Arohan - The Ascent

The Panchayat - Chapter 5

It was still early hours the next morning, when Vicky opened his eyes and looked around. He did not remember when he had slept so peacefully, last. His mind raced back in time to the previous evening, when standing inches away from him, Urvashi had bandaged his head. He could feel her warmth slightly, her perfume, some floral scent surrounding him in a warm embrace. It was the most comforting feeling, he had, for the longest time. Vicky came back to his senses. What was he thinking? The village must slowly be coming back to life. There would be people in the streets already, some cleaning, some going to the pond for the morning rituals, some taking their cattle and livestock, out for grazing and so on.

This was the perfect time, Vicky thought to himself. He stood up and walked towards the next room, He pulled the curtain aside partially and faced a closed door. His brows knotted in an unpleasant frown. She did not trust him and had locked the door in the night. Vicky left out as deep breath of frustration. Her locking the door, made him angry for some reason. His face took on a hard, cold glare.

Vicky quietly opened the door and deliberately stepped out, stretching his frame taut and yawing loudly, to attract as much attention as possible. And he was very successful in his attempts. The few people who were on the streets, saw Vicky come out and stretch and assumed Vicky had spent the night in the teacher's house. The news spread like wild fire until every household in the village discussed how the single teacher, entertained Narottam's goons by the night.

7:30 AM

Urvashi was surprised to note that Vicky had left the house even before she woke up. Urvashi usually got up at 6:00 AM and when she came out of her bedroom, Vicky was gone. She did not think too much about and went about her morning routine as usual. She got ready and left for Pandit Ji's house by 7:30 am.

It was while she was walking the short distance from her house to Pandit ji's house... that Urvashi realized something was wrong. She was all too familiar with the meaning of sideways glares and the soft murmurs in a small village like Padrauna. As she walked towards Pandit Ji's house, her head held high, her chin up, her gait a straight, gentle march, she could see from the corner of her eyes, as curious passersby walked eyeing her as if they were looking at her for the first time. She saw a couple of women, gesture towards her and speak in hushed tones. Urvashi's eyes narrowed. Between yesterday and today morning, something had changed. But what?

Somewhere deep down, Urvashi already knew by the time she reached Pandit ji's house, what the reason could be. But she was still not ready to accept that this was happening. It was like reliving a nightmare all over again. A nighmar3e from her childhood. And she knew there was only one end to the nightmare. She knew very well that end was not good for her. She could never forget Mrinal... from her village. She could never forget the look on Mrinal's face, the devastation inflicted on her self-respect and the questions raised on her character. In minutes, like vultures, they had ripped off her pride, self-respect and self-esteem into shreds. All for the crime of falling in love with someone from another caste, albeit, from a supposedly higher caste.

It was an "Innocence Lost" moment for Urvashi. One thing became clear to Urvashi that day. In a small village, like her home town, a man could do anything... the worst crime and get away. And a woman... a woman had to bow down to the dictates of the men, first her father, then brother, then husband and is she was still alive, finally, to add insult to injury her son too. As long as she followed orders and asked no questions, she would be respected. But the minute you questioned the authority of men, you became a villain in their eyes. And they would use any means to retain their supremacy... ANY MEANS.

As Urvashi stood at Pandit ji's door, her hand trembled slightly in fear. What if she was about to suffer the same fate as Mrinal. What if? The door opened even before she had knocked. Urvashi took one look at Pandit Ji and it was confirmation enough, that her worst nightmare was coming true. Pundit ji's brows were joined in a frown. The usually, jovial smile was missing from his face. His pleasant smile was replaced by a brooding look of worry. "Come in..." he said in a stern voice.