Two years passed and now I m preparing for my final board exams. One more month and I can’t wait to return to village. I haven’t met my family for a year now. Amma used to call grandma thrice a week and she would talk to me for a minute and cut the call.
I heard grandma talking that Janani has been earning well so I think they don’t need the money from grandma and the monster anymore. I will return to village and join a government college for my higher studies. I have been a bright student and topper in my class. I have poured my pain into my studies to build a life on my own.
Priya sat next to me with her books and I was focusing on my studies while she was yawning feeling tired from studying non stop since morning. Grandma entered the room with food for us and now she looks very tired. I feel pity for her and once we had lunch I carry the plates to the kitchen and wash the vessels. Grandma was having a nap in the room and Priya returned to her home to rest for a while before we resume our studies in the evening.
I was lost in thoughts when a hand sneaked around my waist. I got startled and saw the devil smirking at me.
” Please leave me alone. I need to focus on my exams. I beg you “
I folded my hands and cried infront of him but he is a devil and devils are heartless. He shut my mouth to stop my screams and his hand sneaked beneath my shirt. I shut my eyes, tears rolling down my cheeks. I saw the knife that was on the counter for cleaning and picked it slowly.
I didn’t know how it happened but before I realized I had slashed his arm. He hissed in pain and his arm was bleeding. I was now trembling in fear. What would he do now to punish me ? I was scared and tried to leave the kitchen but he caught my hair and pulled me back. He held my neck and pressed me against the wall ignoring his bleeding arm.
” You will pay for this ” he spoke gritting his teeth and walked through the back door holding his bleeding arm. I sat down the wall looking at the blood on the floor. My whole body shook and I felt dizzy.
After a long time, I cleaned the floor, vessels and returned to the room and laid on the bed covering myself.
By evening my grandma woke up me and she looked worried.
” Meera, you should take care of your health. You are exhausting by over reading. You are burning now. “
She gave me medicines and served me dinner and let me rest. The next day I felt better and resumed my studies ignoring the pain and hurt in my body and heart.
Kavitha aunty and her family were invited by a relative from the monster’s side so they will be leaving. I thanked god, that I would be free and don’t have to meet the monster or the devil especially after I had slashed his hand. I was terrified that he would hurt me.
By evening they were ready to leave and I waved bye to Priya and Kavitha aunty alone. I was ready with books when grandma walked out of the room with her purse. She was leaving for the temple and informed me that she would be back in an hour.
I closed the door and started focusing on my lessons. In less than 30 minutes there was knock and I wondered grandma has returned so early. I opened the door and was shocked to see the devil. I was about to shut the door but he barged in and closed the door behind.
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“I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me. Please let me go,” I cried, but he pulled me harshly by the elbow. His eyes burned red with anger.
“How dare you try to fight me? Now you’ll face the consequences,” he said, and my eyes widened in fear at his words.
He stuffed a handkerchief into my mouth, yanked up my shirt along with my bra, and began assaulting me. I heard him grunt and felt his foul liquid spill on my stomach before he finally shoved me down. He pulled out the handkerchief and walked out, leaving me dirty, broken, and disgusted.
************Trigger Content Ends************
I locked the door and rushed to the washroom. I poured water over my body, but nothing could wash away his touch. I slumped onto the bathroom floor and cried until my tears dried on their own. My fingers shriveled from being in water too long. I discarded my soiled clothes and changed into fresh ones.
One month. That’s all the patience I needed. After five years of abuse and torment, I promised myself I would never stay here anymore—whatever it took.
The month crawled by painfully, but at last, on the day of my final exam, I told my grandma I wanted to return to the village. With tears, I told her I missed my family. I made it convincing enough that she finally agreed to send me back the next day. That night, I packed only a few clothes and waited for the sunrise.
The morning came. I got ready and helped grandma with the household chores. She even took me shopping, buying clothes for me, for Janani, for Amma, and for Akash. By now she had given up on her son and no longer spoke to him.
We returned home and began packing. For the first time in years, I felt the thrill of freedom. Grandma and I stopped by Kavitha aunty’s house to say goodbye. I never once looked at the monster or the devil. Then we left in an auto to the bus stand. I sat by the window, and for the first time in years, the air felt refreshing, soothing. I closed my eyes and smiled—a real smile.
I was sure I’d pass with flying colors. I planned to choose a government college near the village so my parents wouldn’t have to struggle with fees.
At some point, I dozed off. When I woke, the bus still hadn’t reached the village. A little more time, I told myself—a little more until my freedom and new beginning. Grandma was sleeping beside me, her body clearly aching from the long, cramped journey. I pitied her, and I pitied myself even more. We both shared one cruel reason for our sufferings—men.
Finally, we arrived. My father was waiting. His face made it clear he wasn’t happy with my return. He reeked of alcohol, but he forced a smile at his mother before taking us home.
Amma was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Akash was still asleep. The door to Janani’s room was locked from inside. When Amma came out and hugged me, this time I hugged her back.
Grandma, exhausted from the travel, lay down on the mattress in the hall to rest. Amma told me to freshen up, so I walked to Janani’s door. I knocked twice. A few seconds later, she opened it. She was already getting ready for work, but her face showed no happiness. Maybe she wasn’t pleased that I had returned—maybe because she’d now have to share the room. Or maybe… I was just overthinking.
I stepped inside, placed my bag in the corner, and sat on the floor for a while, watching her get ready. She looked very beautiful in the half saree, with matching jewels and her long hair braided and adorned with jasmine flowers. She opened her wardrobe, picked her handbag, locked it, and walked out.
I sat there as an audience in the room that once belonged to me. Now I needed to make space for myself. For now, I just wanted to relax, and at the right time, talk to Amma and let her know the real faces of the people she believes to be godlike.
I picked a night dress and entered the washroom to get ready. After drying my hair, I walked out of the room. My father looked as though he was waiting to burst out at any moment. I ignored him and entered the kitchen. Amma gave me breakfast, and I started eating. Later, I washed the vessels for her while she served breakfast to Grandma.
Akash was at home since he wanted to spend time with Grandma.
Appa and Grandma were seated on the old sofa while Amma sat on the floor preparing for lunch. I stood in the corner watching them. Grandma opened her purse and gave some money to my mother. My father instantly looked pleased, scratching his neck as he eyed the money in Amma’s hand.
“Radhika, did you talk to Janani about her marriage? Let’s get her married this year. I’m getting old, and I don’t think I have long left. I don’t want to leave you alone. I’ll try to help with whatever I can while I’m alive. Dheeraj has agreed to help with Janani’s wedding and Meera’s college, but they have their own family, and we can’t expect Dheeraj to keep helping forever. They have a son and daughter to take care of,” Grandma said. Amma nodded her head in response.
I didn’t want to return to that hell, but this was not the right time. I would talk to Amma later. Father took some money from her and left home. It doesn’t take rocket science to know what happens next. He would return staggering and rambling all kinds of nonsense.
By evening, Janani returned from work, and she looked pissed. She walked straight into the room and locked the door. Amma made coffee for her and handed it to me. I knocked on the door, and she opened it with a bang. I gave her the coffee; she took it from me and shut the door again.
I heard a scream and shut my eyes as my father stumbled in, drunk. He was cursing someone who had called him a drunkard. His chaos continued until his body finally gave up and he passed out. Janani walked out of the room only after the noise stopped. I helped Amma serve dinner, and we all sat together.
“Janani, we have waited long enough. You should get ready for marriage. Think of your Amma and me—we two women are tired of this life. We want you to be settled, Janani. I hope you understand,” Grandma said, and I watched Janani’s face. She was lost in thought. She didn’t finish her food and returned to her room. I stayed back to help Amma clean and then returned to the room. Janani was already asleep, so I picked up a mattress and laid it on the floor.
It had been a week since Grandma left, and I was waiting for the right time to talk to Amma. One day, Janani was at work, Akash had gone to school, and Appa was not home as usual, so I decided to finally speak to her.
She was folding clothes when I sat next to her. I was about to speak when her phone pinged with a message. She smiled as she read it.
“Your uncle has sent money as usual this month too. I don’t know what I would do if your grandma and uncle stopped helping,” Amma said, and my blood boiled at her words.
“Amma, why do you want money from him? Why don’t you push Appa to earn for our family? Or you could have joined some company to earn for us. Why depend on their help? People are not what you think they are. He is not a good man, Amma. He is a monster.”
The rest of my words died in my mouth as her palm struck my cheek.
“Have some shame, Meera! Do you think I haven’t tried pushing your father to earn for this family? I curse my fate for the day I married him. I tried and tried, and one day I gave up. Your uncle has been helping us for years. Your grandma and that man took care of you for five years. They gave you an education, and now he is ready to pay for your college. We expect at least you would study and build a future for us, but here you are being ungrateful!” she screamed, and I grit my teeth.
“I don’t want to go back there. You don’t have to worry about my college fees. I will join a government college and study from here. You don’t know that man. You only see the money he sends, but I have seen his true self. I can’t stay around him.”
Another slap. I shut my eyes. When I raised my head, my father was standing there with blazing heat in his eyes.
“Shameless girl! Shut your mouth and don’t you dare speak a word against that man!”
I returned to the room and shut the door.
Good. Waste of time. Foolish of me to think they would believe me. Money speaks louder than truth ever could.
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