TWELVE
While studying in standard XI, Mehuli first met Ayon in their Math Tuition class. They couldn't realise when the simple changing of sly glances while exchanging notes or pen… a little touch, excitement of a special feeling turned into love.
The relationship developed at the speed of an express train.
Mehuli was quite good at studies, Ayon did not have much interest in books.
At that age, nothing mattered much but the physical look. Ayon was handsome. Mehuli named him Ranveer as she was an ordinary looking girl.
After graduation, Ayon did a diploma in computers and somehow managed to get a job. Mehuli's father died when she was a child and her mother raised her up with great difficulty.
Ayon had lost his parents in an accident and that orphan was brought up in his maternal uncle's house.
He left his uncle's house after he had received his first remuneration as he had rented a small flat and neither looked back to his previous shelter nor his caregivers.
Ayon came to Mehuli's place and approached her mother with a marriage proposal all by himself. Mehuli's mother didn’t have any objection and she agreed to it.
Mehuli's life started flowing with the stream of happiness.
Ayon started showing his true colour soon after the marriage.
He returned home drunk everyday. Mehuli overheard the presence of different girls in Ayon's life. The dreams of the extra imaginative and romantic girl were getting shattered like the house of cards.
Mehuli was always followed by the local goons whenever she was out for marketing or any other work. They sang irritating songs, came up with obscene gestures to irritate her while trying to block her way.
Complaining to Ayon was all in vain as he never paid a heed to it.
He said "Nowadays girls have learnt to defend themselves… Be self- sufficient and stop bothering me. I am not interested."
Mehuli looked at Ayon in amazement… how could she fall for such a guy... How was she going to pass the rest of her life?
The vegetables were over and Mehuli was out to get some. Ayon didn’t give her enough money for fish or meat… all his money would go after alcohol. He threatened Mehuli to bring money from her mother though he knew about her mother's monetary condition. Whenever Mehuli tried to talk to her husband, she would get beatings.
As Mehuli was returning from the market, it started raining suddenly. The tea shop in the neighborhood was closed and Mehuli took shelter under the shed. The lights of the locality went out as soon as the storm started.
...I can't wait for long, let me get wet and return home... and as she moved out, the boys sprang up like saplings and attacked her.
Mehuli could never imagine that such an incident would take place so close to her residence.
She tried hard to save herself but there was no one on the road to listen to her crying, moreover her voice was suppressed by the sound of pouring rain and roaring thunder.
The obscene language, the rude gestures no longer disturbed Mehuli as she had lost consciousness due to a hard strike on her head.
They took her body to a closed factory and the hungry hyenas had torn her apart.
The tattered body of Mehuli was discovered by the factory watchman Mahatab Dubey. He covered the girl's nearly naked body with his shirt before gathering the people.
Some of the factory workers recognized Mehuli, not by name but by appearance and informed Mehuli's husband.
Though he had no intentions, Ayon reached the spot as it was on public demand.
Mehuli was taken to the nearby doctor's chamber and was treated.
Mehuli was not in a state to think. Her mind was much more damaged than her bruised body. She entered the bathroom and tried to clean herself with buckets of water… tears flowed away with the shower.
Mehuli was delirious with high fever. No one was there to take care. She had locked herself within four walls.
Mehuli tried to sit up after being bitten by hundreds of poisonous scorpions over her body but failed. Presence of a heavy body over her, made her numb. Mehuli tried to push it away but wasn’t successful. Her fragile body was crumbling under pressure... It seemed that the beasts of that night had returned.
Ayon visited her in the morning and said "Let the leftovers be eaten by the hungry beggars."
The strange behaviour of the person, once she was in love with was beyond Mehuli's imagination. The wounded body could be healed... but the injury that Ayon had inflicted, had shattered Mehuli's mind.
She tried to get rid of her profane body again and again.
Mehuli couldn't remember how she had reached Dr. Trivedi's 'Sukun'... no one ever tried to remind her.
Dr. Trivedi said "We need to train our minds to clear up the unwanted memories… sooner the better. It is necessary to change the outlook of this rotten society. Those who rape are criminals... though not everyone but some are punished... On the other hand, those who discuss the spicy news are equally guilty though they are never punished… and the victim is always punished even by his or her near ones."
Days of careful nursing helped Mehuli to recover but she did not want to return home.
On request of Dr. Trivedi, Navya decided to spend the rest of her life guiding the young children of 'Sukun' in dance, song and drawing.
