RECAP

Murali goes to Malini and tells her about Sandhya’s arrest. Malini surmises that this is because she has not paid the inspector his share that month. She goes to the police station and offers him money. He agrees to release Sandhya on the condition of sleeping with her. Sandhya is now completely disillusioned of the concepts like ‘honour’, ‘respect’ and the so-called white-masked figures in the society. She coldly makes love to the inspector. When she reaches the brothel, she finds Bhargava’s car parked outside. Looking forward to share her grief with him, she rushes inside. There she sees him entering Kaya’s room. Sandhya is devastated. She looks at the meat shop. The butcher is discarding stale meat.

CHAPTER 18

Throughout the night, Sandhya remained curled up in a foetal position with her knees buried inside the folds of her stomach. Was she awaiting a new birth? She woke up in the morning with Kaya’s whimpers. She stepped down from her bed and headed towards Kaya’s room. Lying on a crumpled bed sheet partially stained with blood, she was wailing as if in pain.

Sandhya placed her head in her lap and asked, “What happened, dear?”

“Ma! I’m feeling a shooting pain here,” she said touching the right side of her pelvis.

“Since when?”

“Ever since Mr Bhargava slept with me.”

“What? I hope there are no complications,” Sandhya said inwardly, “Not so long ago she miscarried a child. Is it because of that?”

Kaya squealed a little and whined, “Sandhya ma! It’s hurting too much. How many tortures do I have to bear? I don’t want to live. I wanna die.”

“What are you saying, child? Don’t utter such words. Have some patience. Just take a bath and get ready. I’ll take you to the doctor.”

“Aye Sandhya! Where are you two going?” asked Malini as she saw them all fresh and dressed up.

“She’s having a pain on her right side,” replied Sandhya.

“I’ll give her a massage. She’ll be fine in no time.”

“No, di! I’m taking her to a doctor.”

“Alright! Take her to the neighbouring dispensary.”

“No, I’ll take her to the hospital and consult a good gynaecologist,” said Sandhya firmly, “Because of your hunger for ‘double amount’, she has already suffered a lot. But, not any longer!”

Giving a stern reply to her, Sandhya left with Kaya.

“Dr Kiran Chaturvedi, Gynaecologist,” Sandhya read the plate as she entered the cabin with Kaya.

A middle-aged woman modestly dressed in a blue sari and a spotless white lab coat awaited them. Despite those fine lines and crow’s feet revealing her age, her big eyes and a tiny diamond nose-pin added light to her face.

“Hello! Please be seated,” she smiled.

“Doctor! She’s having a pain in the right side of her pelvis,” said Sandhya.

“Humph! Let me examine you,” she directed Kaya to occupy the patient’s chair, “Tell me, where is it hurting? Pelvis or lower abdomen? What did you have in breakfast?”

“It’s not that, madam. She’s having this pain ever since she copulated last night. Some time back, she had a miscarriage. I’m a bit scared for her,” Sandhya explained in one go.

Dr Kiran was astonished.

“Miscarriage? Copulation? At such a young age? Are you not ashamed of yourself, woman? What kind of a mother you are?” she shouted at Sandhya.

“I’m not her mother.”

“Okay! You’ve brought her here; you must be her guardian.”

“Actually, doctor, we are those women. Willy-nilly, we have to do it,” Sandhya lowered her eyes.

“Oh!” the doctor’s stern expression melted into sympathy, “In that case, I’ll have to arrange for a pelvic exam. But as she had sex only last night, you’ll have to come again tomorrow.”

“Sure doctor, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Sandhya replied.

As promised, Sandhya came with Kaya again the next day. Dr Kiran had made all the arrangements for her pelvic exam.

After some formal greetings, she rang a bell and a ward boy instantly presented himself.

“Call Dr Sapna immediately,” she ordered him.

A young doctor came there in no time.

“Dr Sapna! This is the girl who has come for the pelvic exam. Get it done and tell me your observations,” she said to her.

“Yes madam,” she said and smiled at Kaya as if asking her come with her.

Kaya went out with her.

“Doctor! Anything serious?” Sandhya questioned anxiously.

“I don’t think so. It just might be an ovarian cyst.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a collection of fluid surrounded by a thin wall. It occurs in the ovary of a woman. Normally, cysts disappear by themselves within a few months. However, in some cases, a surgery might be required,” elaborated doctor.

“Surgery?” Sandhya’s eyes widened with horror.

“Oh! That’s required only in extreme cases. Let the pelvic exam be conducted,” smiled the doctor, “Just relax.”

After that, she started working on her computer. Few moments passed. Then, without withdrawing her eyes off the monitor, she asked, “What was her age you told me? Fifteen?”

“Whose? Kaya’s? Ah yes, she is going to be sixteen,” Sandhya replied.

“Poor girl! Caught in this murk at such a young age! How I wish…”

“There’s no escape from here, doctor. There’s really no escape. This is our destiny.”

“Ah, destiny!” mocked Dr Kiran, “What is it, tell me? Destiny is nothing but a scapegoat under which we veil our failures. You just need to have a strong determination. Everything is possible. Never forget, we alone are responsible for our so-called destiny.”

“What do you want to say, madam? Is it possible to come out of this grime?”

“Why not? Wait a sec,” she fiddled inside a cardholder and handed her a card.

“Here,” she said, “This is the card of Dr Sanjeevani Aggarwal. She is my family friend and is associated with an NGO called Agni. They provide shelter to such women, educate them and make them self-dependent. If you want, I’ll also write a reference letter for you.”

She began to write the letter. That very instant, Dr Sapna came with Kaya. She said, “Madam! Nothing found in the exam.”

Dr Kiran chuckled and said, “Maybe it’s nothing. I’ll prescribe some antibiotics. Still, if such pain occurs again, see me immediately.”

“Okay doctor, thank you so much,” Sandhya got up to leave.

“Sandhya! Your letter,” Dr Kiran forwarded the letter to her.

Sandhya folded the letter and kept it her purse.

                                                     To be continued ......