A New Dawn
( This is a fictitious story and any resemblances to anyone living is purely coincidental )
Rose remembers it raining . The clouds had been gathering since the evening , and the thunder was audible above the din of the wedding .
Then , later as she sat in the tiny corner of the railway station bench , the downpour had started ,the sharp crackle and flash of the lightning , tending to reveal too much .
There was no time to cry or ruminate .There was only one thing to do . Hide .
A dark train was sitting idle on the station , water running in rivulets across the face of the air conditioned coaches . The passengers had alighted .
So , she waited for the train to move . It did , in a minute, with a lurch and a sharp whistle .
Then she saw the unreserved compartment , and leapt into it . In her faded salwaar kameez , with a shawl covering her head , she could be any one . On a wooden bench , someone had made place for her to sit , dripping , miserable .
In her anonymity , lived her safety .
She had no idea where she was hurtling to , what life would lead to next . In her heart she knew , whatever it was , it will be better than the future her parents had planned for her .
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Last week everything , was in place . Last week , Rose or Roshni as she was known then , was the hockey captain . She was the best student and drama enthusiast . Roshni was the apple of her teachers’ eyes .
She had everything going for her . Then , Subhankar came . Her cousin . He held hushed and whispered conferences with Amma and Babujee . Roshni didn’t think much of it . People in the village were free to behave wierdly if they wanted to , she had a match to play . Little did she know , it was going to be the last match of her life .
Wednesday , the moment she came back from school , she bumped into Subhankar again . He was grinning from ear to ear , displaying his paan eaten teeth . He was carrying a basket covered with red cloth into babujee’s room .
It was full of banknotes .
Motu told her , after dinner . “They also fixed your marriage .” Motu revealed in between bites of roti . He sounded non chalant .
The world went dark for Roshni . Marriage ? who with ? Why ? when? Oh God ? what about my class eight exams? What about my hockey championship ? How could this be happening to her ?
.” At least let me finish my exams . “ Roshni had howled on the kitchen floor . Her mother just shrugged “ I don’t know beta . It is a good match . We came to know through Subhankar .”
“And he has also paid babujee’s old debts .” Maa tried to reason with her .
So what if his debts are paid once ? He will accrue more debt by drinking again . “And beating you again ?” She spoke the last sentence aloud .
“Shut up !!” Her mother had suddenly screamed . “You have no right to talk like that about your father .” The loyalty game again .
“That’s right . Go defending your beatings . “ Roshni screamed right back . All her frustrations spiralling in her bosom like a dark tornado , out of control .
After this , Roshni pushed her plate away . And huffed back to her room .
“ So you are actually going .” Motu had come and stood in her doorway , plate in hand . He spoke between mouthfuls .The miserable wretch .
“I will break your head .” Roshni had screamed , looking for a weapon to fling at him . . Maa had intervened , saving her” ladla “ , playfully trying to whack Motu on the head with the chimta “Chup kar “ . Then she smiled .
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“She actually smiled .Why is everyone a villain in my life ? Tell me devi , am I adopted ? ” Roshni cried infront of Devi , her classmate and a dear friend .
Devi was the only one in whole of Joganpura , who thought like Roshni . Who thought an education , a degree , and a good job was more important than a houseful of runny nosed kids and the burden of a drunk husband .
“What did you say his name was again ?” Devi was sharp , and lost no time in googling up Mr Husband . It says here he is 45 years old .
“Hey Bhagwaan ! They are marrying me off to a budda . Wait a minute , Babujee is 45 years old .”
“Gather your wits around you drama Queen . you have to have your wits around you now , henceforth . All the time “ Devi was the only one to give her sane advice .
“He might be a drunk or divorcee . There must be something wrong with him , to have offered 3 million for you , and to have not married till now .”
Roshni sat in a heap . A puddle of despair . She should hang herself , she thought . That seemed the only way out .
“Shut up !” Devi could read her mind .
“That is the way of cowards . And you , Roshni Singh , are no coward . “
“Then what should I do ? “
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Devi and she had gone to the school principal . She had promised to talk to Babujee , but nothing came out of it . Same with the hockey coach . They were at their wits’ end . She knew it was no use talking to her violent and usually drunk father . It was no use talking to the other elders too . It was not just futile , it was positively dangerous too .
Guests had begun pouring in , from the neighbouring villages . There was non stop feasting , singing , and rituals going on in the house . Paradoxically , it is this gathering of the humungous clan that enabled Roshni’s escape .
On the final day , with her hennaed hands , having rid herself of fine saree and gold , Roshni retired to her room, on pretext of using the loo , escaped outside . She stood shivering in the stiff night breeze , looking back , one last time and then ran .
She had decided not to involve Devi in her escape too .She didn’t even carry her phone . No loose ends .
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Ticketless and wet , Roshni landed in the megapolis of New delhi , in the wee hours of the morning . It was easy to be lost . Feverish and miserable , she didn’t know where to go and whom to trust .
At first Roshni survived for few days with a gang of beggars on the station itself . Very generously , they shared their food and shelter with her . No questions asked . The city is known to attract human flotsam everyday . Roshni was just a statistic .
She was scared to go to the police for help . What if her photo is circulating in the’ thana” missing person’s notice board ? She would keep away from the travellers and crowds . What if someone was on the lookout and recognized her ?
It was a hot and sultry day . Roshni was sitting in the far end of the station with a group of grimy ragpickers . A seemingly educated lady came towards them , striding purposefully . The others ran .
Roshni had heard whispers “ Isai bana degi , bhaago.” ( She will convert you to christianity , run ) Roshni didn’t run . Where others saw danger , Roshni saw an opportunity .
The lady walked upto Roshni and demanded her name . Roshni found herself stuttering . Then , all her pent up emotions got better of her , and she fell to the feet of the lady , weeping hysterically.
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What followed next was like a prayer come true .
Roshni was traumatised and could barely speak for the first few days . Nuns took her in . Spoke kindly to her and nursed her .
Once , having recovered from her fevers and deliriums , she told them that she could read and write . This overjoyed her caretakers . She was given the clerical responsibility at the convent . Maintaining books . Reading out aloud to other orphans .
It was a missionary orphanage .
Then , one day , she was called by Father , to decide if she would like to be converted . That is how Roshni became Rose . She cut up her hair to a smart bob and started wearing skirts instead of the salwaar kameezes .
She was found to be myopic and had to get a pair of glasses made .
Upon request , she was allowed to finish her education at the convent school , run by the nuns . Then she appeared for the Angan wadi exam . Clearing it in the first attempt , she was assigned to vaccinate the rural kids of villages , after training by the Primary Health Centre .
As fate would have it , she was allotted the village of Joganpura .
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Sitting on the same railway staion bench, three years later , Rose , the anganwadi worker , in bob hair , glasses , white coat and supreme confidence , was a different person altogether .
Rose took a deep breath of the marigold scented air , as she got up and walked towards the village , her vaccination kit in hand , and her assisstant Tushar walking a few paces behind .
She was sure no one in Joganpura could recognise her anymore . She couldn’t recognise herself in the mirror .
She was an independent woman and paid taxes to the nation . She was not the weeping and heartbroken Roshni who had run . She was a bold Rose who had returned .
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