The Rat Bitten Girl

THE RAT BITTEN GIRL
By:
Anita Shah Lakyary
CHAPTER 1

She was known as 'Rat Bitten.' However odd the name might sound but the whole village and the nears and dears of Rat Bitten's family, friends and foes called her just that.
"Rat Bitten bring me a glass of water."
"Rat Bitten please baby sit my toddler."
"Rat Bitten make me some sheets of bread."
And she said yes to all requests.
She had had a name before she gathered fame as Rat Bitten. But no one remembered that. Even Rat Bitten knew herself as Rat Bitten and she was fine with the fact that she hadn't been Rat Bitten forever.
Rat Bitten had heard that she was born as a lovely baby girl, with pinkish complexion, which was an indication that she was going to have a fairer skin tone and was a satisfactory sign for the mother of a daughter. It was different for boys, they would do even if they were made of mud, as the Sindhi saying goes.
When her father took her to register at school and he said ‘Rat Bitten’ when asked what was the name of the baby?
“What?” The bespectacled teacher asked.
"Rat Bitten."
"Whhhhattt?!!! Rat Bitten? Did you say Rat Bitten?"
"Yes Rat Bitten."
"What kind of name is that?"
"Thats what we call her."
"Ok that might be some pet name. But can't be an official name. Please tell what I should write to register her name."
"I will get back to you tomorrow." The father said and extended his hand to Rat Bitten, who with childish awe was seeing the school and was curiously eyeing other students older than her studying at a class. She held her father's hand and he took her index finger and they went back home.