“What happened with me was wrong. It shouldn’t have happened with anyone. At one point, we need to ask this question, who can we even trust? Is this what place a society has for women? I, Mira Jacob, stand before the jury to share my horrific experience…”
CHAPTER 1
“One more bread,” shouted Ron.
“Give me some milk,” said Rosy.
“Here here here…” Mira quickly put a toast in Ron’s plate and moved ahead to pour milk in Rosy’s glass.
“You need anything else, Michael?”
“No no, thanks…I’m getting late”
As the bus came in 30 minutes, both Ron and Rosy got to ready to board on it. suddenly, Mira looked in some distress.
“Mom, you’re fine?” asked Rosy
“Should we take you to doctor? We can the school, anways…”
“No no…I’m OK. It’s a joint pain maybe, I’ll call someone for massage. You guys go, it’ll all be fine. Bye”
After hurryingly make them take the bus, she returned to the house, Realizing Michael had already left, she just laid down on the bed. Unable to comprehend what exactly is causing the pain, she just stared at the roof and sighed in agony.
Feeling extremely uneasy, Mira decided to take shower after an hour. She felt a huge burden from her shoulders is being shrugged off. She bowed her head straight down, allowing all the water to wash off her body.
Suddenly, her eyes notices some red drops beneath her feet. Upon watching she closely, she realized it’s blood…coming out of her vagina.
Out of panic, Mira just laid down on the floor by her back. She tried putting her hands, slowly, towards her vagina. As she brought her fingers near her face, she couldn’t stop her tears, even though she didn’t know what exactly is happening to her.
2 HOURS LATER
Mira decided to visit a doctor, fearing if she is carrying a serious disease. In the normal diagnosis of the body, nothing major was found and her reports were fairly normal.
“So, what do you think doctor?”
“Well, I don’t see anything major in your body. Maybe you are just stressed. Try getting some rest and don’t take much load…by the way, how has been your sexually lately, because that can also play a role?”
CHAPTER 2
On one fine morning, Mira is in extremely deep sleep, and just not able to get up from the bed.
“Mira, how much time? The kids are getting late…” Michael shouted.
“Dad, it’s fine, we are almost ready and will eat in canteen. Don’t bother her if she is sick,” Ron murmured lightly to Michael.
It’s the peak summer afternoon. Michael and both kids have left. Mira is lying on the bed, having one of those kinds of sleep where you’re not really sleeping yet unable to get up. Some flashes are repeatedly knocking Mira’s memory lane.
FLASHBACK
“Arey she won’t do anything, her hands are tied” – Mira rolled her hands over her wrists to realize the pressure marks.
“Hey hey hey…she is waking up” “Oh no, wait, let me make her sleep again” – Mira mildly screams and holds her palm in pain, as if someone put an injection.
“Anyone from today’s list left…come fast” “Of course, I’ve paid money, will suck out the last drop from her” – Mira woke up extremely terrified, taking long breaths, and soaked in clothes wet by sweat.
She looked around her. It was her room, with no else one around. She kept scratching her head, trying to understand what sort of a dream that was.
In the evening, Michael came home along with the kids after doing some shopping. Mira is standing at the door. All three looked at her with a puzzled face.
“Ron, what happened yesterday?”
CHAPTER 3
“Trust me, I’m not lying,” an exasperated Mira burst out.
“What are you even trying to say, I can’t understand!” shouted Michael.
“See I correctly remember…I heard your voice. And all those people hounding me. Tell me what you did to me?”
“It’s OK, it’s OK…calm down,” Michael moved towards her attempting to hold her. “I think you are a bit too stressed Let’s talk tomorrow”
“Get off me,” Mira pushed away Michael.
A scared and frustrated Michael moved towards his kids.
“Hey, looks like Mom is not OK. Let’s go inside. We’ll deal with this tomorrow,” he said holding the shoulders of Ron and Rosy. But, just after a few seconds, both kids pulled themselves back. Before he could’ve asked anything, both were standing alongside Mira, holding her with full conviction.
The three of them left the house that night.
CHAPTER 4
“See, I understand your situation and believe what you’re saying. But, the thing is we don’t have any evidence to prove it. We can’t file the case just on the basis of what you felt while sleeping. We need something concrete. Otherwise, this case will fall on the very first day,” lawyer Robert Peters said.
“Don’t worry sir, I’ve found something,” Ron interrupted. He moved towards Robert and showed him his phone, leaving him aghast.
After a few minutes, Robert said, “Madam, I think the only way is to file a police complaint against your husband for drugging, torturing and sexually assaulting you. The best bet we can have is the guy confessing his crimes during interrogation.”
After some hesitation, Mira agrees.
24 HOURS LATER
Police have come to arrest Michael. He notices that Mira, along with Ron and Rosy have arrived at the location. He tried rushing towards them.
“Hey Mira…I think we have some misunderstandings. Please let’s sort this out by ourselves, yeah? No need for all this,” he said and rushed towards the kids. “Ron…Rosy…please tell your mom. You dad loves you…”
Ron and Rosy shrugged off him and held their mother.
“You are not our dad. Don’t even try to come near us. Why are you not dead already!” shouted Rosy.
A heartbroken Michael stood there in despair, as the police arrested him and put him in the vehicle.
CHAPTER 5
“What happened with me was wrong. It shouldn’t have happened with anyone. At one point, we need to ask this question, who can we even trust? Is this what place a society has for women? I, Mira Jacob, stand before the jury to share my horrific experience…”
“For last 7 years, my ex-husband was drugging me unconscious and then inviting people to try their dicks on my body. All this while, I kept taking medicines for headache, bodyache and what not, as I was unable to figure out the reason for my fatigue and weakness. Little did I know the problem lied not inside but outside my body. The videos of those horrific episodes were put on porn websites where it amassed 10 million votes and counting.
“I had the option to send a lawyer to present my arguments in front of the jury. But I wanted the world to witness my name and etch my story it in their memories. I wanted to ensure that no matter what…an episode like this should never be repeated. I would also like to throw light on the millions of pending rape cases, and billions of unreported ones at home. A country where the women aren’t safe is not independent in true sense. I would request the jury to set an example with their actions.”
The whole courtroom erupted with loud claps of jury, journalists and attendees. An emotional Mira moved towards her seat, where Ron and Rosy held her tightly from both sides.
This was followed by confessions of Michael, and around 100 other people involved in the rape case. The accused tried using their political capital, but the story had spread like such a wildfire, that even the concerned party had no options but pull itself back.
The jury handed lifetime imprisonment to Michael. The sentences of other convicts ranged from 5 to 20 years, based on the volumes of their involvement. As the sentencing was announced, Mira couldn’t help but burst out into tears, hugging both her child on either side.
EPILOGUE
Mira decided to document her writings in a book titled – ‘Lollipop’ A Dark Memoir’, a book that turned out to be bestseller.
Living happily with her two kids, she was looking at news on her phone, ‘Asifa Rape Case: Thousands search victim’s name on porn site’.
Closing the phone in disgust, she thought maybe this is where the moral rot comes from.
THE END
