A Wicked Deed and a Dream for Atonement

Mini was a girl from a poor family. Due to the killing poverty, they could manage two square meals a day with much difficulty. They also belonged to the lowest strata of the society because of their caste. The society had thrown them out of the mainstream. As a result they had their small thatched hut at the outskirts of the town where they lived in a ghetto type settings along with other poor people also of low castes. Mini's father was a tenant farmer who served as a Labourer in the rich farmer's lands when there was work available for him. So his income was erratic. He supplemented his income by working as a scavenger for the municipality 

Mini helped her mother to collect firewood from the nearby forest . This was a regular routine of theirs because they had no other means to cook food. This was her daily job as she had no other work. Mini had no opportunity to go to school because the school was at a distance from their house. Going to school alone so far away was not safe for a girl from the lower caste. The government made promises to create opportunities for the downtrodden people like Mini but it had not seen the light of day. There was no visible attempt to increase the security of these outcasts. They belonged to the most vulnerable section of the society. Specially the women were always target for exploitation from the men of higher castes. 

Ajay, Ravi and Anil were good friends. They were all from upper castes and their position in the society was well established . Armed with smart phones they had plenty of time to enjoy browsing through the social media sites. The data packs are available cheap and Internet is full of interest. They had developed fondness in viewing videos meant to be watched with discretion and maturity. Constantly streaming such videos had aroused in them animal like spirits. Now they wanted to casually experiment it on a live bait and satisfy their hunger. 

They knew girls from the poor, low caste families are easy targets for venting such satisfaction. Even law has a bias dealing with these poor people. The enjoyment and lust could easily be absorbed by a girl from the lower strata of the society. 

The three of them knew that the nearby forest was the ideal place as it was desolate and remote. Far from the watchful eye of the town folk, sinister deeds could be enacted with elan with little or no consequence. 

Mini's movements caught the attention of the three friends. From a vantage point they kept close observation over Mini. But she was always accompanied by her mother. 

One day they got their chance. The mother left Mini alone and went back to the town. Seeing the opportunity all three of them jumped into the action. They had become like wild beasts. Mini alone could not resist the three on her own. For almost an hour all the three took by turn to defile her. They tore her clothes and remembering what they had seen in the video, took turns and raped her till she bled profusely and finally lost consciousness. 

Feeling thoroughly enjoyed and savouring every moment they felt emboldened by their work. But having done the deed they felt afraid if somebody saw them then they would be disgraced. So they quickly left the spot leaving Mini to herself and ran away. 

Out of the three Anil was a little different . He was a pious religious type, being well groomed by his God fearing mother. He could not reconcile with the dastardly act that he had committed. He had acted on the heat of the moment without realising the consequences and on the prodding by the rest. The guilt was upon him. His conscience would not rest him in peace. Constantly the fear laden face of Mini was cropping up in his mind . How she had suffered the onslaught of the three marauding boys and she had been helpless throughout. 

That night Anil slept badly. He had a dream where the fear stricken face of Mini was coming up frequently. An unknown bass voice was telling him to take the responsibility of the girl and not dump her. This voice was so powerful that Anil had to take notice of. He got up in the middle of the night sweating. Anil was being constantly harked upon to make Atonement for the sin committed. 

Then a couple of days passed and situation did not improve for Anil. He distanced himself from his friends, his accomplices in the crime. The news of the rape was out boldly in the newspapers. The girl was in a very bad condition. Though she had survived and had been given treatment and released from the health centre. But she was badly traumatised. As she belonged to the downtrodden section of the society, the Police had registered a case but were not following it up vigorously. 

Then when it became too much to bear for Anil, he thought of taking his own life. He could not overcome the pain of the girl so he wanted to end his life. And he had another dream. As he had become so weak in his mind and was hallucinating, his mind was giving way for dreams to influence his thoughts. He was being told to take the full responsibility of the girl and by doing that Anil would be atoned of the misdeed. 

Then, Anil took the bold step, the boldest he had taken in his life. Without informing his guardians and taking their consent he went straight to Mini's House. He knew the consent from his kin would never come. So he knew that the way forward in life was his own. 

He went straight face to face with Mini and asked her forgiveness. Mini recoiled in horror seeing Anil. Temporarily she was pulverised and shouted this boy was one of them who had repeatedly defiled her. Her kin gathered around Anil and vented their pent up anger fully on him. Anil got the thrashing of his life. Blows and kicks rained on him for an indefinite time. He began bleeding and was losing consciousness. 

A woman's heart is soft and she is more prone to show compassion than a man. For the time being forgetting her trauma, Mini sided with Anil to protect him from the raining blows . The people attacking Anil were in a frenzy and they were in no mood to reason. Horrified seeing Anil bleed so, Mini threw herself upon him and clutched him with her whole self trying to cover him with her whole body. Only then did the frenzy stop and Anil could breathe easy although he was barely conscious and was in immense pain. 

The news of the onslaught on Anil spread through the little town like fire. After all he belonged to a higher caste and was being thrashed by a group consisting of people from the lower strata of the society. This was unbearable. Within no time a huge crowd of people from the upper caste gathered with crude arms. They were shouting like mad. They wanted Anil to be handed over to them along with the girl, Mini. The group from Mini's side was trying to resist but were soon outnumbered.

Mini was dragged out and no one from her kin could save her. She was shouting and yelling on the top of her voice. She was trying to resist but unable to do anything was dragged like a sack and was tied to a tree trunk. Her parents were crying and howling out to save their girl. By this time Anil was being looked after and taken care of. After recouping a little, he found that his own group of people were baying for the blood of Mini. He realised that with this violent onslaught she would not survive and would be lynched by the crazy mob in no time. 

Then to the utter surprise to his own group, Anil jumped in front of Mini and covered her full body by his own by tightly embracing her. The mob was utterly taken aback by this act of sacrifice from a upper caste member for a lower one. 

The Police soon came and saved the day for both the groups. Someone had informed them and to everyone 's surprise they took action promptly which they rarely do. When castes are at war the Police take time to act. The force came, fired two three rounds in the air and the warring mob dispersed. Only the bloodied bodies of Mini and Anil lay sprawled on the ground both in a semi conscious state. Both were abandoned by their respective kin. No one wanted to attract further complications in this inter caste dispute. 

A Father from the local church was passing by. He took pity on both of them and seeing them lying in a pool of blood in a semi conscious state did his bit to help them. With the help of his church group he brought both Anil and Mini to the church where he ensured medical care for them. In a few days both of them recovered to a large extent and had almost become normal. But their troubles were far from over. 

A rumour was spreading through the town that there was forced conversion taking place in the church and Anil and Mini were the ones being converted. A huge group both from the upper caste and the lower caste assembled in front of the church shouting anti conversion slogans on top of their throats. Rarely such unity is seen among castes as was being observed now. Law and order break down was feared. The Father called the Police who quickly took action and dispersed the crowd. Before leaving, the Police gave a cautionary advice to the Father. They said not to hold on to the two, Anil and Mini and let them go immediately for the safety of the church. 

Feeling helpless and tied up the Father let Anil and Mini go on their own journey of life. Strange, a rapist and his victim were united in a rare union having been discarded by their own people. 

Anil was musing on the strange twists his life was taking. All because of his wicked vice and its humbling consequences. He had to atone for his sins and so he could not dump Mini unceremoniously. She was now a part of his life. Mini was too dazed to think or talk. She had no other choice but to lay her faith in Anil, her one time tormentor. But recent actions of his had helped develop a certain amount of trust and admiration for the boy who seemed more about her age. 

Father had been kind enough to give them little money and few days of dry food. With the money Anil and Mini took a bus to the hill stations situated on the foot hills of the Himalayas. Anil thought that life is more peaceful there and with his education he would start his tuition classes. Mini could look after the household and later on they would marry. Mini was very excited when she learnt that Anil would marry her. Anil had a wheat like complexion and was good looking and Mini began liking him. Mini was dark with a sweet smiling face but with a firm, tight, womanly contoured torso. She was just a teenager but her body had much developed that Anil had admired from his first contact with her. Now there was only love for her as she had a such a sweet innocent face and she was so unaware of her sensuousness that Anil liked so much. 

They got down at the first station at the foothills and found a Ashram. Anil thought they could get shelter for a few days and then move on. The Ashram welcomed them. Anil and Mini felt happy for the first time together. It would have been a happy stay except for one incident which unplugged the ghost of the earlier bad days. 

All the inmates were male and leading a life of celibacy and God seeking. But sometimes it becomes difficult to leave the worldly temptations behind. One such inmate was having this trouble. As already said Mini was naturally imbibed by a wonderfully chiselled voluptuous body at such a young age. Only a teenager but she had a a natural buxom, sensuous body bursting out at the seams from the ill draped torso. 

This inmate was having trouble in continuing his celibacy on seeing Mini. He started voyeurism that is secretly keeping a watch on Mini while she was bathing in the open stream and while bringing water by carrying an urn on her deeply curved waist. Once he couldn't get better of his emotions he went from behind and caught hold of the wet body of Mini while she was bathing . Taken by surprise Mini gave a full throated shout. The sound echoed with double the intensity in the quiet hilly region. Anil heard the shriek from Mini and ran towards the direction of the sound wondering what worse event now had occurred. The inmate hearing the shriek left Mini and ran away. 

Anil found Mini in a state of stupor. How much insults and ignominy she has to withstand in her life. Only nineteen and she has been tormented so much. Anil was feeling guilty once again. He had to do something to remove the fear from her mind. She was young and with good counselling she would definitely overcome all her trauma. But her troubles began with Anil, that's what he thought. 

'Why God has made me this way. I'm the object of male desire and lust. The more I live I will be a trouble to all. No one loves me. What's the point in keeping this body alive,' wailed out Mini. For the first time Anil embraced Mini tightly and caressed her head which was resting on his shoulders.' Who says no one loves you. I love you so much ' Anil consoled her. 

From the warmth of his body and the loving assurance from Anil magically all her troubles had gone. She was beginning to have full faith on Anil who had promised to marry her. She fell down at Anil' s feet and let her head touch it in reverence. 'You are my God. You have given me a new life,' happily said Mini. Anil felt embarrassed for the first time and lifted Mini and again hugged her and this time lightly kissed her. Anil also felt wonderful from the warmth of the young body of Mini. 

The head of the Ashram apologised deeply for the misbehaviour towards Mini. Their Ashram had been defamed. They had expelled that culprit from the Ashram forever. One who cannot control the vices has no right to a monastic life. The Ashram head said forcefully. 

There was a Kanya Ashram or the hermitage for women little up the hill in the forest. Mini and Anil were sent there from this Ashram. It was a hermitage where only women were the inmates. There was no risk for Mini now. 

The lady ashram then helped rehabilitate Anil and Mini. They were married in a simple ceremony in the Shiv Kali temple in the Ashram. From here they began a new Happy married life finally permanently burying the trauma of the past. Mini was very happy and proud to have a husband like Anil. For Anil who thought and hoped that he had made the Atonement of his sins by finally giving a dignified life to his now wife Mini. 

For Anil whom life had begun with rape could now enjoy unlimited sexual happiness in an authorised and unfettered marriage. For Mini now it was a consensual relationship with Anil whom she considered her God and Anil would not have to take recourse of coercion in his sexual desire. What a dramatic change for the twenty something Anil. Life had started in a bitter way now had sweetened. But he was lucky to have escaped the clutches of the legal handle because the rape case convicts are now facing capital punishment. This truly ghastly deed has matured both Anil and Mini in their respective ways. For Mini it could not have been a better change in life minus the initial trauma. Because from her parents she could not have got such a better life.