In The Garb Of A Man

Rashmi shook her head in the narrow confines of her mother’s hug."No Amma, not this time.” “But Why Rashmi! Why are you saying …no? My baby, you have never disobeyed. What has happened?“ Seeing tears in Rashmi’s eyes, she cuddled her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “OK,OK…just let it go. Today perhaps, you are not in your elements. Go inside, change your school uniform, have your food, take rest. Your tuition sir will be coming in an hour time. Read well. Hope you have completed your allotted home work. Close the door now. I shall get some groceries and will be back soon.” Revathy completed in one breath.

She came back from grocery shop, in a short time. She had to do evening rituals before preparing food for the family. As she closed her eyes before the deity to offer puja, she could see the tear filled eyes of her daughter. Perhaps Rashmi wanted to tell her something, but could not utter. She felt like that.”Oh God! What has happened to my chirpy girl? Why she is not her usual self? Help me bring smile back on her lips. I can’t see her sorrow laden face." She whispered to God, as she offered her obeisance.

Rashmi’s annual exams were a week away. Revathy left no stone unturned to see that her daughter secured good marks. She had engaged two tuition masters and kept vigil to ensure that, Rashmi wasted no time. She served her favourite dishes and tried to pamper her mood by bringing cookies, cakes and chocolates for her. Rashmi enjoyed the attention, but knew, she had to do well in the examinations, else has to invite wrath of her mother. Her mother had very high hopes about her and she cannot belie those.

Rashmi’s father worked in another city. The city had a few good schools. For the sake of her education, her mother stayed here. After completing school, she was to join her father and decide about her future. It was a matter of three months. Her maternal uncle visited them regularly as he had his job in a nearby factory. He, being the youngest sibling received all love attention of Revathy. He helped her in running errands too. On Sundays, special dishes were cooked by Revathy and the lunch was elaborate. Sham, her brother, was invited without fail, to savour lip smacking food.

Rashmi’s exam centre was a bit far. So, Revathy had requested her brother to drop her daughter at the hall in time and bring her back home after examinations got over. Sending her daughter alone in a rickshaw was not a safe idea for her. But, Rashmi did not want to go with her uncle. She, repeatedly told her mom to allow her to travel alone for the exam. Revathy could not ascribe any reason for Rashmi’s saying “no” and ruled out her daughter’s request. But, she had no idea that her insistence was the cause of a few saline drops that Rashmi had to shed in silence.

Rashmi had afternoon sitting on the first day of her examination. Last night she was awake to revise and take last minute note of important points. Her tuition sir had marked a few chapters as probables, had prepared her well for the day. Rashmi too had taken him seriously.

Revathy got up early to finish off household chores, so that she could sit with her daughter for the last minute revision exercise. As she proceeded to the study room with a glass of energy drink in her hand, what she saw, unnerved her. Her daughter, vehemently pleading before Lord Ganesh Idol placed on her study table to save her from the clutches of the perpetrator. She had kept her voice low, akin to whisper, so that nobody could listen to what she was saying. She stood near the door for a minute, then hid herself behind the curtains to learn more about what was going on.

”Instead of last minute reading, why she is wasting her time on flimsy thoughts? O God! Please help my child to concentrate and write well, else she would not be able to secure seat in a good college."

“Rashmi! Have the glass of energy drink. Get ready within an hour. Your uncle would pick you up and drop at the location. I have been standing here for some time now. What I find is you are not attentive. I could hear you whispering to Lord Ganesha. How God will help if you do not give your 100%? Look at me now. I am speaking to you."

She turned and looked at her mother. Her eyes were swollen and had turned reddish too. She looked hurt and dismayed.”Rashmi! what has happened my child? In an hour or so, you are to start for the exam. You are not ready it seems. Sham will be reaching soon. Go and wash your face."

On hearing his name, she came rushing and hid her face in her amma’s pallu. ”No amma! I do not want to go with him. Please amma. He is a demon in the garb of my uncle. He is a molester. He has been doing this to me for some time now, when you are not at home. I wanted to tell you, but you were never prepared to listen to me. I can move alone, do not need help."

Revathy stood like block of stone, Her eyeballs were fixed in utter disbelief. “Oh God! Can this be true? My baby has been subjected to so much harassment and trauma, as a mother I could do nothing. I could not come to her rescue even. Shame on me." Wiping her tears of remorse, she deeply hugged her child. “Get ready, I shall take you to the examination hall.”

“Soon, you shall be punished Sham, for your deeds. You shall be abundantly punished not only by us but also by God for tampering with faith and belief, for playing with innocent lives”- Revathy blurted out as she helped Rashmi to comb her hair and have a plait.