Running Away
The following day was her big day. One of the most important days of her life. And yet, she didn’t want tomorrow to come. She didn’t want to close her eyes to sleep. She was afraid if she did, she’d lose the precious hours of freedom she still had.
Tears welled up as she thought of the days to come. She’d be married. Married!
She still have a lot of things to do. She wanted to study more, do a job, earn for herself, travel. But those dreams are far-fetched for her. Her fate had been decided the day she was born. Perhaps even before that. That she was to be a bride. Yet, she couldn’t bring her heart to accept that fate.
Run away!
Her heart screamed at her.
But the logical part of her did know that she had no one to turn to and no money. She had no education. She’d die out there in the world.
Death is better than this. Run.
She went through all the possibilities of what would happen if she did run. And none had a happy ending.
She turned to her side. Her mother was sleeping right next to her. Any movement from her, would stir up mom. And the room was littered with relatives. She can’t run without waking anyone up.
But you got to try. Nothing is worse than this. Hopefully they won’t beat you when you get caught. But hopefully you won’t get caught. Get up. Run.
She slowly kicked off her blankets. She grabbed a scarf and wrapped it around herself. She tip toed around all the relatives, the uncles and aunts and the cousins, second cousins and so on.
Now, how to open the door without waking anyone up.
Her heart beating rapidly against her chest, with shaking hands, she lightly touched the latch.
“Ayyyy….” A shout from behind.
She quickly crouched down and covered her head with her hands, as if expecting to be beat up.
Nothing happened. It was just Ritish uncle sleep talking. Some of the people stirred at the sound but soon went back to sleep.
With only the dim moonlight illuminating the room, she was half sure no one noticed.
She got up and tried the latch again as quietly as possible. The latch opened with a small thud.
She closed her eyes and prayed to god no one awoke from sound. After a few beats, when she was sure no one had woken up, she opened the door slowly and slipped through it.
She let out a huge sigh of relief.
“Where are you going?”
Busted.
“Uhm…water.” She looked down at her feet and wrapped her scarf around her a face a bit tighter. It was her dad. How could she forget that dad had to sleep outside because of lack of space. Dad will surely not tolerate this.
“Okay, get me some too.”
“Okay.” She muttered.
She walked away to get some water from the well.
Run. This is your chance.
And go where? Dad will surely find me if she runs away now.
I can’t run. I have to take care of my brothers and sisters.
And thus she obediently got some water and went to bed.
And before she knew it, it was morning.
She didn’t sleep. She was crying silently the whole night, praying that the day wouldn’t come.
And yet it did.
She was woken up by her mother at the break of dawn. The hustle and bustle of a marriage home was evident in the house. People lining up at the only bathroom of the house, doing various random chores, the chatter and all those usual wedding things.
But her heart didn’t match the excitement around her. She was pushed around by all the elders, many were telling her to do this and do that.
She walked in a daze, allowing herself to be pushed around, still not believing that all this wasn’t a terrible nightmare.
Some shouts and pushes later she found herself in front of the bathroom, with a ton of dresses shoved onto her hand.
“Go and take a bath quickly.” Her mom ordered.
She looked at the dresses she had in her hands. A red saree. She didn’t know to drape a saree. So much different from her usual skirt and top.
She looked at her mom in question.
“Put on your blouse and call me when you are done.”
An hour later, she sat in front of a mirror, her mehandi filled clicking with bangles. Long earrings and a hell lot of heavy ornaments later, she was finally away from the fuss of the elders.
“You look so pretty.” Her mom smiled tearfully. “I almost don’t want to give you up.”
Then why don’t you. I don’t want to marry. I just want to go to school. I want to at least complete my eighth standard.
But she didn’t scream that out loud. Because girls like her didn’t have a voice. She had to do what the man of the house tells. She didn’t have any freedom to choose how she wants her life to be.
And now, she was to go from one hell to another.
If only she had the courage to run away.
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