Caged Bird

Tujhse naraz nahi zindagi hairan hoon main,

Tere masoom sawalon se pareshan hoon main

Ho pareshan hoon main….

Hmmmm… hmmm..hmm..

Yes, you guessed it right. This is my favorite song and I always hummed to it. And my story, wait, rather my nightmare started from this.

I passed my 10th board exam securing 85%. That day I was happy as my parents gifted me an I-pod as promised earlier. I love music and may have a couple of chances to show my talent in the inter school singing championship. As singing became my passion, I always urged myself to pursue my dream as a singer. That’s why I requested my parents to buy me a music player so that I can practice my music anytime, anywhere.

That night I could not sleep because of excitement. I was listening to my favorite song repeatedly. I didn’t have an idea when I fell asleep. Suddenly, I felt something strange on my lips. I couldn’t understand if I was dreaming or if this was really happening. I just turned to the other side and slept. 

Now, slowly that strange thing moved towards my chest and this time I know that I am not in my dream and that strange thing is none other than someone’s hand. I froze for a moment. I couldn't understand what to do? I tried to scream, but my throat dried up. I wanted to run but couldn’t defend that forcefully weighted body upon me. Every kick and punch for self-defense is getting wasted and I couldn’t free myself from the clutch of that monster.

Aaaaghhhhh……A screeching scream ripped the unusual dark sky and I was left like a lifeless body on my own bed. I was hurt, shattered, abused with a ruptured soul. I was scarred for life. Then, I was just 15 years old. Was it my fault?                                                        

Frankly, I haven’t created any example for society and I didn’t take any extreme step to serve myself justice because neither my situation nor my surroundings permitted me to do that as I was clueless about my abuser and still haven’t figured it out. He was a coward and did everything on the pitch black night. But hell, yes, I learnt an important lesson that I am not ashamed of myself and I am not guilty for the happenings. He was the molester and I was just a scapegoat for satisfying his itch for lust. So, stop blaming. I deserve to live my life with dignity.

And for society, I would want to add few lines:

As you say, Girls are like flowers that are forever in bloom.

Please, let them bloom and I promise, they will scatter their aroma for sure.

Don’t crush them before even sprouting.