A new horizon

The child was playing on the pavement. She was crawling with her limping leg and a mild disability in her left hand. Mother Minati had a vigilant eye on her while cooking. In the morning she puts hot water in a pot on fire to cook rice .Also boils four to five potatoes with rice. While the rice boils, she changes her saree, comb her hair. Minati brought the child from the pavement and fed her some puffed rice with water. The child Kuni was reluctant to eat. When she started forcing, Kuni cried. However, she managed to feed some stuff and dressed her for going out with her. Few months back, Minati joined as a daily wage laborer in a prawn factory. Every day, She takes Kuni with her as there was nobody to look after her at home. After finishing household chores, she will pack her lunch to her workplace. 

Minati's job responsibility was to clean the prawn by removing the hard Shell and head from it. She is a contract labourer, she gets her payment according to the amount of work she does. That day, when she reached the factory, she could see the main gate was locked and few women like her are waiting outside. Minati could not understand anything and asked the fellow workers the reason. They told the factory is closed due to some conflict between the owner and the labourers. Hence the labour union locked the factory from outside. Minati waited there for 2-3 hours, but could not get any clear information. She then thought to leave for her home.

Her home, is that home? Minati was thinking. She stays in a place that is around fifty square feet. The wall is constructed with used banners and the roof is tarpaulin. It is adjacent to a big shop on a marketplace of Bhadrak. The wall of that shop serves as one side of her hut. The asbestos sheets of the shop cover half of the small hut providing partial support to Minati's house. For the rest of the part, a tarpaulin sheet serves as a roof. Mini was thinking about her life a year back. 

She and her husband Ramesh were staying in his village. Minati has a mild locomotor disability in her leg. Inspite of that she worked very hard at her in-law's place. Apart from cleaning, cooking, serving, she had to work in their agriculture field. Also, she used to do all the processes for preparing rice from paddy. Minati's husband and Mother- in - law always taunt her, finding fault with her. She neither protest nor was vocal enough to convince them of any injustice. Many a time she sobs silently. There was nobody to support her. Her parents were neither economically so well off to take her responsibility nor strong to say anything to her husband and in-laws.

 Minati's first child was born to her, after two years of her marriage. The child has a cute face with prominent features. The tiny fingers in the hands and feet were cute. But that child had problems in the limb and in the palm. The first sight of the baby gave a different type of feeling for Minati. When She hold the baby a different type of satisfaction was there.

On the other hand, observing the deformities of the baby, her husband and in- laws became very disappointed. The child was a baby girl. His disappointment turned into hatred. He told Mini to abandon the baby. Even he wanted to kill her. But Minati was so charmed by the baby that, she couldn't. 

How can she abandon ? She is the Mother. 

Her attachment due to love for her child is unconditional and unmatched.

When Minati refused the proposal of Ramesh, the pressure was on her a lot. Initially, Minati thought things will change to a better situation. But her mother-in-law and Ramesh both were adamant not to keep that baby girl. They started torturing with pressurizing her to leave the girl child, "Kuni". When Minati did not agree, they asked her to leave their house. But she tolerated everything. 

One day Minati could not find her child after returning from the bath. She became suspicious and ran towards the entrance of their house. She could see her mother-in-law was proceedings on the way towards the river. She ran and could catch her within few minutes. When Mini reach and ask about Kuni, her MIL denied that she did not know about the child. Mini using her foresight, could suspect that the child is with her MIL, and she has some bad internation. Minati snatched the bag and searched the bag that was held by her MIL. The child was inside that bag. Mini pulled out the child and ran from that place. Her MIL could not say anything as people were working nearby.

 Now it is high time to leave, Minati thought and said to herself. She ran to her home, packed few things as quickly as possible, and left before her husband and other family members arrive. First she went to her parent's place. Her parents were surprised to see her in such a distressed condition. She was in a state of shock. After settling down for some time, she shared about all that has happened. Mini's parents were sad to listen everything. They consoled her. But were not very happy of her homecoming, as both Mini and Kuni will be  burdon to them. However, they did not say much. After staying for few days, she could feel that her presence is not wholeheartedly welcomed by her brother and sis-in-law. She could see there was no work for her from which she can earn in her village. Hence she decided to leave that place. But this time she has to take this step in a planned manner. 

 

Before her marriage, she was a member of a people's organization, who works for persons with disability. Few of the members are still in her village. She contacted them and seek their help. After listening to her story, they suggest her to lodge a case against her in-laws. But she was scared about police and court case. With some counseling, Minati could gather courage to do so. She also searched for a job. Economically independence was badly needed. Now she has made up her mind to lodge an FIR in the police station. With the help of those members, she took the initial step. She wrote a complaint letter to human rights commission also. 

It was not that easy for a woman like her to take such steps. She had to be brave and use her brain to choose the appropriate way. After taking such steps, she sincerely searched for a job. Finally, after trying a lot, Minati could find a job in the prawn factory, which was in the near by town. The town was around 50 kilometres from her village. It was not possible for her to go and return daily. She thought to sift to the town. 

But where to stay? Can she afford a rented house? No, she can't. Not in this stage. It was too difficult to arrange a house in the nearby town. But she has to. She went to the town and searched a lot. After two-three days, she could understand that it is impossible to find free or low-cost accommodation. She knocked door to door but in vain. While returning, feeling hopeless , she saw a person with torned dress and bearded face smiling at her. It was going to be dark and she has to catch the last bus . Holding her daughter Kuni, she was taking long steps. She was in a hurry. She could hear that person calling by her name. She looked back. Was he Sana from her village? He came near her and asked, "Mini Dei, what are you doing here". 

Mini could not say much, only told " I am searching for a house here to stay". Sana was three years younger than her in her school. So he relates with her as elder sister.

Sana with his peculiar get up and behavior known as a mad man for all. Sana told, "I am staying here in this bus stand".He showed Minati his hut made out of tarpaulin, paper and old banners. "I can arrange this type of house for you " But is that a place to stay. Minati could not think to live in such a house. That day she was scared to see him and his house. By the time the bus reached the stand and Minati got into it hurriedly just waving her hand for him.

Minati's thought process is interrupted by Kuni's cry. Now she could see the factory owner and labourers are arguing. By the time a police van has also reached. Anticipating violence, Mini exit from that place silently. If the factory closes, she will lose her job. Again a new problem to search a job. She returned home with a heavy heart. Her neighbor the old lady Sara mausi asked what has happened. Mini shared with her the issue with tears in her eyes. Sara mausi told "can you work as a domestic help, I know a family who needs a cook"

Mini's eye lit up with some hope. At least she can get some immediate help and can feed her baby. She told 'yes' nodding her head.