SIXTEEN | Part 4 | THE END

I told Uma’s friend Kavya to bring Uma at a place which was far from the vicinity of Uma’s residence.  All had gathered on time and were waiting for Uma to enter. I received a call from Kavya that the birthday girl is about to enter the café in next few minutes. I told everyone to hide and come out after Uma and Kavya enter the café. Soon, Uma arrived like a princess. She looked gorgeous in her one piece and her bright smile for which I already adored her was mesmerizing.

The plan was executed and a mix of laughter and surprise glittered on Uma’s face. Her eyes searched me in the crowd; I could say that because I never took my eyes off her since she entered the café. I hugged her tight and instead of saying happy birthday I finally blurted out I love You Uma. To which she instantly replied, “I love you too”. I looked at her, the tears rolling down it was indeed a sweet sixteen moment. The teenage love was pure and immature yet we decided to glide through the moment without worrying about our future.

It was past 10:30, all invited friends made their way home. I and Uma left after everyone left. It was a cold night. The city being far, I had got my scooter to the party place. We left, she held her arms around my waist and to my comfort I was happy with butterflies in the stomach. It was dark and cold. The fog on the road had made it a zero visibility zone. I was slow but steady. Suddenly, the truck lights flashed and blinded me, losing my balance we fell on the side of the road but fortunately none of us were hurt. The scooter refused to start and the headlight cracked. We were stranded. It was late, the happiness of an amazing birthday night was fading out. I was scared not because I am just sixteen. I was scared because I was stranded late night, middle of a secluded road without license and friends scooter which stopped working.

She was scared and I could sense a terror feeling in her eyes, she wanted to rush home. I spotted a car coming towards us it was my fault that I asked for a lift. A gang of few drunkards stopped with lust dripping down their mouth. I did manage to say no thank you but they insisted on dropping us till the city road. Uma and I, left with no other option, soon got into the car along with three other men. It was that moment for me and Uma.The end of our love and life. I was knocked out with a blow and tied while they took turns to rape Uma.

Next morning, I woke up in the hospital to see Uma’s Dad in anger and with a want of killing me. Being a big man he is, he managed to feed policemen with amounts desired and I was put behind bars by making me one of the culprits. This had totally shattered my Dad and Uma was no longer there to explain what happened. I couldn’t take this trauma and humiliation and rather accepted for a crime I never committed. I loved Uma, I loved her a lot. It was my teenage love and indeed a special one to remember.

I lived three years with the ones I saw raping Uma, I think you saving me has a purpose.

It’s better to go in jail committing a crime rather without one.

“What are you talking about? Are you mad?” The fisherman exclaimed.

You need some sleep, you are young take some time to think what you intend to do in future, till then you are welcomed to stay here with me.

Vitthal looks at the fisherman and utters Thank You, Dada.

SIXTEEN | Part 3

1.       I met Uma in college. It all started when our first year exams were about to begin. Uma was brilliant in studies and I like any other last bench boy was lucky enough to get her as my exam partner.  Though she was our trustee’s daughter, she never showed off her rich attitude. Kind and always helpful, Uma had the most beautiful smile on earth. Any person would go high over heels for her. I being a cartoon in the class had no chance ever to get a girl like her to fall in love with me. ‘Uma wed's Vitthal’ sounded cheap even back then, you can understand from this when our names sound awful together, imagine the reality.

I belonged from a lower middle-class family but I was content, as I was my dad’s only response to handle. It was partially embarrassing for me to visit the same college where my dad worked as a peon and having a love affair that too with trustee’s daughter was out of my own imagination.

Uma helped me a lot to cope up with studies and difficult accounting problems. My friend circle was full of scholars and knowledgeable geeks who had the answers for everything in life except academic syllabus. Sixteen and young to party, enjoy and have fun was the sole purpose of our lives. Dad was earning and I was getting my pocket money. We were riding bikes in town and spending as much as we liked to.

It’s said that a girl can turn your life upside- down and not so soon my life experienced a Hurricane. After the first semester, I and Uma were more close as friends; I had changed completely” according to my friends”. I started saving money, studying, sitting regularly for lectures and avoiding bad habits.

I realized that I have started to develop a crush on Uma and would often dream about her. It was during our college festival - I being the head of the managing committee, worked vigorously to accomplish the festival on a good note. I was successful and was praised for my caliber. I was amazed to know that I had such potential myself. Uma was impressed by my dedication towards particular tasks given to me and soon our chats were taking much deeper turns.

Our bonding had grown much intense. College mates had a rough clue of what we were implying emotionally towards each other. The teasing had started and to our misfortune, my Dad and her Father got a hint.

It was conveyed through expression that none of them had liked the path we were about to settle. We escaped the talks somehow but kept meeting and hanging out with each other. It was near. I had to plan something really good to impress Uma to tell her my feelings. I found no better time to express my love to Uma. It was her sixteenth birthday. I made a surprise plan. The party was planned at night, therefore I told Uma’s friend to help and convince Uma’s Dad to allow her staying out late.

Vitthal ! Why are you crying? What happened next? You need some water. Wait,’ the fisherman said’.

Vitthal replied,” Probably that is the only thing I should have never done.”

To be continued…

SIXTEEN | Part 2

At around' six-thiry in the evening, I pulled up the anchor and turned my fishing boat towards the shore. After an entire day of waiting on the creek fishing, I hardly managed to get any good amount of fish. "Bad day!", the fisherman in me murmured.

The sun went down silently, giving a hope for the next day's sunrise. I packed my fishing net and sat on the bench to row back to the shore. It was getting dark. I rowed a few miles towards the shore when I heard something falling into the water behind me. I looked up - the flyover over me shook as the cars passed over it but there was no sign of anyone throwing anything into the water below. I turned around to see a man helplessly drowning, but not uttering a cry for help. I rushed as soon as I could, grabbed him by his arms and pulled him onto the boat.

I was shaking as this man was breathing heavily and coughing out water. I had no clue what to do so asked his name. He replied in exasperation, "I did not rape Uma, I loved her" as he fainted.

I rowed back to the shore calling a few fisherfolks for help. Lodging a police complaint was out of the question for someone like me. I solely depended on days work and wasting work time for someone else's case in police station frightened me already. Selfish though, there was no other option than to take him to my place. The night passed watching him lay unconscious across me.

As the first ray of sun hit the window, he woke up and felt out of place. Scared and shattered he looked at me and soon broke into tears yelling "Why did you save me!?"
I was obviously speechless and angry but I kept calm to hear him out.

Pouring some tea in the cup, I broke my silence by asking who he was and why did he try to commit suicide.

Wiping his tears he whispered, ''Vitthal''. I gave him his time to answer as meanwhile some tea and biscuits built a sense of trust. Suddenly breaking into a puddle tears he narrated t to me what he had been through for the past three years. Vitthal was speaking the truth and I could see that in his eyes. The only emotion I could emote was grief. Furthermore, I asked him why didn't he open up before, in front of the judge. Recollecting his statement from  the previous night I asked, "Vitthal, Why did you not tell the court that you loved her and did not rape her?"

After that, what Vitthal told me was hard to believe but I had to sympathize for what he suvived and suffered.

Vitthal narrated...

To be continued...

SIXTEEN | Part 1

The damp remand room stank of sweat and urine, when he entered and saw the broken windows and a rusty iron table and chair. The scarce light coming from the window brightened up one of the men's faces. The trippy setting made him little dizzy and deaf when a tight slap from the in charge brought him back from his world of thought. "Naam bol! Vitthal. Barabar Kaala toh tu hai! Solaa saal ki umar main dosto ke saath milke rape kiya na tu!" Vitthal was speechless but managed to mutter 'yes' under his breath.

The investigation continued for next five days revealing how Vitthal, under influence of alcohol, raped the victim along with his three friends.
However, Inspector Shinde, head in-charge of the case proved in court that the offenders were in their senses while committing the crime, therefore, the plea for not guilty should not be entertained and severe punishment should be served to them.

The court battle ended six months later and the judge gave his verdict.
Vitthal being a minor was sentenced three years of custody and the rest were sentenced to lifetime imprisonment. The media uproared, "Just because Vitthal is a minor, we can't ignore the crime he committed."

The rape case had caught national interest. Thousands came out in support of the victim, and candle march took place. Inspector Shinde was promoted but the judgment stood. The fire slowly turned out and Vitthal was serving his term in jail.
The guilt had capsulated him. The jail was no place for a sixteen-year-old Vitthal. Weekly torture by in charge and fellow under trial prisoners had led few incidents where the fractured bones, the facial bruise was common.

But something terrible was coming his way. After the completion of the first term in jail, Vitthal was shifted to a new cell with criminals who had committed heinous crimes. The new place soon started showing its true colors. One night when Vitthal was asleep, few men covered his face with a jute bag pulling his hands behind the back, which immediately locked him from moving and making any noise. The official prisoner pants were torn into pieces. Vitthal, choking, tried to resist the power load over him by kicking his way out but unfortunately was forcefully raped, turn by turn. Devastated Vitthal lost all his hope when the in charge next day taunted 'Jaise ko taisa'(tit for tat).These creepy men revolved around Vitthal for the next two years but to his dismay, he could just see them hovering around with hungry lust. Nothing to do and no one to go for help Vitthal was tired of resisting anymore, his body had given up and turned him into a piece of lifeless wood.

The term of three years was finally over, Vitthal was released but today he had nowhere to go. Promoted Senior Inspector Shinde escorted Vitthal to the gate.Collecting his old clothes that no longer fit him, Vitthal wore his pair of shoe and started walking towards his freedom.
The sights and sounds of the city which he once called home now seemed alien and blinded him.

He had turned into a corpse
Depressed and lost Vitthal tried to commit suicide when I saved him from drowning and just before he lost his consciousness he whispered, "I did not rape Uma, I loved her."