Jogini : A fight for honour

Chp 8:- A Fight For Justice

"My daughter will never be a jogini." I screamed "I'll fight till my last breath."
"You will fight against Swami..." Smirked akka slapping me across my face.

I fell to the floor and my eyes travelled to Avanti who was hiding behind a pillar, blue with fear.

I stood up and said "I will fight."

Rajguru Venkata dragged​ me by my arm to the courtyard of the temple and threw me on the hard ground.

The afternoon sun soared high in the sky making me feel dizzy.

"Rape her right here." Ordered Rajguru Venkata, with lust in his eyes "She will be tied to that pole. NAKED FOR ALL TO SEE. "

I stood up.... I no longer had fear gripping my heart. No shame to hide my embarrassed body any longer. No words to express the emptiness of my heart. No sorrow to cry anymore. All that I was filled was with the bravery to face humiliation.

As the hungry pundits closed in on me like wolves I picked up a thick branch on the ground and held it ahead screaming "ANYONE WHO COMES NEAR ME WILL DIE...."

Despite of my warning one pundit approaced me and I swung the branch hitting his croch.

He fell on the ground howling with excruciating pain....

More came ahead and I hit them on their male part. I had become a fierce lioness who had been hurt and was trying to protect her cubs.

"COME NOW YOU LUSTFUL CREATURE'S ... FOOL'S ...."I spat out in rage.

My eyes had turned red, my hair shabby and my clothes were soiled.

"AMMA...."

Avanti's cry made me turn and look at Rajguru Venkata holding my little girl in his arms...

"AVANTIKA.... LEAVE HER YOU RASCAL..." I screamed rushing towards him, but I was held firmly by my arms by the other pundits....

"AARGH LET GO OFF ME .....  YOU ..  YOU ... "

"HA HA HA HA ...." Rajguru Venkata laughed and taunted "Tah, tah,tah .... What a pity... Chandramukhi if you don't want your daughter to be raped at the age of five bear the punishment."

"DON'T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING TO HER.... I'LL BEAR THE CONSIQUENCES OF MY ACTIONS...."I replied.

Rajguru Venkata smirked a smile and left Avantika who came running and hugging me. Immediately akka pulled her away from me ....

"AMMA .... LEAVE ME ... LEAVE ME...AMMA ....AMMA...."

She screamed and cried struggling to free herself, until akka slapped her and locked her in a room....

"AAMMA ...  AMMMA .... AMMA... "

Avantika's screames and cries weakened me tremendously...

"Leave her...." I pleaded falling at Rajguru's feet in tears "she did nothing at all..."

"But her amma did it right. She'll also be punished but once she's thirteen. She'll curse the day she was born...."

"NO, NO PLEASE NO...." I cried and the pundit's pulled me from the ground and began stripping me off my clothing.

I was raped brutally and then tied to a wooden pole outside the temple for all to see my ravaged body. I hung my head in shame. Unable to hide myself I was left naked to behold.

Men came raped me, groped me, spat on me and left laughing. Women taunted, slapped me, cursed me and walked off.

Why was I bearing all this ? Only to put an end to this hideous tradition.... Will this work ?

My mind travelled to my daughter.

Oh my goodness .... I hope my Avanti is alright .... Oh swami .... Please take care of my girl. I don't want anything to happen to her....

The whole night I was left shivering on that pole. No food, nor water was provided to me ... Sleep was far away for me....

"Amma..." I heard the faint broken voice of my daughter...

"Avanti !" I gasped ..."Go, go from here. If they see you here they will do the same to you.... Go..."

"No amma ....I love you .... I'll free you and we'll run." She said, her eyes glowing with some anticipation.

"We cannot run away from our problems Avantika, we must learn to face them. Fight them until the last breath in your nostrils. The more you run the more you are afraid. The more your afraid, the more vulnerable you are to the world, who take advantage of your fears."

"Amma, how much will you fight ?" She asked.

"Until we get our freedom." I replied, trying to hide the unassurance in my voice.

"Amma, are we the only one's who want to live a free life? None of the other jogini's are supporting us."

"Avantika, always remember that the world does not have the courage to step up and say something is wrong. It needs courage to stand up and say that this is wrong. And when you do that, no one will support you. That's the nature of this world. We all follow a heard mentality and that's why we never progress." I replied.

"Amma, will anybody ever support us?" She asked.

"No." I replied "No body supports what's right and just. The right are always tried to be hushed by killing them and subjecting them to torture. But always remember, that when you are alone only God is there with you."

"Which God amma ?" She asked with anger raging in her voice and tears clouding her eyes "If there is a God why isn't he helping us ? If he loves us and supports what is good why is he letting you suffer ? You were married to Venkateshwara swami then why is he letting you suffer?"

I fell silent, I had no answer to Avantika's questions....

"With every trial that comes our way, makes us stronger to face the trials that are greater than these." I replied.

"What can be greater than this amma? Venkateshwara swami does not exist...if..."

"Avantika,how dare you say this .." I glared at her in rage.

I just couldn't believe that my little girl was saying this ...

"Amma, if he really loved you, he would have taken you and me to a place where there is no misery."

My eyes teared up. I wasn't still sure that I had heard it right....

"I HATE VENKATESHWARA SWAMI ! I WILL NEVER EVER WORSHIP ANY GOD BECAUSE AMMA THEY DO NOT EXIST .... THEY NEVER WILL...."

Saying this she ran away crying....

I looked up into the violet clear sky which was dotted with twinkling stars....

"Oh swami ! Please forgive her... Please... She does not know what she has said. Don't ever desert my child .... Keep her safe always...." I prayed from the depths of my heart.

The next morning I was told to leave Aitareya Brahmana and never to return. I wasn't allowed to take Avantika with me.

Mother and daughter were separated. How would she live ? What would become of her ? I could only pray, but I swore to return and stop this system.

Chandramukhi has left ? Oh no ! What about Avantika ??? Read more to find out what will happen to Avantika .....
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