STRIPPED

Chapter Three

It was a gentle prod that woke her from sleep.She was now much more alert and Sheila was happy for her . Lunch was announced and she sat up to eat as Sheila stood beside her. She wasn't pissed by it but it encouraged her. Sheila said she was free at the moment and started a conversation.
"I am sorry," she apologized, "what do you plan to do?"
"I don't know" the awnser came automatically
Sheila was no psychiatrist but she knew Marya hadn't overcome the grief.
"What do you do?", she asked climbing on to the bed sitting on a small space near Marya's legs.
" Modelling "
They talked well into one hour and some minutes as Marya finished her food and swallowed her drugs. They talked about their jobs and they realised both that they did what they liked. Marya for the reason that it fascinated her and Sheila because she was giving back to the society. They talked about high school and campus and about their boyfriends. Marya was animated talking about John.
"You know him. We can bet in that."
"No, I don't, I've never met him. What's his name?"
"John"
"John,John somebody?"
"You'll see him when he comes", Marya stated and started teasing Sheila in having a doctor boyfriend." In medical dramas they make such relations look rosy",pointed out Marya,"but they are just locked up in clinics-especially if he is a   gynaecologist! "
"They love their job", Sheila quipped and both joined in a hearty laughter." Actually he is a sales analyst, "she declared
" Wow!"Marya exclaimed, "Lucky you."
The clock ticked slowly heading towards four.
"I should leave you now,your boyfie is on his way to come visit you."
"Yeah," said Marya but with a look on her face,like she didn't want to be left alone.
Sheila assured her,"I am here all week for my shift." It was also a promise.
She relived her moments of terror when she was left alone.This would become the order of her life. She had been crying when John walked into the room twenty minutes later carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. She was lost in his embrace and he kissed her  forehead lightly.
"What have they done to you", he asked disgusted.
" I'm okay now"she said in almost a whisper.They cried together. John was obviously distressed.
"I've seen your doctor. He says there is nothing much to be worried about from your x-rays but you'll need to see a gynaecologist."
"Oh", it was a resigned answer followed by a heavy sigh.
They talked about holiday plans. John was looking foward to joining Marya in South Africa come  that August. He was very hopeful Marya would get well. He was bored without her.They avoided mentioning the incident.

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Marya had started towards the direction of the cabs .She hadn't thought much about following the perimeter of the square. Instead, she cut through it diagonally. There were cobbles and stones but she avoided  them gracefully, her hips swaying,her butts dancing. She had learnt to catwalk during her first year of campus. She let the thigh muscle connect with calf muscle as if it was one. This wasn't just theory,it was her instructor had taught her. She practised it until it became part of her.
The idle youths behind her were still musing at her beauty,talking  about her legs and even her butt. She through about John,what had made him be attracted to her;was it her beauty, her charm or character? Some people always thought their relationship was fabricated- to classy to be true. Both were rich and young and masters in their fields. How could it be? Theirs seemed like a soap opera.........or maybe it wasn't.
She was almost halfway through the open square. Someone shouted something and people seemed to agree. Marya's heart skipped waking her up from her daydream because somehow,she had not noticed the ongoing conversation about her.
She stopped in her tracks. She could now hear the contributions of the various 'experts'. Moral experts and those who always knew how people should dress. And these experts-she wonderd- why weren't they working in fashion companies or in universities so that they could lecture students on their moral shit. Why didn't they influence the world? Marya clicked with obvious disdain at realization of the ironic situation.
-"Women have no morals"
-"Where is the world going to?"
Most of the conversation was in Swahili.
-"This is embarrassing of our wives and our daughters "
That bit made Marya feel a little guilty - remembering how her mother would never let her wear what she wanted during her teenage years. Of course she them,the short dresses and booty shorts,that her mother detested so much.When the cat is away,the mice come out to play.
That was Marya, she always had her way. She never threw tantrums, she just did her thing whenever she could. But she had convinced herself long ago that she wouldn't give a damn about sex maniacs who couldn't stand the sight of a woman's arms at full length. It was their own damn  problem.
"Teach her a lesson", someone incited
" Yes", a majority agreed and  they repeated the statements they had said earlier as a justification for the unfair judge ment they had passed on Marya.
Run,Marya run. Run,baby run. They are coming for you.
Marya turned and started trotting. She couldn't much of a pace because of her shoes. The crowd of men now came after her led by a ring leader who was a tall middle aged bodaboda operator. She hit the stones and almost fell but ran on. "If I could only get to the other side", thought Marya,Someone would hide her as the police were called.
Easy! She ran faster but she hadn't seen the other group of people in front her. She only saw the shop.
Run Marya,run babe. They are coming for you.
She gathered all her strength. She was a regular at the gym and did her own exercise so this wasn't going to be hard. She took a larger stride and looked behind. They were closing in on her,she had to increase her pace or else.....She pushed forward dropping her clutch.She bent to pick it then someone made her trip.Down she was at the ground, looking above as the crowd advanced upon her.