosis of tuberculosis. Injected with all sorts of syringes, she was terrible and alongside hoped for a baby boy, assuming, it would be an end to all her miseries. Her assumption did not prevail long and the cooing of her baby girl was eventually a song to her ears. Not being welcomed to the house and being lashed with all sorts of profane and defamatory comments, she did not lose hope and carried along. Those were the days of the early 2000s when female empowerment was thought to be a nuisance. Still, she left the sham of a marriage and continued to live along with her angelic baby with her “good” parents. Growing, learning, and being loved by her maternal- relatives and not being introduced to the paternal side made the child’s life pellucid. The cycle of abuse got passed on to her daughter, and never in her wildest dreams did the mother wish such abhorrence upon her dearest.
She was young and so was her body. She was a child but a sheer toy to “HIS” eyes. Touches that seemed to be loving, now put her into discomfiture. Those hellish circling of fingers on her baby smooth skin made her question the unfamiliarity. Sensing discomfort she took the plunge and ran out of the room. Hence, always portrayed a happy face to everyone until one day when she let her aunt know about the hellish deed. As she kept on describing the unfortunate situation, she grew irate. Moreover, her beloved aunt showed helluva contempt towards “HIM” but kept it confined within walls.
Now, she is a polymath adolescent but still very young. She lost, won, and claimed accolades that she was capable of. Never let her family down, never ever took weekends off, went for a vacation, or worked towards her vocation. Finally, after crossing all odds and barriers she was a free bird.
That unfortunate event never crashed her teenage mind, because it was something that happened years back; until one night. When she got the chance to go on a vacation and enjoy herself to the fullest, she grabbed on to the opportunity. In the hullabaloo of city life, she became a part of it and saw a phantasmagoria of fleeting images of herself adorned with scintillating urban lights. The night oozed tranquillity and the blinking airplane lights amidst clouds, filled her with joy.
But,
The good news is- beautiful times do not last forever!
“HE” joined her in the quietude, taking advantage of her solitude. Incredulous of the fact that most mishappenings happen within four walls, now made her believe, that broke all her trust and admiration towards the person. Inebriated with zero sobreity "HE" reeked of expensive Whisky and Cologne. She transitioned from her deep sleep to laying conscious on the bed, aware of her misery. There was no one to hush her on what was going on, but she decided to join in the party of quietude.
Though this time, the difference was that her skin was no longer baby soft and neither was she a little girl anymore. She had grown and was conscious enough to make her own decisions. She could feel and interpret. Inbuilt with perspicacity, every moment turned out to be gloaming.
There was no airplane in the sky, even if there was it had its lights off. She decided to eschew from those abhorrent and loathful touches which sent her into a realm of self-doubt later. Though everything got over, still she faced “HIM” with joined hands and wide-clenched teeth each time. But from inside, it creeped her with disgust. Ever since it dawned upon her, as to how dull she was to not even squeal a bit.
This time, her beloved aunt knew and reacted, but again kept it confined within walls. She was obliged to safeguard her family’s name and relationships.
But,
The good news is- Bad times don’t stay forever!
She ended her trip filled with memories and scathing mental marks. Greetings are imperative in Indian culture and so did she, greet “HIM” with joined hands and wide-clenched teeth during her departure. Eager to run back to her mother, she promised herself to portray valour. Her mother was perspicacious and her intuition was always right but this time, somehow, she was not able to sense her gnawing anguish creeping inside of her.
“Forgiveness is the key to happiness” quotes inundated her search history. She searched for the tiniest creek which would help her escape and breathe. Although she rebuked both of them for the “memories” she would be taking to her death bed. All thanks to them!
Looking out from the airplane window, she found no clarity of any land or water but got transfixed in the beauty of clouds. And, similar was her life now, mind fogged with uncertainty and filled with obscurity.
Deep down she hoped and prayed for every girl in the Universe that- it never happens to you!
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