Three years have passed, and a lot has changed.
Janani finished secondary school and wanted to join college, but my parents sent her to work in a clothing export company in the nearby village. She knew it was useless to expect anything better, so she decided to work—at least to secure her future.
Akash has been doing well, pampered as always. Father is still lost in his drinks and friends. Amma earns some money by selling pickles and papads from home, but every month, Grandma and the monster continue sending her money.
Grandma, Kavitha aunty, Priya—everyone is doing well. Everyone, except me. People often say hell is the worst place anyone could endure. I don’t know if they’ve truly seen hell, but my life is nothing less than it—maybe even worse.
I only visit my family two or three times a year, usually during festivals. Three years ago, when I was taken to the village for Diwali, I tried to speak with Amma and Janani. But the monster and the devil hovered around me like hawks. I managed to pull Janani aside into the backyard, desperate to tell her about the torture. But the monster followed us, patting her head and pretending to encourage her studies—only I knew what that gesture meant. His eyes warned me to stay silent.
That evening, the devil cornered me near the gate and showed me his WhatsApp. He had shared a video with one of his friends and used it to threaten me. The monster, meanwhile, showered my brother with gifts, earning my parents’ gratitude. They never once wondered why he did that. They never knew I was being tormented by both father and son.
I cried, clinging to Amma, begging only to stay with my family. But they never looked past my tears.
Janani, watching from a distance, misunderstood. She thought I was being treated like a princess while she struggled. Over time, her patience broke, turning into silent hatred. She didn’t say it aloud, but she avoided me completely.
Three years—
I cried in silence.
My silence screamed pain.
My pain slowly devoured the girl I once was.
I was no longer the bubbly Meera. I stopped talking to everyone. I looked thin, pale, and lifeless. I thought these changes would worry my family, maybe even Grandma. But they mistook my silence for maturity. The only thing I clung to was my studies.
Now I am on my way to the village to meet my family… no—not my family. I am being ruined so that they can be fed and survive.
It’s Sankranti, and Kavitha aunty decided we should all spend two days in the village together as a family.
Priya sits beside me on the bus, playing games on her mother’s phone. I lean against the window, closing my eyes. The monster’s words from last night and the devil’s whispers before boarding the bus still echo in my ears.
“Your mother must be eagerly waiting for us. She’s planning your sister’s marriage and needs our help. Behave and be a good girl if you don’t want to ruin her life. Otherwise, she’ll end up as a maid in your house forever,” the monster warned.
“I’d love to use you fully, but I’m not stupid. My life would be over if you got pregnant. I’m satisfied with what I get now. Don’t try anything smart—you know the consequences,” the devil sneered.
I wished I had the courage to jump off this bus and end everything.
The bus halted, and Priya nudged me awake. We had finally arrived. Two days of pretending. Two days of freedom from the monster and the devil.
My father stood waiting. He embraced his mother and the devil warmly, beaming when he saw his sister. He carried their bags, cheerful. I trailed behind, feeling like a guest heading somewhere I didn’t belong.
I was the last to enter. Amma rushed to hug me—it had been six months since I’d last seen her. But I held myself back, pulling away quickly before I could cling to her warmth. Without another word, I slipped away into the room.
“She has changed a lot. Too much attitude and doesn’t even talk to her mother and father.”
I could hear my mother’s complaint, but I was busy looking around the room that was once shared by me and Janani. Now every corner of the room carried her things.
She had bought a single cot, a wardrobe with a mirror, a proof that she is earning.
Maybe one day I too will have my own life, away from all these people. My own home, my own life—no monsters, no devils, only peace.
Dear God, I believe you have fallen asleep while writing my fate, but please, kindly wake up—either to give me a better ending or a forever ending to my life. Why don’t you see my pain?
The door opened and Janani entered the room. She was glowing, completely different from the last time I had seen her six months ago. She was talking to someone on the phone and completely ignored me. She opened her wardrobe, placed something inside, and was about to leave, but stopped for a moment, locked the wardrobe, and left with the key.
Wow. Now I have to endure this too? Did she really think I might steal her things? Should I talk to her? She’s the only person I ever tried to share my pain with, but she never cared to look into it.
I placed my bag in the corner of the room and sat leaning against the wall, holding my chemistry book in hand. I needed to pass with flying colors. Education was the only way I could build my life. When my parents sent me away, I had wanted to become a doctor. But now, I wanted to be a lawyer.
One day, the voice I’ve buried deep inside should echo through the walls of a courtroom. I want my voice to become the voice of girls like me.
Janani returned to the room, untangled her braid, and started brushing her hair. She looked radiant, her smile reaching her eyes.
“You look beautiful, Janani. I’m happy that you are happy.”
The words slipped out of my mouth even before I had decided to speak them.
Janani looked over her shoulder and met my eyes.
“As if you are not happy, enjoying city life, and being the darling of the family.”
I frowned at her words. I couldn’t take it anymore. I closed the book and walked over to her, standing beside the wardrobe.
“Are you upset with me, or do you hate me, Janani? You’ve been avoiding me for so long.”
She placed the comb on the window sill, tied her hair into a bun, and finally turned her attention to me.
“Why would I hate you, Meera? You’re busy in your life and I’m busy in mine. Anyway, you’ll leave in two days and we’ll go back to our lives. So stop overthinking. I see you’re preparing for your board exam—focus on that. I really do wish you achieve your dreams.”
Janani walked out of the room. I couldn’t tell if she was being genuine or taunting me. But I hoped she really meant it. With her, at least, I didn’t want to assume anything.
I closed the windows, locked the door, and looked around the room before stepping into the bathroom to get ready. Before discarding my clothes, I covered the jaali with a newspaper. The last time I was here, the devil had tried to record me bathing. Luckily, I spotted his shirt through the gap and realized he was hiding. I had been so scared that I stayed without bathing for two days.
I got ready in a salwar and stepped out of the room, only to meet the devil smirking.
“Someone has turned intelligent,” he muttered.
He walked away, and I understood what he meant. My teeth clenched in anger. Just then, I heard my mother calling and walked out to see everyone preparing for the pooja in the front yard. I stood next to my mother, watching her and Kavitha aunty arrange everything. I lifted my head and saw my father having a serious discussion with the monster. My mind alarmed me immediately—this was not a good sign. Another long torture was waiting for me.
Every time my father demanded something, I was punished in compensation. I wished I never had this drunkard as a father. I wished I had a mother strong enough to walk out of this marriage with us. And I wished I had the courage—either to kill them, or to kill myself.
With my thoughts drifting, I barely noticed when the pooja was done. My mother and Janani were in the kitchen preparing a feast for everyone. She seemed more than happy to serve the very people who were running her home and ruining her daughter’s life.
I stood in a corner, watching them chat, feeling like an intruder in their private world. I wanted to leave, but stepping outside and watching the monster and the devil pretending to be pious felt even worse.
Looking out, I noticed they were busy in discussion. So I moved closer to my mother, picked up the vegetable board, and began chopping quietly.
“Amma, just a few more months and I’ll be done with my board exams. I want to return home and join our local school for secondary education. Grandma is old—we shouldn’t burden her anymore. And it’s not right for Kavitha aunty to keep taking care of me. She has done it for three years already. Please talk to appa. Once the exams are over, I want to come back.”
My voice was barely above a whisper; I didn’t want anyone else to hear. I looked at my mother—she seemed to be thinking about my words.
“I don’t know, Meeru… but I’ll talk to your father and grandma.”
My heart filled with hope. I hugged her, forgetting, just for a moment, everything that had been suffocating me. For a while, I allowed myself to believe things could finally be fixed.
Janani and Amma served lunch to everyone, and for once I actually enjoyed the food. But then my mother dropped the bomb—right in front of everyone.
God, why did you spoil it, mother?
Father and the others turned their eyes toward me and my mother. The tension grew thick. I kept my head down. Then, the devil laughed loudly, pulling everyone’s attention to him.
“Manoj, why are you laughing? We want to know why Meera wants to continue her secondary education here in the local school. So behave,” Kavitha aunty snapped.
Manoj raised his hands in mock surrender, still holding his mobile.
“I sent a video to my friend and his reaction made me laugh. But why would Meera want to study here? She is a very smart and intelligent student. She should continue her secondary education in her current school. What do you say, Meera? I hope you understand?”
All the while speaking, he was holding his mobile, and I knew his game. I couldn’t reply and only stared at the food, which tasted bitter now.
“Manoj is right. Let her finish another two years, and then we shall decide later,” my father said. And just like that, my fate was decided over a meal.
I played with the food, dumped it into the trash can, and washed my hands. I returned to the room, deciding to sleep, but Janani entered and shook me.
“I just returned after finishing all the work. Let me rest for a while,” she said and I understood.
I got down from the bed and lay on the mattress. Less than an hour later, I heard voices and saw Janani standing, everyone looking at her as if she had committed a crime.
“The family is good, and the guy works in a mill. They aren’t expecting any dowry,” my father screamed, and Janani huffed.
“I said, I don’t want to get married now,” she replied firmly and walked out.
I understood—she had denied the man of their choice. At least she had the guts to decide her life.
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