A True Indian Rapunzel

Chapter 17 - Time seems to slow

My heart raced as my mother summoned me, the remnants of my tears still glistening on my cheeks. A wave of fear washed over me, the dread of facing her overwhelming. But I forced myself to obey, knowing that defiance would only invite more pain.

As I entered the room, I held my breath, bracing myself for the onslaught of her wrath. But to my surprise, her demeanor was uncharacteristically calm, almost gentle, as she spoke into the phone.

"Okay, I'll ask Meeya," she said, her tone surprisingly neutral. Turning to me, she posed a question that caught me completely off guard.

"Meeya, how would you like to go with us on a cruise trip to Australia? Or, would you prefer to go to India with your friend Hidha for a two-month Islamic course, staying in a girls' hostel in Bangalore?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded, my mind reeling. Had my desperate prayers been answered? Was this a lifeline being thrown my way, a chance to escape the torment I had endured for so long?

Glancing at my mother, I searched her face for any hint of deception, any sign that this was all a cruel ploy. But to my astonishment, her expression was solemn, her eyes devoid of the usual malice that so often lurked within them.

Swallowing hard, I weighed my options, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. The prospect of a cruise trip to Australia held a certain allure, a glimpse of the world beyond the confines of my current existence. But the idea of an Islamic course in India, with my trusted friend Hidha by my side, ignited a spark within me.

In that moment, I knew that the latter option held the promise of more than just physical escape – it offered the opportunity for spiritual and emotional healing, a chance to reconnect with my faith and find solace in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Without hesitation, I responded, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within. "The Islamic course in India, please. I would like to go there with Hidha."

My mother's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I saw a glimmer of what seemed like approval in her eyes.

As she relayed my decision to the person on the other end of the line, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders, a sense of cautious optimism taking root in my heart. Perhaps, just maybe, this was the opportunity I had been praying for, a chance to escape the darkness and find the solace and healing I so desperately needed.

As I stood there, scarcely able to believe the words that had just tumbled from my mother's lips, a profound sense of awe and gratitude washed over me. For years, I had been trapped in the confines of this house, my very existence suffocated by my mother's unyielding control and cruelty. Yet at this moment, against all odds, she was granting me not only the freedom to travel abroad but to do so independently, without any family members in tow. It was a level of trust and autonomy that I had long since given up hope of ever experiencing. In that instant, I felt a profound connection to the divine, a conviction that the Almighty had heard my desperate pleas and orchestrated this miraculous turn of events. Tears of joy threatened to spill from my eyes as I marveled at the power of my faith, the unwavering belief that had sustained me through the darkest of times. 

"Thank you, Allah," I whispered, the words barely audible, yet they reverberated within the depths of my soul. "Thank you for not abandoning me, for answering my prayers when I had all but lost hope." It was in that moment that I truly understood the boundless compassion and mercy of the divine.

 Despite the immense suffering I had endured, the Almighty had not forsaken me but had instead guided me towards a path of salvation, a chance to escape the shackles that had bound me. As my mother concluded her conversation and turned her attention back to me, I felt a renewed sense of strength and purpose. No longer was I the helpless, beaten-down victim, but a person of faith, empowered by the knowledge that the Almighty had deemed me worthy of such a miraculous intervention.