The Pink Disaster

Three

Three

As she walks down the street that leads her away from her former house, she gets a flashback of various instances when her partner had tortured her.

She remembers that one time when she had gotten late to home. She used to go to the largest river in the village with other married women that used to live nearby for washing clothes. The previous day a heavy downpour had ruined all her clothes. She had to wash them all over again. But this wasn't a reason that seemed good enough for her husband.

"Durga!" Her husband shouted calling her name. On realising that she wasn't home yet, he got infuriated within a matter of seconds.

As soon as Durga reached her house, she knew something wasn't right. The house seemed dull. More than usual, considering that her house wasn't like the home that everyone just loved being in.
She entered carefully with the basket of clothes and closed the half-rotten wooden door to her house.
"Durga," Her husband said. She instantly recognised this tone. Her husband wasn't in his best mood.
"Come here" Durga moved closer. Inch by inch. Careful. Scared.
"Why did you get late?" He maintained his dull tone.
"I... I... was washing the clothes from the previous day... They were too ma..."
"I DON'T CARE! I HAVE SAID THIS NUMEROUS TIMES THAT YOU REACH THE HOUSE BEFORE I DO!" He said this as he grabbed her jaw and moved closer, while she dropped the basket of clothes.
Durga saw his bloodshot eyes. He was an alcoholic. And there was nothing she could do about it. Then he slapped her while saying various things that Durga didn't have the consciousness to pay attention too. He hit her. Slapped her repeatedly. Beat her. Pushed her. There was nothing Durga could do but wish that she hadn't opted for the very first love marriage in her village.

She regrets her decision in the past more than anything right now. But she snaps out of her thoughts as she trips over a pebble.

Now she is going to get away from all those problems. She is finally going to lead a new life.

But she doesn't feel entirely sure about the decisions she is taking now.

Her journey of walking alone ends as she observes the Gulaabi Gang office before her. She looks at the building with keen eyes.

As she enters the compound, she hopes for the future she deserves, even though she had wasted a lot of time in her life with a man she now considers no less than a daanav, a monster.
***