Are We Free?

  Whenever I celebrate Independence day, an incident took place a couple of years ago rushes to mind. We all belive that we are the citizens of an independent country. But then I chanced to visit the rural village of Parasgadh and came to know that our belief is absolutely wrong That God-forbidden village is still untouched by the light of freedom and independence.

   The residents of the village are illiterate and had firm faith in the power of black magic and witch craft. And who still believed that they all are the slaves of a local landlord whom the locals addressed as Thakur ji. He was a worshipper of Devil and a devil's incarnation himself! As we all celebrate our nation's Independence day I would like to narrate the tale of Parasgadh. This is the true story of a Ishana, a beautiful young girl in her late teens who used to live in that village.

   On a eerie dark night, Ishana woke up in a burial ground. The time was around midnight and she could see pyres buring all around. She found herself dressed in a red saree and a golden blouse and a pair of matching red stilletos in her feet. Her arms were filled with dozens of red bangles and she was dressed up like a bride. She had been lying unconscious within a circle made of ash since last several hours.

   As soon as she returned to her senses, a shocked and petrified Ishana looked around. She could see human skull, bones, blood, ashes and all those things that are used in performaning some black magic rituals. Ishana had no memory of how she reached here. She tried to recollect whatever happened to her during the day.

   She remembered that she had acted as a freedom fighter in a play that was staged among one of the cultural programmes during Independence day celebration in her school. The school was owned by Thakur ji. The play won the first prize and her performance was applauded by everyone. After the celebration was over late in the evening, Ishana was called to the Principal's office. As Ishana entered the cabin she noticed that school's lady doctor was also sitting across the table in the Principal's cabin.

Her Principal Madam said, "It was a wonderful performance Ishana. Have a cold drink while I talk to Doctor Sahiba.

Principal offered her a cold drink that she readily accepted. As she was quietly sipping her cold drink, the Principal got busy with the doctor. But Ishana felt strange as she noticed that both the ladies where stealthily keeping an eye on her. She ignored it and kept on drinking the cold drink. But as she took more and more sips everything around her seem to fade out of her blurred vision. Suddenly she heard both the ladies whisper something while staring eagerly at her. 

Then the Principal asked in a concerned voice, "Are you okay Ishana?

The doctor patted on her cheeks and said, "Please lie down on the couch Ishana... Let me do a quick check up on you!

Both the ladies helped Ishana lie down on the couch. Once she had settled down, Ishana was surprised to see that the doctor hurriedly lifted up her skirt and took her panties off. Then she parted the girl's legs and folded them at the knees. She did a quick examination and then nodded smilingly at the Principal. 

She said, "Tell him that the girl is ready for tonight!

Principal eyes shone out of excitement and she quickly took out her phone and dialled a number.

As soon as the call got connected she mused happily, "Yes Master.. the girl is ready for the ritual... We have made her drink the cold drink that you had brought... she is not going to wake up any sooner than midnight... I know today is the night of lunar eclipse... And you want to make the girl... 

But before Ishana could listen to the whole conversation, darkness took over and the girl passed out. And she had remained so for the last several hours. 

As soon she regained consciousness fear gripped the young girl. 

She told herself, "Oh! Now I know... the Principal and doctor had drugged me and brought me here while I was unconscious. But why? Why had they dressed me as a bride? Why had they left me here in the burial ground? And who is the Master she was talking over the phone? Why had he asked them to knock me out? Whatever...I must get out of here before they come to know that I am awake. Otherwise... Who knows.... What they are going to do to me..!

She hurriedly got up and rushed out of the burial ground. She ran through the desserted road under the pitch black night sky. It was only the sound of her stilletos that echoed in the silence of the night. She had starred panting after running for a while.

  All of a sudden, she was startled to see a bright light. As she turned a luxurious car halted in front of her, blocking her way. One of its windows opened and a face covered with a hood appeared. As soon as Ishana recognised the face, her face became pale. The man in the car fired a dart gun. A syringe filled rushed through the air and pierced through Ishana's neck.

   The syringe was filled with some stupefying drugs made of herbs from the jungle that could make even wild elephants sleep for hours. There was no chance of a petite teenager of staying awake after being shot by such a strong tranquilliser. Ishana felt dizzy and staggered as soon as she was hit by the syringe. The landlord Thakur ji got out of his car and held Ishana's semi consciousness body in his arms. The Thakur was around 45 years old, cruel, arrogant and heartless man!

  At the very moment, moon was covered and lunar eclipse took place. Thakur smiled at the gorgeous young girl lying unconscious in his arms. He cut his hand and let his blood dribble down on unconscious Ishana's forehead and in the partition of her hair. 

Then he said, "The devil has accepted you as his wife Ishana. Now I am going to make you pregnant with devil's child during this auspicious night of lunar eclipse. And then I'll have all the power of black magic!

   The next time Ishana woke up, she found herself on a luxurious bed decorated lavishly with flowers. As she fought with the drug induced haze, she saw Thakur ji hovering over her young, ravishing, semi consciousnes body.

She asked in a dreamy tone, "what are you doing to me Thakur ji?"

Thakur planted a soft kiss on her belly button and said, "just punch a few shots into you... and boom... you pregnant with devil's child! 

Thakur pinned her hands down on the bed and lowered himself to plant a deep passionate kiss on her luscious lips. 

   Only then did Ishana realise that the pallu of her saree was hanging down the bed. And her chest was barely covered with a skimpy brassiere. As soon as she came to her senses, she sat up at once and pulled her pallu and covered her chest. 

A frightened Ishana jumped out of the bed screaming, "No... Let me go!  

Just as Ishana was trying to escape, Thakur grabed her pallu and pulled her saree off. Ishana's body swirlled in the air and fell down on the bed. Thakur immediately pinned her down benath him without giving her any chance to escape. 

Thakur's eyes burnt with anger as he tried to overpower the girl struggling beneath him, "do as I say... Or else I"ll burn your village down!

The very next moment, Ishana felt a deep piercing pain between her legs that made her scream. Ishana knew that it was over and gave up her struggles. The intensity of pain increased with every succeeding blow. Her helpless screams grew louder and louder and then it vaned off as the young girl passed out. 

  When I came to know about girls like Ishana who are forcefully married against their will owing to some silly black magic and subjected to atrocious marital rapes, a doubt arose in my mind.

"Are We really free? If yes, then why did poor Ishana fell prey to a cruel monster? Why was she forced to become his slave against her wish?