It all leads back to you

1

When she first reached jail, she remembered being numb. She felt no other emotions other than numbness. To be honest though, numb didn't really class as an emotion. She did not feel sad nor pain nor angry nor hurt nor shocked at that moment of time. She just felt numb.

She didn't eat nor did she go outside in the prison backyard nor did she talk to anyone the first 12 days of being in jail. She sat in a small corner of her cell and stared into space - not a glance of emotion in her eyes. She had concerned the prison staff to the point they had to call in a doctor to check on her.

The doctor, who checked her, did say that she had entered a state of shock, which was her mind's way of protecting her from the overwhelming emotions that she was feeling. The doctor explained that it was a normal response to a traumatic event - in her case, a traumatic event which landed her in jail.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, she slowly began to feel again. She felt the pain of separation from her family and friends, anger towards those she thought had her back forever, and the frustration of being stuck in jail. She cried, she screamed, she yelled. She had hoped for a very quick release despite a sentence of 10 years, however her hopes for a quick release faded as she saw the slow pace of the Indian Justice System.

She knew that she would not be able to control the unfortunate fact that she was trapped in jail for 10 years, so instead she learned to cope with her situation by focusing on the things she could control. She spent her days in jail reading books and noticed that her prisoner inmates wished to learn how to read too. So she taught them how to read and started her own little book club in prison. The book club gave her a sense of purpose and belonging. She used colourful sticks of chalk to decorate the prison walls to brighten up the place and organise little dance parties with her inmates to lift their spirits. She made friends with her inmates who shared their stories of how they ended up in the same situation. She found solace in their company, even though she knew that they were all waiting for the same thing – freedom. Over time, she earned the respect of the guards and her fellow prisoners, who saw her as a source of strength and inspiration.

Woman: okay so she is getting released today?

Guard: yes we have decided to release her early. You are her best friend and well wisher, Mrs Chanda Sharma right?

The woman nodded.

Guard: you will be in charge of making sure that she is coping well with life outside of jail until she can get on her own two feet. Being in jail can impact one's mental health greatly so please make sure she is going well.

Chanda: of course. I will wait here.

The guard nodded as he and some people dressed in suits walked together to find the woman who was being released early.

In the prison background, every woman was dressed in a white sari. Some were on the benches, sewing some pieces of clothing. Some were sitting on the grass, talking and some were by the outsides of the prison walls making wall art on the walls with sticks of chalk.

One woman, who was colouring in a flower she drew on the wall, was wearing a white sari like all the other women who were prisoners. Her long hair was tied in a single braid and she wore a couple of simple silver bangles. She wore no makeup on her face and under her eyes, she had a little bit of dark circles from sleepless nights but they weren't too visible. Her hands were covered with little smears of colour from the chalk and she wore a small smile on her face.

Guard: Anika Mehta?

The woman turned around and smiled at them as they came up to her.

Guard: congratulations Anika Mehta, your sentence has been reduced from 10 years to 5.

Anika: does that mean...?

Guard: you're finally free from here.

Anika felt her spirit lift up. Anika remembered how broken she was when she first came here. Over the years, she gave up hope of ever being released - after all ten years was a long time. She did not expect to leave so early but she was happy. Happy because now she could fix what was broken just before she went to jail.

Guard: Mrs Chanda Sharma is here to take you, these people however will need you to sign some paperwork and we are going to give you the chance to greet your inmates goodbye. You do that now and we will be here to guide you to the paperwork signing and Chanda.

Anika nodded, smiling as they walked to the side. Anika walked to the women who had been listening and hugged them.

Woman 1: finally you are getting your wish.

Anika: I know but I am quite sad to leave here.

Woman 2: don't be. We all would be happy to leave here.

Woman 3: the Indian Justice system finally did one of us good.

Anika nodded, hugging the woman.

Woman 2: don't forget about us.

Anika: I won't.

Woman 4: accha let's stop this emotional drama. Anika, you are finally free. Don't waste another minute here. Thank you for everything you've done here.

Anika smiled as she gave every woman a hug before going to the guard and the people he was with. They took her into a small office where one man laid out some paperwork, explaining what each piece of paper she was going to sign was about ranging from an agreement to attend weekly therapy to help her with life after prison to a behavioural program so she would not reoffend again. Anika sighed as she signed every piece of paperwork.

Finally as soon as the ink dried on the last piece of paperwork, she was free. She was taken to her best friend, Chanda who was waiting for her. Anika ran to Chanda and hugged her as tightly as possible. Tears streamed down Anika's face as she embraced her best friend, Chanda. It felt like she had been holding in all of her emotions for so long, and they were finally able to pour out. Chanda held her tightly, whispering words of encouragement and support.

As she pulled away from Chanda, Anika wiped her tears and took a deep breath. She knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but she was determined to make the most of her newfound freedom.

Chanda: let's go.

Anika took a deep breath in as they made their way outside. She breathed as soon as she was out.

As she stepped out into the sunlight, she felt a rush of emotions – relief, joy, and a sense of liberation. She had grown used to the daily grind of life inside the jail, but she knew that she never wanted to go back. She looked around at the world outside the jail with fresh eyes, noticing the simple things that she had taken for granted before – the blue sky, the chirping of birds, and the freedom to move about as she pleased.

Anika: I am finally out.

Chanda: you are.

Anika: now I can finally make things right.

Chanda: one thing at a time Anika. One thing at a time. First we need to make you go from the prison look to Anika glam, then we are going to buy gifts for everyone.

Anika: I really need the makeover, but Chanda I also need to get a job but who is going to hire someone who has a criminal record?

Chanda: we will find you a job, Anika, like i said, one thing at a time.

Anika nodded, taking another deep breath in and out. She was ready to try and adjust to life outside of jail.

But most importantly, she wanted to try and fix the broken pieces that were shattered when she got arrested.

Precap: bonjour Paris