Once again Author’s Note:
This one shot should be taken with open mindedness because of its bold approach.
This piece of writing is quite depressing not for the weak hearted people.
This Story is NON FICTION and really happened, I heard about this story and adding few elements to it I present you this story.
This happened in the year 2011, In India.
MY FREEDOM
I run fast, as fast as I can in the beautiful meadows of my village early morning the grass in sparkling with dew with my goats following me and hearing chirping from far away. Huffing I fall in lying position smiling widely, enjoying the morning breeze and warm rising sun-rays.
I feel someone trace a finger along my jaw side and I open my eyes to my dreadful nightmare. Four strongly built men are kneeling around me, holding my body down.
I shout as high as I can only to find myself in the arms of my Husband tightly wound around my body. I grasp his shirt in my fist and try to control the uncontrollable shaking of my body, but never freeing any tear out of my eyes.
It happened only a few months ago, Neel who was then my fiancé took me out for the first time after our engagement a month ago. I was really happy at that time we had lunch at a restaurant and after that he took me to Goddess Amba (Mother) temple, we had her blessings and when we were walking towards our home, few feet away from the temple, four men with hideous gleam in those wicked eyes and their faces covered with cloth, looking like bandits they robbed us. Those men robbed Neel of his money and me from my FREEDOM.
All four of them took turns in robbing me, taking my first time away from me as well as forcing a tainted experience on me to remember forever.
I saw vivid shades of Freedom on that very day; those men utilized their Freedom as follows
#FREEDOM when they dump Neel’s aching and battered body and mine barely clothed & violated body.
When we anyhow managed to gather up our appearance and reached the clinic, I had the #FREEDOM to gulp a full bottle of Morning After pill afraid that I might have been chained by the spawn of those monsters.
When I felt dirty and wished to die in the lake in front of me, Neel hugged me tightly touching my broken soul healing it with his assurance about a promising life ahead. He gave me #FREEDOM to lead a simple life it was before this incident happened.
#FREEDOM that Neel has got about his high valued thinking. When he believed I was as pure as I was before.
When I was suffering from suicidal tendency and he was out of reach to care for me, he spent his nights talking with me on phone keep me away from those memories, rather having a well deserving sleep after bones breaking labour in farm fields.
But, what about my freedom?
Freedom is when I can find that why had I been robbed of it being in my country, my village and with my people.
No one can take my #FREEDOM away.
I am Free to have my choices.
To lead my life as I like.
To be strong and show that I will not be broken again.
#FREEDOM is when I can speak about this incident in public never caring what the society may think of me.
#FREEDOM is when I stop internally shuddering when talked about it.
#FREEDOM is empowering my daughters and sisters against it, and never to be ashamed of what happened. It is not your fault but theirs.
AS THE WRITER OF THIS ONE SHOT, MY FREEDOM LIES IN PROJECTING WHATEVER MY HEART FEELS LIKE.
