Choices

CHAPTER | 19

"It's been three days already, Radhika!" Revathi muttered incorrigibly, shaking the young girl who had refused to eat anything since she had come back home.

What was wrong - Revathi didn't understand. Sure, there was a raid and Radhika was the only one who had been stuck with the police. Revathi had kind of anticipated this.

To be honest, Radhika was kind of dumb when it came to things like this. Her mind ran way too faster than the world around her. Revathi could blame it all on the background that the girl had spent. Like a frog in a well, she had grown accustomed to the old ways and believed everything that was white.

It kind of had helped Revathi to make sure that her ideas for the young girl had worked. But now, even after two years of keeping close eye on the girl, she had not grown up at all. She had not gotten used to the ways the world worked. She hadn't understood how people's mind ran faster than the bullet trains that was always in the news these days.

Initially, though Revathi had been too soft and kind towards Radhika, this time, she could tell that her patience was wearing thin. Radhika was getting on her nerves with the sullen mood swings that waved like a swing. It was frustrating.

Sure, Radhika had seen worse days when compared to other girls who worked here, but then Revathi had considered it and was giving her all the time that she needed to cope up with it. Radhika had to be grateful for that. But what did she do instead? She misused the lenience that was poured down on her with clement.

Revathi huffed as she looked at the girl who had remained stoic. Hadn't she given two days off after she had gotten abortion? Hadn't she kept the girl away from the movies till now? How long could she push that for her – for the one who didn't show any kind of gratitude towards her who had tried to protect her all along?

"What's wrong now?" Revathi tried again. "Look, I know that you were in the lockup the whole day. And the police kept you company. Can't you see him like any other customer of ours?"

There was no answer from the other end. Just a blank stare that grazed at the void. Revathi sighed. This was the same state when she had lost the unwanted child. She had bounced back after a few days, though Revathi didn't remember the number of days that had taken for the girl to get back.

Revathi slowly walked towards the girl. Maybe she would open up with a gentler approach. Maybe she would tell her what was wrong or maybe Revathi could explain things better.

She sat next to the silent girl and placed a hand on top of hers. "Radhika, what happened in the hotel? You were the only one stuck there, everyone else escaped. Why didn't you?"

Radhika slowly, but surely turned around to see Revathi. The beady eyes were trying to say something to her, Revathi was sure. But she couldn't understand what it was. Tears accumulated before she could try and read. Then the girl looked away.

"We knew the police." Revathi continued, knowing for sure that Radhika was listening to her. "That was why he let you go with us. Or else, things might have been difficult."

Radhika didn't dare to wipe her face as tears rolled down her eyes. Revathi sighed. "Look, I know what happened that night. I also know that it hurt a lot. But Radhika this is who we are. We are supposed to get used to it."

There was a scoff from Radhika. A flout that was least expected. It was as if Radhika was making fun of her. She turned towards her with a mockery written all over her face.

"I'm not who I am." It was a low whisper.

"What?" Revathi asked her in disbelief. It wasn't because she had heard her wrong. It was a question to make sure that it gave enough time and a fair chance to change the answer to something that was less harmful for her.