Disastrous Divisions

Nandini took her five years old to the school. This was going to be the first step of many more phases to come where Nandini would be sadly reminded of being alone with her daughter. She truly missed her husband, Rahul; her beloved parents and her in-laws. Eight years ago, when she got married, little did she know that they would be together for no more than four years and then Nandini would have to continue all alone. Her eyes turned moist as she recalled the fateful day.

Nandini and Rahul belonged to a conservative section of the society; in their village, people were still discriminated based on caste. People of lower strata of the society were not allowed to enter the homes of those from elite divisions; likewise, even the streets where people lived and the festivals celebrated had boundaries. The disastrous division of castes had significant importance.

Nandini and Rahul’s families did not discourage the two from talking to one another; they were slightly progressive in that sense. However, when Nandini and Rahul shared their decision to get married, the caste took precedence over everything else.  Nandini and Rahul had known each other for close to a decade and had even graduated from the same college with great academic records. They believed they got along really well and hence, getting married was the obvious choice. Not so for the parents of both sides. They vehemently denied the proposal from the children saying it would bring shame to the families in front of all the people in the village.

Nandini and Rahul did not elope; instead, they chose to wait. While they waited, they gave their best to let the parents understand that the caste system is a man-made evil that can only do harm. It had nothing to do with one’s character, pride, and respect. Reluctantly, the parents agreed for their marriage after almost two years of negotiations. Nandini and Rahul took their parents along to the city where they had both found jobs. Everything seemed to fall in place since the families lived happily under the same roof.

When Nandini was pregnant with her first child, the families decided to pay a visit to the village. When the families had left for good post the marriage of Nandini and Rahul, everybody was infuriated that the parents of Nandini and Rahul had broken the code of conduct. None in the village even attended the marriage let alone keep in touch with the family. Except for the parents, the priests, and a few family members, the inter-caste marriage was a deserted one.

To make up for all of it as well as to help people in the tiny town understand that inter-caste marriage is not a bad thing, Rahul and his parents, parents-in-law made up their mind to visit the village. They also ordered a lot of things to take as gifts to their neighbors and friends.  Since Nandini was carrying, she did not accompany the family; she promised to go to the village once she delivered the baby.

A cruel twist of fate had something else in store for Rahul and his whole family. When they entered the village, not many spoke to them. Even those who smiled immediately retreated for the fear of rejection from other people. Nevertheless, Rahul and his family were prepared for it. Just when they were about to enter the home of one of their old friends, a gang advanced towards them and started to beat them black and blue. The harassment continued for hours and very expectedly, Rahul and his family succumbed to the severe injuries. They all died. The monsters announced to the shocked villagers that, this would be meted out to anyone who defied the caste distinction.

Nandini was devastated when she heard the news almost half a day later from a young girl in the village. Within 2 days, she had lost her entire family. Since she was pregnant and fearing the life of the baby growing inside of her, she never stepped into the village again.

Every day that Nandini spent with her daughter, she regretted letting her family go to the village. After the incident, she hated the people, the village, and the evil called “caste” that took lives mercilessly. She laughed at her family’s ignorance that small talk could help people leave caste behind.  Caste, according to Nandini was a cureless disease. One thing she knew was that, as long as such a disastrous division existed no progress could happen.

Nandini chose to be brave and strong. She wanted her daughter to know that her mother brought her up amid all this chaos. She wanted her daughter to fight for a better society.