Nirbhaya(fearless female) or NAR-BHAY(fear of men)

I don't remember when was the last time I didn't find any news of rape in the newspapers , it's now seems that it is served to the newspapers as a meal . Every time I flip the page I read such news which makes me sick . I am flabbergasted to see the drastic increase in the number of cases . What for courts are set up ? How long a proper system will be set up for human safety ?

16.12.12- It was chilly winter night when we were having dinner and spending gala time with friends and family , the news hits our door . The incident again happened but this time was a  MAJOR CRIME , mark my words it was not just an incident or any accident but it was a HEINOUS CRIME , the crime that night calls for a place called ' utopia ' a hunky dory land .
The gravity was so deep rooted in us that it sends shiver of fear run down our spines , makes our hands cold and totally aback us . The Capital city was again turned into ' crime capital ' , again the news flashes ' city unsafe for girls '  and once again the news highlights the capital and our kilptocratic government . The people sitting and watching television started mulling over and passed their own judgement " why the girl needs to roam alone in the city in night ? " , many diplomatic parents may have bombard the statement on their own girl child " now be more westernised and be ready to face the worst " , well dear diplomatic parents let me remind you for the monsters like them the type of dress girls put on hardly matter .
According to the news a girl along with her beau after watching a movie they both boarded on bus ( death bus ) . The two of them were bitten to death , assaulted like no one can ever be , the injuries beyond recoveries , the pain that was beyond  bearable and at last to give final touch to this worst act they threw them out of running bus naked .
The two lay on the road under the wintery sky . The people passed by but not one paid heed to them .
No one cared to cover their wounded body except the oozing blood from their injuries  , no one cared to listen their whining , no one cared to  see when they were shivering with fear and cold , no one cared to hear them when they were struggling to speak " help us " , the more they puff their lungs to utter those two words but they collapsed . No one cared to help them when they were trying to move their body to collect themselves , no one was there to look into those watery eyes who were begging to get help , no one sees those streams of tears running down their cheeks . The soul has died before but again it got killed and stabbed by BRUTALITY OF HUMANITY towards them . 

The eyes were still glued on the screens when they heard that they were rushed to hospital , it gives them hope . The case was lodged , the charge sheet was formed against them , the mass moves out of their cocoon , candle march , protests by the capitol across the globe . The nations unite to support and to give justice to this girl and the mob called her " NIRBHAYA( FEARLESS FEMALE) who fought bravely in those acrimonious pain . The culprits were arrested , the fast track court session begins , the social platform showed a huge cater of people of various communities , the status got uploaded with each headlines , the display picture changed and what not  , this time the capitol thought the system will change . But like always the government took such a long process that the Innocent girl died , leaving behind her family and the mob who stood for her . Was the time taken by courts was too long that the victim died ? Why we need to go through the same process every time . Why ? We could have protect her , not only her but every girl . We are equally responsible . God bless them who took them to the hospital they were seriously God messengers or the God itself .

16.12.15 - The same is running , the girl's parent knocking at the doors of courts , political leaders but the government has other plans . The most involved culprit in the crime was juvenile boy , who distorts her body internally completely . The court decided to set free him because his age didnt fall under the norms . Brilliant , he was mature enough to rape a girl till death but he is too young to face worse punishment . May I know , who will take his responsibility that he will not do it again. What if he turn himself to mastermind and this time he will not let himself to be caught .  His lawyer must have tagged him the " future of country " , well sir he is not the future but a slur on society , the real future were those two medicos . Blind system .

21.12.15 -  The juvenile is on bail .
Once again our system turned the table . Once again they killed that soul . Once again we sat in our houses and watched the dance of democracy . Once devil wins .  Now what happen to you people did your legs jams to march out in protest . Have you accepted the face that nothing can be done with system . Boys or monsters like will be celebrating " NAR-BHAY I.e. fear of men . Don't tell me after this court decision you will now be over protective towards your child . Humble request be protective but not over protective , tell them to be fearless virago . Tell her , she's Amazon .

Don't fall into trap of NAR-BHAY but be NIRBHAYA.  Remember his face was covered with pink scarf , mob ; the government fear us that's why they. Hide him .  Rules are for us , dont let your freedom be slavery . Use your power and show you exists .

Let's see next we will see LIVE NIRBHAYA OR NAR-BHAY .

©Aditi Srivastava  

For the Last Time

" Avantika , baby I never knew we going to be husband and wife in next couple of hours ... I am excited , elated but scared too that I will be good husband or not . ..  " Manish asked Avantika over the call. 

" Hey !!! Shona .. you don't have to. You have always been perfect beloved and I know you will be the best husband too .. don't let such thoughts creep into your mind . I love you na baby " Avantika replied and blew a kiss .

" I love you too Avantika ..  you're the best thing ever happened to me ... Shona can I ask you for a small favour " Manish asked her .

" Yes ... say " She replied and smiled .

" wait for clock to strick 12 , I will tell you " He said and both disconnected the call .

12:00am .

" It was warm winter night when an angel knocks at the door of my life...
She was like a bright beam of light tearing apart the darkness of my life ...
Her porcelain beauty and peeling voice was no less than those sweet chirping of birds of the dawn time .. ..
She was the goddess I worship every night and whose thought beset my life ... " Manish text her .

" Come in your wedding dress please " he sends her another text .

" baby .. you will see me na tomorrow in my wedding dress .. then why today " she replied while pulling up the zip of her jacket .

" Please ... " He insisted .

At his home .

" Baby .... you came .. you know I love you so much " Manish spoke and gave her a tight hug .

" let me in now " she whispered into his ear and bite his ear lobe. 

" Don't turn me on today at least " Manish said and plants a kiss on her cheek .

" hahaha well I don't mind if you turn on  " she replied and winked .

" Come with me .. " Manish said and held her hands and took her to his room .

As the door opened her jaw dropped . The room was beautifully decorated , candles were placed on the edges of the room & on the drawers , as she stepped she felt something soft tickle her feet , she looks down and found that the floor was covered with white and rose petals ,  scent of rose ruled over the room and a bowl of melted chocolate was kept near the bed . 

" I want to see you in bride dress .. change it for me na  . " he said .

" wait then " she said and pecked on his lips and disappeared behind the bathroom door.  Fifteen minutes later , she came in red color dress ; completely decked up . The dress had high filigree and think golden embroidery , the duppatta was of sheen and of flimsy material . She stood in front of him . He was spellbound by her beauty , her matching ear ring touching her shoulder , her eyes were no less than smoky eyes of Aphrodite , her lips were just like cherry . He was just gazing her top to down & it was making her go red , her cold body was not hot .

He went closer and moved his fingers on her waist , it was so smooth he can't resist and he pulled her closer and their lips met. He strokes her hair while she held him tight , there was no sound around except the breath they exchanged . She munched his lower lip and cupped his face between her hands.  She realised his cheeks were wet .

" what happen Manish ? " she asked while wiping the tears , her eyes were wet now .

" I made a mistake Avantika " he said .

" What mistake baby ? You can never commit any mistake .. " she said while hugging him . Her heart was racing  , she was telling him to relax but she was herself worried now . The romantic aura was replaced by tension and fears .

" I love you itnaa I fear you will love our baby more someday than me  " he replied and faked a smile .

" tell me ? " She insists .

" Its 4 am and you should rush now " He said and kissed on her neck . She moaned in pleasure.  When she come back to reality she pushed him and hurried . He helped her in changing and safely drove her back to home .

" Ooo . .. I love you Miss Pandey and my kid too " he shouts standing outside his car . She turned and hugged him tightly and said " you're the best " .

Wedding evening

" Mom , when will Manish family come ? " Avantika nudged her mother while she was giving final touch to her belongings .

" They must be arriving dear " she replied .

Both heard the knock at the door , her mother stepped out and found her brother was standing .

" Mom ... Avani .. we need to rush to the hospital " he said and shivered .

Avantika was terrified , she squeezed her mother's hand tightly , her hands were dead cold . She was at brim of loosing her tears but her brother held her and they reached the hospital .

Everyone was preset there , except the one. Avantika heart sinks in terror , she asked and everybody points towards the ward no. 203 , she enters and collapsed into tears . Manish was laying on the hospital bed , she heard quick whispers of nurses " THE CANCER " last stage , anything can happen " she felt something chocked in her throat , her world do took the cruel turn , the thing she never expected but the things were like that .

She sits near him and caressed his head , she holds his hand who was cold ; every moment she was feeling something was snatching away from her , she shivered because she had seen her dad death and the destiny was playing again on her happiness.  " baby " she struggled to speak .

" Avantika .. I will always fall for you " Manish said , his voice was weak . It was like something was suppressing in him , he fought to utter those words, he had tears in his eyes , he rolled his eyes to wall adjacent to him  , she looked into that direction and found a baby picture hanging on the wall . Just then those words sticks her mind . The picture was crystal clear , he never mentioned  about kids like the night before . She now got to know why he secretly asked her to sneak in the wee hours . The mistake she realised  was , she was pregnant . Definitely it wasn't mistake but his last sign on her life .

He looked at her and smiled , their eyes met for the last time .

©Aditi Srivastava

My little life

BIRD OUT OF CAGE  

         

“ Mummy , when we will go back to Daddy … I am missing him “ My four years old daughter Sanaya said to me while I trying hard not to make eye contact to her , poor baby she didn’t even know that her mother is trying hard to hold her tears back . We were sitting in a park near my in-laws apartment . I Looked near my leg where my luggage was laying on the green meadow .

“Hmmm.. dear , we are not going back to Daddy “ I replied while pressing the burnt mark on my forearm .

“But why …? “She asked again pulling my chin towards her .

I went back looking deep into her innocent eyes which were carving for my answers , all I was wondering how things have turned so worse . She kept pestering me which was making me petulant at one moment and on the other moment I wanted to hug her and cry my heart out . “ It’s not that easy baby “ I cleared my throat and replied to her cupping her pink , soft and dedicate face in my palms .

“ Tell me Mummy please “ She begged .

“ Baby because I love you more than your Daddy “ I replied and held her close to my chest .

“Is it fine na Mumma ..?” She asked while holding my hands .

“ Yes baby … I love you a lot “ I said and planted a kiss on her cheeks and she chuckled .

Feticide , I wish I could tell you baby , it was your Daddy and your both grandparents who wanted you to be killed . But just tell me how I can I kill my  reason of existence .

 ©Aditi Srivastava

Dawn of Midnight Joys

Evil comes alive in dark but there was always a spartan who fought and wins. 

Exactly such scene was going on in front of me , it wasn't like in what we sees in movies .

It was around 2am when I was returning from my late night shift , I always hated staying late in the office and doing work because the silence of the surrounding scare hell out of me . Cab which I hired leave a block before my building which means I have to walk to my house alone but luckily my eyes catches attention on the road , without wasting a second I went their . I always feared darkness but it all vanished as soon as I traced children on the road .

I walked out of the apartment gate , I was baffled that how my society parents allowed their children to play that too on the road and then I thought may be some function arranged for the Halloween party . I further walked near to them and I saw two dogs running and barking in my direction , I tried to climb the wall next to me but I couldn't , I then somehow managed to climb on a car roof .

" Sheru and Motii come back kids " a boy who must not be more then six years old call the dogs , as soon as the heard the voice both the dogs went to that child . From the way of calling the dogs I quickly draw the conclusion that these kids didn't belong to my apartment , getting down the car and looking here and there in a quizzical way I found that the little midnight spartan belongs to the slum which is juxtaposed to my apartment .

Yes , midnight spartan they are . Even I don't know how and when this unique word came out of my mouth for them but one thing I know that the word perfectly and completely belongs to them .

These kids were ruling the darkness of the night , they were carefree , not worrying about the world who were in slumber , there joys were above all . Some where playing on an old broken car  , some where Weddelling with the tyres , girls were playing with the rejected toys which my apartment children throw away and the most fascinating moment was when I saw them feeding dogs , I mean they themselves don't have anything to eat but these kids were aware that animals too have life and as they fed them the dogs started playing with them . Just like me there was another person who was coming from the other end , the dogs pulled the kids back to the slum by holding their edge of torn clothes and brak loudly and fearfully to protect these children . I learned why they came barking to me why I stepped in their direction .

I didn't see any evil around  , all I saw happy faces of these children ; they were epitom of telling us a lesson of living a life at fullest in what we have . The other thing I learned tonight was that the darkness is not that bad because it was hiding the flaws of the society and were uniting the two worlds ; rich and poor . Rich never gets satisfied of what they have but the poor know how to live in those damp and dingy places with joys . If that boy couldn't call out the dogs I would have been unable to make out that these kids were poor .

May be some night will come when the world will be awaken to watch this marvellous site ,
May be some day the difference will be minimised to null that the world belongs to people not the rich and poor ,
May be some noon I will see them studying equally to our children in a school ,
May be some evening they would be playing with other children who belongs to rich world ,
May be I wouldn't be alive too see because the people don't agree . 

©Aditi Srivastava <3

Monster in my house .

You must have seen those kids , who loves to watch horror or suspensive movies or shows ; during the day they remain unaffected by the last night watched show , they behave like fearless kids but as soon as the sun starts setting their fear come alive , they went numb and the creatures or scenes starts playing in their mind , they look for shelter to hide themselves and the best place they can get is being with elders whom they know can save trepid kids but not all lucky like those kids .  Manaya , who is always haunted by a MONSTER in her own house . Let's see how a minor game changed her life forever.

Manaya was a happy go lucky girl , blue stocking and courageous girl . One fine day she returned from school and found her cousin elder brother had come to live with them for his higher studies , Kush ( elder brother ) was her favourite cousin , she welcome him warmly , both brother sister chatted for couple of minutes and then her mother asked her to share her room with his cousin , she hesitates but then her mother convinced her that he will soon leave as soon as he  finds a suitable paying guest thus finally she gave up because she knew that her mother would emotional blackmail her more if she continued protesting.  So the better option was to cease fire by saying yes else the debate will never end .

After few days they both adjusted with each other , they started enjoying each others company , they share their secrets , they cook together , they play together , they study together ; as the time passes their camaraderie grew more and stronger. 
One night both planned to watch a horror movie , the movie starts with a girl who shifted in a new flat , lived alone in the house . The flat remain cold throughout the day and night  , the girl always felt that she was not alone in the house ; there's always someone else who lives with her but that thing don't hold any physical appearance . One night after the girl took bath , she dozed off quickly but in the middle of night she felt that someone has touched her legs ; she quizzically got up and found no one around , she again slept . After half and hour she that someone has hold her legs and separating them , she didn't see anyone but felt a hand moved between her legs , she tries to shouted but her voice chocked as if someone has put hand on her mouth , all she felt later her clothes were torn apart , she tries to push the entity but her hands moves across the air  , no one was seen or felt as she tries to push , all she felt the most horrifying on the bed that someone has moved his between her legs and vigorously hurts her for hours , all she cried silently after long hours of protest . When she woke up she found her bed sheet was red with  blood , the most injured part was between her legs but someone how she survived in the lacerating pain but the soul died . She went into trauma and was admitted but she couldn't recover .

Manaya eyes were glued on the screen , loud cries in the dark was echoing in her ears , she tightly holds her cousin hand when the girl cried at the top of her voice in pain , he taps on her back and switched off the television . They both went on the bed and slept .  

It was around 2 am , when she felt that someone tried to get in her blanket , she woke up in shock and cried out Kush's name but he didn't turn nor he was in the room , she looked here and there , found Kush was in loo . He consoled her that no ghost or monster exists in real world but she didn't listen , she kept shivering . 

Next morning she got and look at everyone with her puffed eyes , she pour the last night incident but everyone tries to pacify her that it was just a bad dream because of that horror movie .  Each night she experience that someone was trying to rule her body  , every night she felt that someone tries to get inside her blanket but she could touch and feel it too but as soon as she switch on the lights , the person disappears .

" Take this " Kush said in irritated tone .

" why .. I don't want , don't you know what happen to me each night " Manaya shouted .

" Idiot  , that just happen in your dreams .. nothing such happen .. why I am not threatened .. tell me " Kush shouts back .

" I don't know .. but I am not taking this sleeping pill " Manaya protested.

" fine .. I won't stay in this room now with you .. enough of this nonsense .. I need my sleep .. " Kush said and started picking up the pillow .

" Okay fine .. give me .. but don't shift your room " Manaya said .

He hugs her and creases her head until she fall asleep .

Being under influence of pill she was still in her sense but her body went numb , somniferous did affect her completely . She suddenly felt hand on her mouth and the pain went on more than what was shown in the movie , the more she tries to shout the more she cried but she didn't give up , she tries to scratch that person but her hands slipped near his neck and his necklace comes in her hand , she tries to remember whom it was but as she got to know she give up , the courageous girl  was broken by the fact that he was no one else but her own cousin Kush whom she loved and trusted a lot  . She pushed him away and got disbalanced and fell off the window . The last word she utter in pain was " there's a MONSTER IN MY HOUSE .

©Aditi Srivastava

Unfaded Ink

I clearly remember I was always instructed by everyone in my house not to write on walls or on closet , but I never listened to them; from fairies to dragons I had scribbled almost my every favourite cartoons on the walls and on closet and at the end of the day my elders scolds me whereas my mother ( Guardian Angle of my life ) makes me smile be telling how beautiful I made them.

Now I am grown up but I still loves to watch and draw them , I do in my note books and dairies . But there's slightly a different case now I draw them in a storyline manner , I picture a story in my mind and then give them words and later I draw . Its more exciting and fascinating then what I did in my childhood days .

Do you know my room walls have a dull shade of green which is not pleasing at all , one who visits asks me every time to change it because they didn't match with my personality , well they are no way wrong , but do they know in the mid of night the hidden creatures and scenes all come alive , I met and interact with different type of people some are tall some are short , some comes to me and tell their story which I writes and there are many stories I tell them . We all laugh , dance , sing , paint together and what not .

Every night my mom sneaks just to check me whether I am enjoying with my imaginary friends and my INK. My INK which is actually unstoppable  , unfaded and never spoil my papers .

After I writes , my pen blink at me in satisfaction , the paper smiled with joy and my imaginary friends who celebrate after my every write up .

So this is me and my romantically involved relationship with my INK which gives me hope and reason to live . When no one around it becomes my friend with whom I can chat for long hours , when I am sad I pour my heart with it on a paper , when I am happy I celebrate with my INK . Yes MY INK I love it .

My possession my passion , one who defines me .

Welcome to my world of words , my journey with my INK .

©Aditi Srivastava