Kanya story

Kanya story

Kanya: A young married women in her late twenties had lost all the glow of face with no twinkle in her eyes that girls of her age had.  It’s the time for the Durga Pooja celebration; hence she is all prepared to go out for gathering some stuff for the Pooja.

She comes out of her building and signals a cab to stop, gets inside, and seems to be lost in her thoughts.

The driver asks him: Madam: Kaha Jana h? She comes back to reality with a jerk and says,” Bada bazar le lo!!” On the way, she witnesses a wedding procession and is again lost in thoughts thinking about her wedding day.

She looked lovely in the new red sari which her father had bought for her.  The phere were about to start, and she was filled with both anticipation and excitement. Dada, as she fondly called him, loved Kanya dearly and had agreed for her marriage to Vinod, a guy with a charming personality and the love of her life. In fact he was perfect husband material. By tonight she would be all hiss as soon as the red vermillion is applied in her hairs.

She was able to hear the ringing of the phone from a far distance, and its sound went louder and louder. She listened to a sound: “Madam, Apka phone baj raha h!!” With this, she came back to reality and hastily took the phone from the bag!

“Hello! Kidhar h tu!” Said the voice from the other side with full anger. “Kitni baar bola hai tujhe bina bole mat jaya kar! Samaj ni ata tujhe!!”

“Who main bada bazar ja rahi hu! Pooja ka saman lene!!” said Kanya quietly. “Maaji ko bata kar hi nikali thi. Kaam hote hi aa jaungi.”

“Pohchte hi phone krna! Aur ha location bhej abhi.” She received strict instructions.

“Abhi Taxi mein hu.” Replied Kanya in an irritating way.

“Bhejti h ki nahi.” “Warna ghar aa! Batata hu tujhe.”

“Bhejti hu.” With this, Kanya hung the phone and got immersed in her phone to follow the said instructions.

Yes! That’s her present, which she is bearing from the very first day after marriage. Soon after their first night, she woke up early and went to take a bath. As soon as she came out, Vinod was sitting on the bed, looking furious.

She went close to him and asked, “Kya hua! Sab theek h!”

“Tumhare papa ko samaj nahi ata kya! Naak kata di hamari rishetydaro ke samane.”

“Aisa kya hua Vinod,” Kanya asked surprisingly.

My relatives were asking us what the bride brought. My mother is upset about everything. She didn’t like clothes, jewelry, nothing, we didn’t ask for much; however, your father should’ve thought about everything”. Said Vinod feeling hurt.

“Dowry ki baat kaha hui thi Vinod! Aise kaise bolu main!” replied Kanya furiously.

“Baat kya honi h issme! Samajne ki baate h yeh toh! He was an A-grade officer and he could have done better.” Ek kaam karo! Tum papa ko phone karke 3-4 lakh manga lo.” Said Vinod in a calm voice.

Kanya was shocked to hear this, “What are you saying, Vinod! Abhi kaise! Shaadi mein itna kharcha hua h! Aur dahej kit toh kuch baat bhi nahi hui thi.”

“Ab love marriage h! Hum thodi na manenge! Who toh tumhre pitaji ko samajna chaiye!” replied Vinod in a high voice.

“Theek h mai baat krti hu.” Kanya replied slowly. She turned her back to go out of the room, and Vinod started saying, “Aur yeh Rajiv kon h! Badi has has ke baat kar rahi thi tum use! Yeh sab pasand nahi mujhe bata deta hu!” Ab se jaha bhi jaungi mujhe bata kar jana.

Before Kanya said something, Vinod opened the door and went out of the room in a rather furious manner.

Since then, the drama within the house was there every day. One day Vinod came to the house drunk and beat her badly! She cried the full night. Even MIL supported her! In the past six months, these episodes were almost frequent. Sometimes for dowry and most of the time on account of his doubtful nature.

He kept a watch on all her movements! It did not allow her to go alone anywhere! Even if she went out, then she needed to click a photo of the location and send it immediately.

In short, her life was a living hell! Once chirpy and happy, Kanya turned into an object of molestation and everyday taunts/beatings.

She returned from the market and straight away when inside her room and don’t know when she falls asleep. When she woke up, it was dark in the room, and she heard voices outside.

“Vinod! Dhyan rakhna kerosene kapde pe pura laga ho! Lakdi ek dum se jalni chaiye or lambe time tak bhi.”

“Ma, are you sure about this? Agar padosio ko pata lag gaya toh?

“We’ll all end up in jail.” His voice sounded feeble and pleading.

Jail?? Thought Kanya and suddenly, the reality struck her hard. Kanya was shocked! This was the man whom she had loved dearly once and had given up her family, career and everything for him. And he was ready to kill her!!!

She was about to burst into tears but then heard Durga Pooja arti in far distance. The same one which her teacher had taught her. She found a sudden calmness within her and also a sense of power.

Kanya got up and opened the door of her room.

Maroge mujhe! Maro abhi Maro!

Agar pass bhi aye na toh chila chila ke padosiyo ko bula dungi.

Aur tum kya mujhe chodoge! Main tumhe chodti hu! Thukharti hu main yeh rishta jisme na toh pyar h nahi izzat!

Saying this she left out of the house

Although it was dark but she was not afraid. She was filled with renewed courage and hope for a better life.

She kept on going in the dark roads not afraid of anything!

Her heart skipped a bit! She prayed to god that whatever she is thinking

Suresh, make sure the kerosene is soaked into the wood, boy. It has to catch fire quickly and burn for a long time,” she instructed.

Burn valuable wood in the middle of the night? For what purpose?

Tiny beads of sweat showed on Suresh’s wide forehead as he crouched on the floor beside the logs, still wearing the sky-blue pajamas he’d worn to bed. He appeared shaky, anxious, as he looked up at his mother. But then, he was always like that around his mother. “Amma, are you sure about this? What if the neighbors suspect something?”

“Don’t be silly,” snorted Amma. “They’re all fast asleep.”

“What if they inform the police?”

“Stop worrying over nothing, boy.”

“We’ll all end up in jail, Amma.” His voice sounded feeble and pleading.

Jail? Megha’s heart missed a solid beat. What kind of illegal business was her husband getting himself into? And his own mother was leading him into it? How come Suresh had said nothing to Megha, his wife? She would have talked him out of it in a minute. But then, he was always Amma’s little boy, hanging on her every word—too stupid to think for himself.

Amma slapped Suresh’s shoulder, making him lurch forward and nearly fall on his face. “Don’t be an idiot, Suresh. Do you see a single light on in any of the neighbors’ homes?”

“That does not mean someone is not awake, Amma,” he argued weakly.

“Nonsense! Besides, we don’t socialize with any of those low-caste people. They don’t even know u

Suresh, make sure the kerosene is soaked into the wood, boy. It has to catch fire quickly and burn for a long time,” she instructed.

Burn valuable wood in the middle of the night? For what purpose?

Tiny beads of sweat showed on Suresh’s wide forehead as he crouched on the floor beside the logs, still wearing the sky-blue pajamas he’d worn to bed. He appeared shaky, anxious, as he looked up at his mother. But then, he was always like that around his mother. “Amma, are you sure about this? What if the neighbors suspect something?”

“Don’t be silly,” snorted Amma. “They’re all fast asleep.”

“What if they inform the police?”

“Stop worrying over nothing, boy.”

“We’ll all end up in jail, Amma.” His voice sounded feeble and pleading.

Jail? Megha’s heart missed a solid beat. What kind of illegal business was her husband getting himself into? And his own mother was leading him into it? How come Suresh had said nothing to Megha, his wife? She would have talked him out of it in a minute. But then, he was always Amma’s little boy, hanging on her every word—too stupid to think for himself.

Amma slapped Suresh’s shoulder, making him lurch forward and nearly fall on his face. “Don’t be an idiot, Suresh. Do you see a single light on in any of the neighbors’ homes?”

“That does not mean someone is not awake, Amma,” he argued weakly.

“Nonsense! Besides, we don’t socialize with any of those low-caste people. They don’t even know u

she came to her room demanding for some money to start a new business.

“Abhi kaha se lau main! Kitna kharcha ho gaya h shaadi mein.”

Tere baap ne kaha tha 1o lakh dene ko! Kaha h woh!

Aisi kaha baat hui thi.

I woke up early in the morning filled with anticipation and excitement. The orange red hues filtered through the dust motes in the air. The ceremonial application of turmeric to my body would begin in three hours. I skipped out of bed to wear the new sari my father had bought for me. By tonight I would have red vermillion in the parting of my hair and leave for my new home. I am 16 and ready to leave my village of Raipurana [in the state of Uttar Pradesh] to go with my husband to Rajokri [New Delhi].