So you have finally left this world. The dirty, callous world of the weak. Sorry my dear we could not do anything for you. Not when you were alive and battling for life, not when you were full of life once and not when your life was being ruined. But you are not the only one. You were 23, here are 3 year olds going through the same ordeal. Strangers had violated your body dear one but there are many little girls shamed by their own fathers and brothers. What can you expect of a society where Ma bhen ek kar do, Bhencho..., madarcho... is an expression of anger and something to cheer about in comedies.
Do you know you became Xceptional? The Xtraordinary because you wanted to live despite the barbarism meted out to you. Because we are used to seeing most rape or gang rape victims commit suicide. We are used to shutting up our daughters all the time. So most of them bear the brunt silently and do not raise a voice.
Had you not gone through these unfortunate circumstances you would have got married some day and fasted for your husband on Karva-chauth because his life is precious. And if you had had a son you would have been "Lucky" and "Fortunate" and you would have fasted for your son on the Ahoi Ashtami day.
Would you still have been so Xceptionally courageous to defy the social norms? May be you would have. May be you would have fought for your dignity first. For most of us the need to defy the norms does not arise because our lives go on beautifully...or at least that is what we think.
Beautifully??? Yes. So what if some of us feel 'complete' only after a son is born (after the two daughters). After all we are doing a favour to our girls by bringing a brother in their empty lives, a reason to tie a rakhi. To promise her safety? Or to acknowledge her weakness. To acknowledge her incomplete world.
Sorry dear. Sorry. Apologies a million times to you and all those daughters who have paid with their lives. Dear daughter X, on all your 23 birthdays you would not have lit so many candles as many that are being lit on your death.
In a way I am relieved that you are gone because though your mind was beautiful till the end but your physical body was damaged and unable to go on. May your soul rest in peace before you embark on another journey into this world. And hopefully by that time there will be a changed beautiful world to welcome you.
May be then you would not need a bond of rakhi to get a promise for your safety!!
