'But he loves me!' Mira told herself firmly as she applied dettol on the cut near her lip. 'He seemed drunk', she thought,' it must have been an accident, he means me no harm'. She assured herself and smiled at her reflection.
But as the years went...
Mira sat in the front lawn of her house. It was spring time and the blooming flowers made the surroundings look very beautiful and peaceful. She sat there, sipping tea from a cup. It wasn't fine china and was prepared by her, but she was content with it.
Her husband was out working. Recently, he is always working and rarely ever home. He never spoke to her until necessary and provided her enough to live properly. Her two kids played around her. She smiled and wondered what happened to her own children. The only thing that separated her from making complete peace with her new life was that she knew nothing of her kids. She knew her son was safe at his aunts place but what happened to the daughter, she didn't know.
Looking back at her life, she would have laughed if someone told her that her life would get better, that there will be spring again.
2 year ago.
Mira's feet were tied to a chair and she waited for the first customer to arrive. She was pale beneath all that makeup and there was a dry trail of tears on her face. Her heart cried. She didn't want to sleep with a stranger. She wasn't a virgin but that did not mean she wanted to sleep with anyone. The door opened and she sat up straight, hoping it was the people, telling her there wasn't a customer today.
Luck had never been on her side lately. She cowered when she saw the outline of a man. His every step made her heart beat faster. Slowly, he moved and stopped it front of her and touched her and she felt sick to the bones. He put his hand below her chin and froze.
'Mira!' he thought. He knew her. He was her childhood friend who had had a crush on her since he first saw her. His father was a family friend and he had often visited Mira's home with him. He soon became friends with her. His father often teased him with her and told her to be good boy so that he can grow up well and marry her. He would feel shy at the thought. Suddenly she had vanished and her family refused to agree that they had a daughter. He heard all sorts of things about her but looking down at her today, he realized, she too was a victim.
He kissed her head and told her all with be better. Mira opened her eyes at the familiar voice and backed away in shame. He stood up and left. He tried buying her out and though the people refused at first but agreed later but, it was lot of money and if he failed to come with it within next three days, she'll be out to business. Till then, she would remain untouched.
He didn't know where to get the money from. He did not have the money or any resources. That night, he made up his mind to try a final door. Next morning, he got up and went to meet her father.
Ram ji Mehta was sitting under a tree when he approached him. The man was lost in his own world. He studied the fine lines on his face and the weak body structure. Over the years, he had fallen ill and retired from work. His child's running away had affected him in the worst way possible, even when he refused to accept it.
At first, he denied knowing any Mira, then he shouted at him to leave. As his turned to leave, he felt a hand, weak but firm, grab his own hands. 'Wait, beta!' he turned to see the moist eyes of a father and saw all the love he had for his child, the love he had locked away. He saw the helpless father and told him all he knew.
Next few days went like a blur. Everything went really fast of Mira. Her friend had seen her, after that she was locked in a room. Next evening, she was asked to leave with a man she didn't know. He took her to a town far away. She knew that because it took five days to reach. She was married off to man. He looked about ten years older, around thirty three and had two kids. His wife had died and married her to take care of his home and kids. As for her, she felt numb. She did not know if she should feel happy that she won't be abused or used against her will or she should cry for all that she had lost.
Present day.
Mira stood up when she heard a sound she thought she'll never hear. Her husband walked towards her with a weak little boy in his arms. Her son!
She never thought she would see him again. The boy looked weak, his bones popping out. He looked like had been starved for days. She took him in her arms.
'Mama, is that you? Don't leave me again mama!.....you are my mama right, the man said he'll take me to mama. Don't hit me if you are not...' the boy pleaded. Her heart broke at his words. She held me close to her and promised, ' Never, Mama will never let anyone take you again.'
She silently looked at her husband, gratitude shining in her eyes. He looked back at her. His own kids looking at them with curiosity. 'Meet your knew friends..' he told the boy who shyly looked at them. He was vary of kids too as his cousins used to hit him hard and get away with it. He looked at his mother for permission and walked towards them.
'Thank You', Mira said.
'You don't have to thank me. We are partners. We may not be a proper couple but I do consider you my friend, but.' He paused and held her hands.
'I am sorry Mira.'
'Are you joking? Sorry? You gave me back my son...'
'Your daughter. I tried tracking her. She is dead Mira. She was abused way beyond a child's body could take and died before I could reach her.'
Mira felt numb. She let go of his hand and rushed towards her son. He was too shocked to react when he felt his shoulders getting wet. She looked back at her husband, her son and her kids and vowed to protect them with all she had. Never again will she let anyone ruin her life.
As for Ram Ji Mehta, he still denied having a daughter but his health had improved. People say it's a miracle but Mira's friend smiled, he knew the actual reason. You could judge him and say he didn't love her at all. Love can forgive. Maybe he wasn't as progressive as he liked to believe. Maybe he was trying to save her from a lifetime of taunts he felt she would get from the people around them. Maybe he thought it was the only way for her to start afresh at a place where no one knew to judge her. You could hate him, judge him or sympathize with him but to one thing that stands is that he loved her. Unusual, yes but, It was love.
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