Hello people! Sincere apologies as I am returning after ages *oh no* but then here's a really long update to make up for it! I truly hope you love this chapter and I really am looking forward to your answers! Please like/comment at the blog/forum instead of personal messaging cause that will be easier for me to note your replies.
P.S : Rasika ji, take this really long update as a very delayed anniversary gift :) It's almost thirty pages... hope you like it :)
P.P.S : Not proofread so please avoid the grammatical/spelling errors. Since this is fiction, please take everything with a pinch of salt :)
With love,
You know who.
CHAPTER 5
GUILT
“Papa, aap kaha the?” (Papa, where were you?)
Sakshi’s painful whisper brought tears to Kailash’s eyes. He had gently led Sakshi to the couch and stroked her hair and she rest her head on his lap, tears leaking endlessly. “Yahi tha…” (Just here…) He whispered back though he knew it was of no use. His fingers shook as he combed through her hair, noticing the ugly purple marks on her neck.
A hiss from Sakshi broke his thoughts, Kailash realised that while setting her hair he had brushed against one of the bites. “Kaisi hai tu?” (How are you?) He wanted to kill himself for asking that. Mortification ran through his system as Sakshi got up and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. The stark pain in her eyes made it difficult for him to believe that she was just a young one of fourteen.
Oh now he realises her age, his conscience mocked him. “Zinda hoon. Saasein chal rahi hai.” (Alive. Breathing.) Kailash looked up to find the corpse of Sakshi looking back at him. “Maaf karde.” (Forgive me.) His heart shattered as his daughter laughed slightly, angsty tears running down her face. “Mare papa toh mare jaan hai. Sabse pyara kaun? Papa, hai na? Itni nafrat thi ki apni chori ko chaar saal main paraye kar diya, ek baar bhi nahi dekha ki lugai banne se pehle thari beti banna tha mujhe?” (Why dear father? Weren’t you my dearest? Didn’t I love you enough that you had to hate me till such an extent? I was barely four when you sent me away, did you never see that before becoming someone’s wife I wanted to be your daughter?)
Kailash folded his palms and broke down as her words hit home “Naa gudiya… tu toh sabsi pyaari hai. Isliye toh tujhe pura Devi Garh ka sabse bada khandaan se biyah rachaya, taaki thari zindagi savar jaaye…” (No sweetheart! You are my dearest too, wasn’t that why I got you married to the most prestigious family? In the hope that your life would be beautiful…) He stopped speaking as Sakshi gave him a murderous glare and walked away from him. “Aap sab ek hi ho… sab ek.” (You are all the same… just the same.) she shrieked and muffled her cries with her mouth.
“Zindagi savar jayega? Kis tarha savarna papa? Kya aapko bhi nahi pata tha ki kal raat Arjun mere saath kya karega!” (A beautiful life? In which ways dear father? Do you have any idea what Arjun did with me last night?!) She accused while Kailash gulped, trying to swallow his guilt. Her heart burnt from betrayal as the man who meant the world to her, her father, barely understood her pain. “DARD HUA THA! Bohot!” (IT HURT ME! A lot!) She screamed and walked rapidly across the room, throwing things.
“Dard ka matlab samajte ho? Maare kapde utar di, lakh baar mana karne ke bawajood bhi. Mare ko har jagah chua, ghin aati hai khud se. Aa… aur itna zor se kaata. Pata hai usne bachpan main thappad maara, agar uski koi baat nahi maanti hoon toh haath madod leta hai. Yeh muh ke saamne yeh daag dikh rahe ho.” (Do you know what it means to hurt? I was stripped naked, in spite of my please. He touched me everywhere such that I am disgusted of myself. Aa… and he bit me so hard. Do you also see the marks near my mouth?) Sakshi paused to take a breath and slumped against her bed as memories flooded her mind. Clutching the top of her blouse she broke into sobs as she realised that no one, not ever her own father could protect her.
“Kya aapko kuch bhi dikhayi deti hai?” (Wait a minute, did you ever see anything?) Sakshi cried out as a weary Kailash crouched near his daughter. He broke as his daughter refused to be taken into a hug. Sighing, his eyes went to his daughter’s bed and the very thought of her being taken forcibly made him curse in disgust. As he watched his daughter crying, Kailash found himself lost in another memory.
He breathed and let the cool air nip his sweaty skin. Sighing softly, he rubbed soothing circles around his wife’s wrist. Assuming she fell asleep, which was most likely to happen after the exhaustion, he thought he heard a choked sound.
His eyes flashed open and he quietly turned aside, not wanting to disturb her. To his shock, a scared Ratna was holding on to the cover across her chest and muffling her cries in her palms, wincing as she curled into a foetal position. Kailash got up and stared at his now scared wife who looked at him, terrorised. Swallowing a gulp, he took his dhoti and headed off to the verandah.
Too guilty to look into a pair of scared thirteen year old’s eyes.
“Ghalti maari hai…” (It was my mistake...) Sakshi spoke out, staring at nothing. With tears long dried on her cheeks, she stared at her father with cold eyes “Humne aapko rakshak samjha, par aap maare saath the hi kaha?” (It was my mistake to think that my father was my saviour… but how was that possible? Were you ever next to me?) The accusation from Sakshi startled Kailash. Her hollow eyes were just like Ratna’s, but they were much older.
Much emptier.
Punished for his own sins, Kailash thought. But why his daughter? Out of all the people… why his precious one? “Nafrat karte hai aapse, jaiye… na aapko dekhna hai, nahi maa ko.” (I hate you, please leave. I don’t want to see you neither my mother.) “Sakshi!” Kailash cried and took his hurt child into his arms.
That’s what she was, just a child. And to think of it… Ratna was even younger that day. “Meri bacchi mare ko koi bhi saza de par mare se nafrat mat kar… bol main iss sab ka kya hal nikaalu? Sab theek kar dunga main. Tu bas bol.” (My child, punish me in whichever way you want but please don’t hate me… tell me what should I do? I promise I’ll fix everything… just tell me what should I do?) He ran a soothing hand through a sobbing Sakshi’s hair while she returned back the hug and cried harder “Papa le chalo mujhe… mujhe iss ghar main nahi rehna hai. Yeh log bohot bure hai aur yeh Arjun woh Arjun nahi hai. Papa main ek aur raat nahi jhel paungi, main marr javungi. Aur agar aap mare ko aaj nahi le chalo toh parso mere arthi le jaana.” (Papa, please take me away from here. This isn’t my house neither are these people my family. Arjun, he isn’t what he was. I won’t be able to bear another night, I will die. Please Papa. And if you’re unable to take me today, please take away my corpse the day after.)Sakshi weeped as Kailash looked lost.
He knew he couldn’t take Sakshi away, for after marriage her husband’s house is her own. “Baar baar tujhe dekhne avunga… aur jamai sa se bhi baat karunga. Tu fikar mat kar, par tujhe yaha se kaise le ja sakta hoon Gudiya? Pati ka ghar hi toh tera gh…” (I promise I’ll see you again and again. And I will speak to him. Don’t worry my dear child, but how can I take you from your own house? Your husband’s house is your ow...) “Pati?” (Husband?) She asked in disbelief “Kaisa pati? Aur mare ko ke pata tha ki Arjun maara pati hoga! Chaar saal ki umar main mare ko khud ki naam hi poora nahi aata tha aur chal gayi biyah karne!” (What husband? And how in the earth would I know that Arjun would be my husband if all that’s been happening for the past few hours terms his as one! I was just four when this happened. In the God’s name I couldn’t even pronounce my own name yet I was bundled off for my own wedding!)
Kailash lay at a loss of words when Sakshi folded her hands, her eyes wild in desperation “Main ladka nahi hoon na, isliye maare ko ghar se door kiya. Papa le chalo mare ko, masa kasam mare ko bas do saal do. Jhat se padhai khatam karke bohot mehnat karungi, saari kaam kar lungi… aapko ek beta na hone ka ehsaas hi nahi hoga. Bas le chalo mare ko Papa. Nahi rehna rehna hai iss saaj shringar ki thane main!” (I realise, the main issue’s that I am not a boy, right? Papa, please give me a chance and a two years. I swear on Maa that I’ll earn double than what a boy would have done with you. Just take me away Papa. I no longer want to stay in a prison of gold.) Tears rolled down Kailash’s cheeks as he wiped his daughter’s face.
“Kya baat ho rahi hai baap beti ki beech? Oho, ek ghanta bhi nahi beeta aur bitiya shikayat lekar beith gayi?!” (What’s the matter between a father and his child? Oh, it’s barely been an hour and the little girl’s ready with her list of complaints!) Sakshi’s mother in law taunted. “Kya samdhanji, aapko toh pata hai ki nai naveli lugai ko toh ek do din rona hi padta hai. Ab babul ke aangan se koi aye, aur aasu na tapke… toh maharani ko kaise pata chalega ki iski biyah ho gayi hai. Waise bohot accha sikhaya hai apni bitiya ko, na rasoi ghar main koi madat karti hai… nahi kaam kaaj ke.” (Really, what is this Mr. Kailash? Aren’t you aware that a newly wedded and bedded bride must cry for the first few days of her wedding. After all, if someone from the family visits yet her eyes are dry, then how will this queen realise that she’s a married woman? By the way, I must laud you and your wife for the way you’ve brought her up. She barely helps in the kitchen nor in any household chores.) Kailash flinched at her tone while Sakshi sniffed quietly.
“Masa, mare ko papa ke saath ghar jaana hai.” (Maa [in law], I want to go home with Papa.) She whispered while her mother in law’s eyes glared at her “Lo Samdhan ji, ab sabke saamne maara mazaak banna hi reh gaya! Ek toh kehte hai ki baap apni beti ki sasuraal main itni der nahi rehte aur duja yeh baat hai ki beti jab maayka chali jaati hai, toh usse waapas sasuraal main aane ki zarurat hi nahi.” (Just this was left, to make a mockery out of us! First of all it is said that a man never spends too much time at his wedded daughter’s house ; secondly, once a girl leaves her wedded home for her birth home, she might as well never return.) Arjun’s mother smiled as Kailash turned aside in embarrassment. “Nahi, hum abhi nikal rahe hai.” (Oh, I’ll be leaving right away.) “Ji accha, Arjun to sheher gaya hai apne Bapusa ke saath… Baldev aapko gaadi tak pohoch dega.” (Well and good. Since Arjun’s out with his father to the city, Baldev might as well drop you to your car.)
Sakshi looked in anger and pain as her father was humiliated, “Papa, maare ko le chalo… yaha sasuraal main waapas hi nahi aana hai.” (Papa, please take me away… I don’t want to return to this place either!) She begged as Kailash blessed her helplessly. “Khush raho.” (Be blessed.) His voice, choked with tears whispered.
Screaming her lungs out and running behind her father as he left the house, she kept on begging and pleading for him to take her while Kailash just wiped a tear and walked off, leaving a desolate Sakshi in the courtyard. The pain of betrayal bit like fangs in her tender heart as she slumped on the dusty floor, looking at the car leaving.
“Papa.” She whispered, but to no avail. Suddenly she found her arm grabbed and her world blackened as a tight slap stung her cheeks.
---
In spite of visiting the city of Jaipur, Arjun found himself lost in his wife’s thoughts. The pink city fell pale in comparison to the young and beautiful girl of his life. “Arjun, main kuch logo se baat karke aata hoon. Tu tabtak kuch khareedle aur haan, yeh saare samaan iss pate pe pohoch dena. Garbar mat kar.” (I’ll be back from a meeting. Meanwhile you can buy something if you want, and yes, don’t forget to deliver these items at the right place.) Arjun nodded a lazy yes as his father was escorted to a contractor's office.
After having sent his men to deliver all the goods, Arjun set to explore the City Palace. His mouth opened slightly at the intricate designs and structure of the palace. In spite of having seen it several times since childhood, this palace never seemed to lose its charm. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he walked around the quarters of the palace when Raghu, one of the stall owners, asked “Ke soch rahe ho babu?” (What are you thinking, son?)
Arjun stopped to have a snack and looked at the old man, looking for company Arjun murmured“Kuch nahi kaka, bas ki ek baar apni lugai ko yaha le aau. Waise bhi biyah ke baad log bahar thora ghumne jaate hai. Yaha ser karegi toh usse accha lagega. Khuli hawa, bohot pasand hai maare lugai ko.” (Nothing much uncle, just that I should probably bring my wife here. Anyways, don’t men usually take their wives out after wedding? I know that she will love this place. You see, my wife loves open air.) Raghu smiled at the young boy’s honest confession.
“Ji bilkul, tab tak aap bitiya ke liye yaha se churiya aur tofe kyu nahi le jaate hai? Issse shayad yeh puri jagah nahi, par iss jagah ki jhalak toh mil jayega usse.” (That’s wonderful! Meanwhile, why don’t you buy a few glass bangles as a memento of this palace. She might as well get the essence of the palace.) Raghu pointed to his stall while Arjun was taken aback by the colourful display of bangles.
After having purchased seven sets of glass bangles, Arjun sat at a restaurant and checked his watch. “Aur do ghante.” (Two more hours!) He rolled his eyes and noticed the two foreign men who were at his wedding. They noticed him too and waved at him.
“Tum yaha kaise?” (How’re you here?) Robert asked, after a while later while the trio were having lunch. “Bapusa ka kuch kaam tha toh main bas yaha waha ghoom raha hoon. Balki Sakshi ke liye kuch acche chudiya toh khareed li hai, bas kuch acche kapde ho jaye.” (My father had to run some errands here so I came along. In fact, I just bought some wonderful bangles for my wife - Sakshi. If only I could get some clothes.)
Daniel and Robert shared a strange look, “Ask him why does he buy things for her.” Robert cleared his throat “Kyu buy karte ho?” “Kamaal ka baat hai, apni biwi ke liye kuch na le jau?” (Now that’s a strange questions! Why must I not buy anything for my wife?)
Raising his eyebrows, Daniel commented “You’re a rare case my friend, in most of the cases the little girls get severely abused by their husbands or at in laws place. That’s the sad case of child marriage.” Arjun waited for Robert who translated it to him. Confusion etched in Arjun’s mind “Bal vivah? Biyah to biyah hota hai na… umar se kya farak padta hai?” (Child marriage? A wedding is a wedding… what difference does age bring about?) He looked while the two men who shared a sigh.
“You’re one of those who don’t beat their wives. From early sexual initiation to abuse. The girls aren’t even allowed to study or leave their houses.” Arjun looked on in disbelief as Robert kept on translating the horrors of child marriage.
“Cheh! Bapusa Sakshi ko padhne aur bahar jaane ke liye mana karte hai kyunki ladkia ghar ki sammaan aur zevar se kam nahi. Ek tijori main bandh rakhna chahiye. Yeh kya aap keh rahe hai ki main mare Sakshi ka azaadi le raha hoon.” (That’s utter rubbish! My father forbids Sakshi from studying or going out because women are the pride and honour of our house - just like jewels. And jewellery should be locked in a treasure box. So you see, I don’t understand about you stating that I steal away Sakshi’s freedom.) Arjun grumbled and tried to sort the new information in his head.
“Really, so pray why one of the strongest Prime Ministers was Indira Gandhi? Why is Kalpana Chawla a national hero? Also if women are just to be kept inside, why have Rani Lakshmibai and Razia Sultan changed the history of India? Arjun… this is strange. You don’t let a women study yet you want a woman doctor when your wife’s pregnant! Arjun, if your wife isn’t educated… how will your children be? If she can’t live her dreams… how can you and your children live yours? Marriage is much more beyond house and family.” Robert explained in Hindi while a puzzled Arjun looked on. Surprisingly he had never heard much about these women before. Was it true that women needn’t be the way they are treated in their houses?
“Aap yeh sab kaise keh sakte hai?” (How can you say what’s right or wrong?) Arjun asked while Robert smiled, flipping his wallet he showed the picture of his wife. “Daniel too is married. But we’ve married at the stage when our wives can bloom and moreover they can take up the responsibilities of being a woman.” Arjun himself had no idea why he was still talking to the two men, yet he preferred their company than being alone for another hour. “Par iss umar tak toh mera ek das saal ke beta aa jayega!” (Oh dear! By this age I would have a ten year old son!) Arjun commented and laughed a little while Robert shook his head.
“You’re a good boy Arjun, but I don’t blame you for thinking the way you do. Do you know majority of teen mothers die because of their inability to bear a child. Arjun… she’s just a child, she isn’t really developed for sex. She’ll just get sick. You can’t break the cocoon to see the butterfly flutter out - the butterfly will simply die. Do you get my point?” Daniel asked Robert to translate while Arjun suddenly felt very sunk.
Sensing the awkward silence, Daniel took Arjun to a clothes shop “You had to buy some clothes and things for Sakshi, right?” After a few coughs Robert and Daniel took their leave while Arjun stood quietly in the shop.
No, he couldn’t have been forcing Sakshi! This was… utter rubbish. Though probably he could get his father to send Sakshi to school, that’ll show that Arjun is different. Yet, he did see the huge age difference between Sakshi’s parents and his own. He has seen his bhabisa being mistreated by his brother. With a throbbing headache, he sat on a chair and closed his eyes.
He shouldn’t have even spoken to them.
“Sir?” Arjun looked up to find a sales boy looking at him. “Uhm… ji.” “Aap pichle kuch samay se yaha beither hue hai… aapko kuch chahiye?” (You’ve been here for quite a while, do you need anything?) “Haan… woh kapde.” (Uh, yes.. of course. A few clothes.)
“Ji zaroor, kiske liye chahiye?” (Sure, for whom is it?) For the first time he hesitated saying his wife. Did the entire world think of being married young as a crime? Deciding to test on what they said, Arjun replied “Chauda saal ki ladki ke liye.” (Um… for a fourteen year old girl.) Arjun was slightly astonished as colourful salwar kameezes and kurtis.
“Yeh hai ethnic Jaipuri suit aur kurtis. Aaj kal ki teenagers main bohot hit hai!” (These are the ethnic Jaipuri suits and kurtis. I must say that they’re a huge hit for these teenagers.) The man smiled all too brightly while Arjun was slightly perturbed “Ko saree ya ghagra choli…” (Oh… what about a saree or ghagra choli?)
“Oh! Shaadi pe jaa rahe ho… haan aaj kal toh bacchiyo ke liye bhi itna accha stock aaya hai na ghagra choli ke liye, ghoorte reh jaoge Sir ji.” (Oh! You’re attending a wedding…. well nowadays the ethnic attires they make for kids are just as striking. In fact, sir you won’t be able to shift your eyes from the latest collection.) The man kept on describing the colours and stonework but Arjun was stuck on one word.
Bacchiyo (Kids)
That means… these clothes weren’t meant for Sakshi? “Woh… chaar Jaipuri suits , do kurti aur ek halka ghagra choli de dijiyega.” (Uhm, four Jaipuri suits, two kurtis and a light ghagra choli.) With a hand full of bags, each and every word the men said churned in Arjun’s mind. The very thought of having hurt Sakshi killed him each and every time. He couldn’t have clipped her wings! Didn’t he let her study everything from his books?
Feeling sick by the minute, he stopped by a pharmacy and looked for local reaction. “Bhaiya ji… kuch davai chahiye.” (Excuse me? I would like a few medicines.) The mustachioed man nodded briefly “Ab bhai ka chahiye? Humare shakal hi dekhoge kya?” (Hey, brother… what do you want? Could you quit staring at my face?)
“Nahi… woh, humara rishtedaar… ek chauda saal ki ladki ke saath, matlab woh ab ladki nahi. Humara matlab ki ab woh maa bhi ban sakt…” (Actually… um… a relative of mine - a fourteen year old girl - has, I mean she isn’t a girl anymore. What I mean to say is that, she can expect a child any moment. In the sense, she’s been…)
The man’s eyes softened and he shook his head in regret “Hey Ram… yeh zamaana toh din bhar din bigadte jaa raha hai. Hum samaj chuke hai. Dekho bete, bitiya ki haalat toh kharaab hi hogi. Yeh kuch davai hai, uski masa ko de dena. Kehne ka yeh jo cream hai, yeh chot ko bhar dega. Aur haan, kya 72 hours ho gaye hai uss baat ko?” (Oh Lord! This generation has been rotting day by day. Don’t worry son, I understand. Her situation must be terrible, meanwhile here are a few medicines which might help her out and… has it been 72 hours since this incident?) The man asked while Arjun nodded negatively, his face going paler by the second.
“Bhagvaan ki shukar hai, yeh davai zaroor dena - baccha na hone ka davai.” (The Lord be praised, here’s a contraceptive pill. Don’t forget to give this to her!) “Par kaka iss umar main baccha…” (But having a child at this age…) Arjun started while the pharmacist made the bill.
“Maut hi hai. Un shaitaano ko ek choti si bacchi main kya dikhai deta hai bhagvaan jane. Ek bacchi ki izzat le lo, woh bacchi marr jaati hai. Par agar ek baccha ne izzat liya, toh sala teen saal main nikal jaata hai - woh bhi paise ke saath.” (Is death, true. God knows what the devils see in such an innocent young child. Look at where the world is going! Abuse a minor, the minor dies. But if a minor abuses someone - then within three years he’s out of jail with a wad of cash!) The pharmacist growled and shook his shoulders.
“Hum toh chote aadmi thehre, hum kya kar sakta hai. Par tumhare chaise chaukanya nau javaan dekh kar accha laga. Paas main, yahi do building ke baad, ek bohot accha doctor hai - davai toh sirf sharir pe kaam karega, baaki ke liye aap unke paas ja sakte hai.” (Anyways, I am a small man, what can I say? But when I see responsible young men like you, I still have little hope left for this country. By the way, just two blocks by the building there’s an excellent doctor. You see son, these medicines will just heal her physically. Nothing more.) Arjun robotically gave the money and took the bill… each and every word haunting his memory.
He made love with his fourteen year old wife yet why did the pharmacist think it was a rape?
Did Sakshi ever respond to him?
“Saara khandaan ka paisa laga diya kya bindni ke liye cheezein khareedne ke liye?” (Have you spent the entire wealth of the family for Sakshi?) His father spoke with disgust but Arjun was far from listening to him. His gut sank as they sat in the car, the words and implications throbbing in his mind. If Sakshi isn’t ready for a baby at this age… why were his parents and brother pushing for the same?
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“MASA!” Sakshi yelped in pain as her mother in law beat her. “Badi aayi shikayat waali? Kya keh rahi thi… iss ghar main nahi rehna hai ke? Waise bhi tu kaunsi kaam ki thi? Chauda saal ho chuke hai aur ek baccha ab tak paida na kar paayi!” (Here’s the little lady with her complaint list! What were you saying… that you don’t want to stay in this house? As if you were needed anyway! You’ve turned a ripe age of fourteen yet I barely hear the cries of a child!)
Crying as blood oozed out of the corner of her lips, Sakshi held her mother in law’s feet for mercy. “MASA, chod dijiye.” (Maa [in law], please leave me!) She begged and looked on for some help but all averted their eyes.
“Masa!” Asha ran down the stairs in disbelief and took a howling Sakshi into her arms. “Bindi, hat!” (Leave!) She growled while Asha held on to Sakshi, cradling her like a child. “Masa, kya ghalti ki hai iss bacchi ne? Aap unhe itni berahmi se kyu maar rahi hai?” (Maa [in law], what crime has this child committed that you’re beating her mercilessly?) Sakshi clung on to Asha like a newborn and hiccupped to stop her cries.
“Tu toh ek aur manhoos hai, gyarah saal ki shadi ho gayi phir bhi bacche ke koi naam aur nishaan nahi! Aur yeh kya keh rahi hai… ghar chodkar mayka jaana chahti hai? Badi aayi…” (Here comes the other one! Eleven years of your marriage but still you’re unable to carry a child in your womb! And as far as the little one is concerned, she states that she wants to leave the house! How dare sh...) Her mother in law raised a belt to whip Sakshi with when Asha stopped her. “Masa, choti bacchi hi toh hai. Shayad bhavuk ho gayi apne bapusa ko dekh kar. Masa, rehem kijiye… isse chot mat pohochaaye.” (Maa[in law]! She’s just a child! Probably she got emotional on seeing her father. Please spare some humanity… don’t hit her any further.) Asha ran a soothing hand through Sakshi’s hair.
“Main isko maarungi, ek baar jo maine thaan li… toh wohi hoga.” (I have decided that she needs to be whipped!) She bellowed while Asha’s eyes flashed with anger. “Par iss baar nahi hoga! Iski sazaa main bhuktungi par iss bechari ko aapki maar nahi lene dungi! Ghalti kya hai iski!” (What you have decided won’t happen this time! For this you can punish me but I can’t let you hurt this child. What has she done!?) Asha cried out while her mother in law’s eyes sizzled with anger.
Realising that she spoke against Masa for the first time, a chill ran down Asha’s spine. Without another one, she helped Sakshi to her room. Sweat trailed down her forehead as she saw the fiery look in Masa’s eyes.
It wasn’t over.
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“Shush… na bacche, ab koi nahi maarega.” (Shush my dear child, no one’s going to hurt you.)Asha lulled a scared Sakshi to sleep who held her with a death like grip. “J.. jiji…” (Ss… sister [older one])Sakshi stammered and crawled into her lap, breaking into sobs. Her heart cracked into two as she saw the blind trust Sakshi placed on her.
Determination filled Asha, no matter what the consequences would be, she wouldn’t let this innocent one get suppressed under Masa’s dominance. Taking a bowl of warm water, Asha washed Sakshi’s wounds and anointed some turmeric on them. Placing a fleeting kiss on her daughter like Sakshi’s forehead, Asha let a sigh of relief escape her as Sakshi dozed off.
Tucking her to bed, Asha smoothed the wrinkles on her skirt took a minute to handle herself from the emotional storm she was facing. Every cry of Sakshi’s brought back the memories of her being beaten during her childhood. Tip-toeing out of the bedroom, lest Sakshi woke up, Asha closed the door and turned to leave.
A gasp of fear left her mouth as Badlev looked at her with primal fury.
---
“BA…” Her throat ached from screaming, yet it was nothing compared to the painful ministrations on her. Beaten and bitten, Asha panted for breath as Baldev kept on punishing her for defying what his mother said.
Yet today the pain was excruciating, he had ripped her apart and punished her till she screamed for mercy. But he didn’t stop. He was worse than any animal. As Baldev stopped a minute to catch his own breath, Asha took a quick look on her bare pale skin. She couldn’t identify her colour as red and purple bruises covered her in the most vandalised manner.
The tears had long dried and her lips were bleeding as she bit them to bear the pain from him. “Masa ki baat nahi sunegi?” (You won’t listen to my mother, right?) His foul breath fanned near her ears as he continued to physically punish when a huge roar stopped him.
“SAB NEECHE AAO.” (EVERYONE COME DOWN!)
Baldev frowned at the ferocious tone, which he recognized of his younger brother’s, and pulled himself off Asha. Grabbing at her clothes, a weary Asha made her way down the stairs, wincing with each and every step.
Holding on to the banister for support, she was surprised and scared at the feral rage in her devar’s eyes.
Arjun’s eyes softened with sadness for a second when he saw his bhabisa limping down the stairs, yet a soft moan brought him back to reality. He turned aside to find his terrified wife groaning as his hand was wrapped around a bruised arm.
Gently murmuring an apology, he kept his arm around her waist. “Theek hai?” (All ok?) He whispered so lovingly that it almost brought tears to Sakshi’s eyes. Pushing a stray lock off her face, his eyes scanned at the innumerous bruises on her fragile little body.
His head throbbed in massive anger. Fisting his palm, he glared at his family members and voiced out in an eerie, cold tone.
“Agar mauth se bachna chahte ho toh batado ke kisne maari Sakshi pe haath uthaya.” (If you want to be spared of death, then tell me who dare to touch my Sakshi?)Arjun pressed his lips as he found his family’s silence as a reply.
“Arjun, suhaagraat ke baad aise nishan…” (Arjun, it’s possible that after first night such marks may appea…)
“Aap chup rahiye bhaisa! Pati hoon iska, jahil jaanwar nahi!” (Please keep your mouth to yourself brother. I am her husband, not an uncouth animal!) Arjun snapped and turned to look at her ugly bruises. His anger rose as the silence pertained. Unable to bear their stoic faces, Arjun began to break every visible object.
“Kissne Sakshi ko thappad maara!” (Who the hell slapped Sakshi!)Arjun bellowed in anger, least bothered about the men and women gasping and trying to stop him from destroying everything in vicinity. From vases to plates, chairs to lights… Arjun was unstoppable.
Yet his keen eyes never missed the fact that Asha had a slight pride in her eyes and was the only one to not stop him. “Sakshi kya hai meri?” (What is Sakshi to me?) He screamed at his family while his mother mustered some courage. “Lugai…” (Wife…)
“Na, mari jaan, mari dhadkan aur mara wajood ka kaaran. Sirf lugai nahi… arrey uss bandhan ka kya jo kisi bhi umar main kisi bhi saath ho sakta hai.” (No, [she’s] my life, my heartbeat and the reason of my existence. Not just my wife… after all what’s that relation which can be bonded at any age with anyone at anytime?) He muttered in disgust as Robert and Daniel’s words came into his head. “Arjun, shayad humare main se koi Sakshi ko maara, uski badtameezi ke liye?” (Arjun, probably one of us hit her, probably for her insolence?) The Sarpanch tried to coax Arjun but instead found him burning with anger.
“Kis haq se koi uspe haath utha sakta hai?” (With what right can anyone touch her?)Arjun snapped at all while mother snorted in disgust. “Woh iss ghar ki bindni hai, tumhari lugai hai… hum sabka haq…” (She’s the daughter in law of this house - your wife! That gives us right to...)
“Nahi!” (NO!) Arjun snarled and cracked his knuckles “Meri lugai hai, aur meri lugai hone ka matlab ki sirf mera haq hai usse chune ka, usse raksha karne ka. Arrey jab pati ka hi haq nahi banta apni biwi pe haath uthane ka, aap log hote kaun ho?” (She’s my wife and being my wife means that only I have the right to touch her, protect her. Even I don’t have the right to raise a hand on her, so who are you all?)
“Yeh sab kya anaap shanaap keh raha hai?!” (What rubbish is this!) Baldev gripped Arjun’s arms while the latter chuckled and released himself. “Bachpan main biyah karne se kasme nahi badalte bhaisa, ek baar woh saath vachan padkar dekhiye.” (The vows don’t change on being married as a child, my dear brother. For a change, why don’t you read what you swore before the fire?)
“Hum nadaan kya the biyah ke samey, aap log to sar par beith gaye! Bohot shanti dikhadi, ab seedhe seedhe bolte ho ke kisne maari hai maari Sakshi ko ya…” (Why, barely were we innocent during our marriage… you all seemed to be dancing on our heads! I have showed more than enough patience and calm, it would be better if you told me who dare to slap Sakshi… or else)
“Arjun?” His heart melted along with his fury as a lost and broken Sakshi looked at him in utter confusion. “Bolo?” (Tell me?) He held her like a China doll, urging her to answer. But Sakshi’s mind was far away from answering his questions.
Na, mari jaan, mari dhadkan aur mara wajood ka kaaran. Sirf lugai nahi…
Meri lugai hai, aur meri lugai hone ka matlab ki sirf mera haq hai usse chune ka, usse raksha karne ka. Arrey jab pati ka hi haq nahi banta apni biwi pe haath uthane ka, aap log hote kaun ho?
Bachpan main biyah karne se kasme nahi badalte
She stared at his tensed face as his words rushed into her head like a flood. Who was this man? The bruises from his love making hadn’t faded, yet his feelings for her had reached a strange height.
And she had always been afraid of heights.
Tears pooled in her brown eyes as she tried to assess him time and again. The emotions were too overwhelming. She hadn’t been able to get over the betrayal from her best friend - her husband and her father. Her body ache was there to remind her of each and every moment. Yet, despite all, she found herself clinging to the very same husband in need for support. Why couldn’t her life be in her hands?
Arjun kept on seething with fury as his love could barely say anything in reply. His family knew better than to intrude. Caressing her cheeks with as much as love as he could, he kept on asking for an answer. He had failed to protect her.
“in most of the cases the little girls get severely abused by their husbands or at in laws place.”
Darting towards Asha, Arjun noted her limping and on a closer inspection could even find teeth marks on her neck. With the amount of bruise it showed, he could have vowed that it wasn’t a part of love. He bent to see the whip marks and slap bruises on Sakshi.
It was true… both the women in the family were abused and he couldn’t do anything about it. The reality seemed too heavy for him as he realised the implications of his act. He had hurt Sakshi by marrying her. Why didn’t anyone tell him so?
Vowing ever so gently, he pressed a kiss on her forehead, not to let another scratch on her pale skin. He looked up as a gasp escaped from Asha’s mouth. Feeling a weight against him, Arjun look down at his wife.
Sakshi had fainted.
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A/ N : Being a villager or not isn't about being in the negative light. Being a male or not isn't about being in the negative light. If Sakshi's mother in law is terrible, remember Asha is a female too. If Baldev is a living terror, remember about Sameer/Arjun as well. Hence to just make sure that I am not targeting or stereotyping any sphere of the society - there's good and evil in every part :)
Thank u for such a wonderful gift! Loved the message u r giving along with a beautiful story.. thank u!
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