Disclaimer:
Shit, I hate giving disclaimers. In an ideal world, my words would be self explanatory enough for everyone to understand. However, IF is not ideal and so, here I go: I am not an atheist or agnostic. However, I celebrate skepticism. I believe that everyone should have the right to question old beliefs before making the leap of faith. Infallibility in human nature is non-existent and if someone claims otherwise, you are being fooled. In other words, I am not a protester against the institution of religion, I am a follower who likes to point out the wrongs.
"Madhu wake up", he nudged me out of a deep slumber. As a result of the unexpected awakening, I posed the most absurd question. "Are we there yet?" Maybe it was not unusual but, I most certainly sounded like a tot.
"Yes, your majesty. We have arrived in the kingdom of Kalsara". The car halted.
I wanted to tell him I did not wish to reign in a land where girls were traded for twenty rupee bills and where mothers' hopes were crushed under the feet of their pot belly pimps and where men with cigars beat men with cigarettes, who beat men with biddis, who together beat the women in their lives. I did not want to be the queen in a city where sisters would haggle tourists for a quickie and brothers would live the high life off the misery of their flesh. But then, I would be a party pooper.
So, I stepped out the car with a hidden vendetta in my heart and a forced smile on my lips. I would not spare the humans who had done this to my Noori. This was an official visit to the Kalsara's juvenile correction facility. Noori was offered temporary shelter at the prison base because no foster families would allow an HIV infected untouchable in their pure homes.
Her cell was in solitary confinement along with the sociopaths, serial killers and rapists lined up across the hall. The poor child did not deserve this treatment but, my heart was content knowing she was safe from the stares and curses of civilization. Her seclusion would allow her time to formulate her thoughts and hopefully, prepare herself for a brighter future.
"Careful, she can be violent at times", a well-meaning officer had perhaps forgotten prisoner number of the child I was about to visit. There was no way Noori could be aggressive.
When I entered the cell, the scenery reflected in my eyes a history was repeating itself. They were the same drawings of Goddess Belema, the same scribbles: I am sin, a sinner and I seek repentance. The inerasable events from ten years ago flooded my consciousness.
I vividly remember that obese priest demanding the filthy women be thrown out the colony. It was an uproar on the outskirts of Sonagachi. Goddess Belema had come to him in a dream telling him those who were not true devadasis had no right to live in Sonagachi. As the terrified families cursed and cried to the good citizens, NGOs helplessly watched the uprooting of nearly rehabilitated families to deeper clutches of trafficking. The priest was a land mafia trying to transform the brothel into sellable commercial property, making sizable profits o the sale of non-devadasis.
Only when the state intervened did the mob back off. I remember the women repenting for their sins, pleasing the heavens above with self-harm. Is that what this little blessed child was doing?
As I was about to drown under the weight of my secrets, I noticed her pounce on Rishabh, tackling him to the ground with her bony strength.
"Madhu", he flung his arms in the air still not laying a hand on the little girl who could very well have chocked him in a few seconds.
I pulled her away as the prison guards rushed to help. I signalled for Rishabh and the officers to leave. He stood right outside the door refusing to allow a private interaction with the pre-teen on the grounds that, "she is way too dangerous for your delicate beauty".
I knew he was keen on listening in more than the claimed protection. I mean, I saved his ass just minutes ago.
"Noori", I apprehensively advanced one hand in her direction. She took my arm and wrapped it around herself, almost waiting for me to retaliate. When she confirmed I would not retreat from her touch, she buried herself in my chest and wept. She wept until the tears dried out and Rishabh maintained a serine expression looking in from behind the bars. I was running my hands through her hair but, applying balm on two injured hearts. I felt a strong connection that I was healing Rishabh, that my taking him there was changing something.
"Mum", she whispered looking in every direction for a sign of her beloved mother. I had to break another bad news but now was not the time.
"We are going to get you to mum soon. First, we should get to a doctor and have you start on pills".
I remembered from my days in Sonagachi, Chandni had the hardest time getting Noori to visit the NGO doctors. She would hide in the brothel home next door, pretend to be sick, run away with the rickshaw walas, do anything to avoid an injection. Even her oral polio drops were a battle of their own. I could write a book on how naughty this child was, I had seen her grow up.
Today, in this state of darkness, her resistance was subtle but present. She changed the topic of conversation from her looming medical condition to the unnamed stranger staring through the bars.
"Who is he? Tera marad?"
(Is he your man?)
"Haaye, abhi toh nahi par iraade kuch issi tarah ke hai".
(Not yet but, I do have the intentions).
There he went again with his cheesy ways. I insisted Rishabh take us to a low profile rented property. As comforting as five star hotels sound, going there with Noori would only call for unwanted attention.
To be continuedā¦ā¦ā¦..
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
