“I am sorry but I can’t resist myself, your presence makes me wild.” Aarav shot his best arrow; he knew complimenting her would take her mind of his doings.
“If he finds out he will kill me,” Aarti couldn’t control herself, tears began rolling from her eyes and she looked very beautiful like this.
Aarav was shocked to see her cry, he couldn’t remember when he saw her crying last time, he knew she was a strong girl and she wouldn’t ever cry for such a small thing, he knew something was troubling her. Aarav felt very bad for her, he has always seen her as a strong girl much stronger than him but seeing her cry like this he felt very protective and caring towards her. He lifted her by the arms and hugged her tightly.
“No, get away from me, he will kill me.” Aarti pushed her brother away.
“Who” Aarav was confused why she was acting like this.
“I can’t…” Aarti suppressed her voice when he saw her father standing at the doorway.
“Why aren’t you sleeping, its midnight.” her father hissed looking right in her eyes.
Aarav sensed something odd so he decided to step in. “there’s lot of mosquitoes; we are not able to sleep.”
“Aarti go out and fetch some dry grass and burn it, it will keep away the mosquitoes.” He said coldly.
Aarav would have felt happy to see her work but not anymore, he realized how she was made to work against her wish, it was a curse to be a girl in India.
Aarti went out of the house, she became anxious when he saw her father following her and silently she began to collect the dry grass near the well, she could sense her father standing behind her. She moved away from him. ‘Wham’ her father slapped her across neck; the force of his hit was so hard that it made her fall on the ground.
“What were you going to say to Aarav, don’t ever dare say anything about it to anyone.” Her father hissed at her, he grabbed her by the
hair and pulled her to her feet.
“You are mine only mine.” He kissed her hard on the mouth sucking at her lips forcibly, she wanted to push him away but she knew he will hit her again if she does that, so she stayed still and let him have his way.
“Go inside and burn the grass,” he said coldly licking his lips taking the remnant of her taste inside his filthy mouth.
Aarti hurried inside taking the dry grass with her. It started when she was barely five; Aarav always remained with his mother, so it left Aarti with her father. He would take her to the farm and he would touch her at places, unknown to the little girl ‘what her loving father is doing’. As she grew so does his obsession towards her, when it was hard to get her to obey him he started hitting her.
“What happened, why are you acting so weird.” Aarav asked her.
“Just go to sleep.” She said coldly without even looking at him, she was trying to hide her tears.
Aarav wasn’t going to give up so easily, he turned towards her and casually put his arms around her, his palm was lying on her belly covered with her blouse, Aarti tried to move away from him but if she moved she would end up on the floor so she remained still not responding to his touch.