Silent Screams (Part 11)

Hi. I am Inspector Karan,” the inspector said holding out his hand for Anandita to shake, “Dr. Awasthi called me up and told me everything that she knew. My team and I have come to get other details that you might be able to give us.” “If you don’t mind Inspector, I do not want to file any charges against anybody,” Anandita replied in a low and scared voice, “I am already in quite a mess and me filing charges is going to complicate things for me even more.” “What you’re doing is not right,” the inspector said, trying to control his anger, “If you’re quiet now, there is a very high probability that after you, your bullies are going to make someone else their target. Would you be okay with that?” The Inspector’s words made sense to her as she said that she was ready to give a written statement of what she faced in school.

Anandita started describing her school life.

“Though I will be giving a written statement later, let me just tell you from the beginning,” Anandita said, clearing her throat.  

“As you can see, because I am fat, I have invariably been labelled as being ugly. My self esteem has reached a new low and they gauge that. The other students do not actively bully me, but they do not want to speak to me. They shoo me away once they see me. It hurts but I am now used to it. A few months ago, during lunch break, to avoid a bunch of these ‘passive aggressive’ bullies, I rushed into the ladies’ washroom. When the bell finally rang for the classes to begin, I stepped out of the washroom and saw a message written on the wall- It was something along the lines of ‘beware Anandita…’ I do not remember the message fully, I think if we are lucky enough, you should find the message still on the wall of the girls’ washroom on the third floor. Initially, I thought it was just someone pranking on me. That’s not unusual. Then, a little while later, in the classroom, I felt something hit my head and fall near my feet on the first bench. I turned around to check who it was, but it seemed like everyone was engrossed in what the teacher was saying,” taking a deep breath, she said, “I want some water.”

While Anandita drank some water, the Inspector instructed two of his constables to go that particular girls’ washroom in the school. Anandita wiped her mouth as she kept the girl aside and spoke, “After the teacher left the class, I opened the tattered piece of paper to read. Just as I was about to read, Brian, a student from my class, snatched it from my hand, spit something on to it and threw it in the bin. My mind suddenly went to the message that I had read on the wall and thought that the note was also another reminder of the same. But, after that, nothing happened throughout the day. At home, I was chilling with my sister, trying to watch TV when our house phone rang and a voice asked to go to school. I did not quite recognize the voice. I ignored it once again, assuming it was another prank. Actually, there were two clear signs and I should have taken it.  I got another call. This time it was clearer. The voice asked me to go to school and warned of dire consequences if I didn’t go. I left for school in a jiffy so as not to put my self in any more danger that I already had. I entered the school campus and began to check if anyone was there. All the classroom doors were closed. So, I thought maybe it was indeed a prank. Just as I was about to turn around and leave, I saw a light at the end of the corridor. As I neared the light, I realised one classroom door was open. I went into the room and seeing the classroom empty I turned around to leave when my dress got caught in the door. I was so busy trying to take my dress out from the nail that I didn’t notice movement around. I looked up and saw a masked person when I heard, “Look who’s here finally?”  It was the same voice that I had heard when I got the call. “Who are you?”  I asked. Another person came looked at me in a weird way and then started dragging me through the corridor. He had a very tight grip on my hand. There was a tattoo on the wrist of his right hand.”

“What kind of a tattoo was it?” the Inspector asked, “Will you be able to describe it to our sketch artist?”

“I am sorry,” Anandita said, “Maybe later.  My memory isn’t very clear right now.”

The Inspector looked very irritated with this answer.

“With all due respect sir,” Anandita said looking up at the Inspector, “I am telling you everything that I remember. You have no right to be so irritated with me. If anything, I am supposed to be stressed and irritated because you are getting me to remember the traumatic experience. I am co – operating, am I not? I am not asking you to empathize with me because you clearly cannot. But at least, have some patience.”  

The Inspector looked perplexed but soon recovered and replied with ‘Sorry.’ He motioned for her to continue while Dr. Awasthi stood in a corner observing their conversation.

“Thank you,” Anandita smiled, “The guy who was dragging me across the floor pushed me against a wall due to which my forehead started bleeding. Just as I was about to stand back up, one of those guys hit my back with a bat so terribly that I fell to the ground not being able to move. Another guy came with a similar mask on but due to some reason his mask slipped down a bit and I saw an ‘X’ mark o the right side of his forehead. I was subconscious but with the little consciousness left, I saw them leave. After a few minutes, I heard a cell phone ring shrilly, I prayed to God asking Him to kill me because I didn’t want to live anymore. I did not want to see another day, I was sick of the bullying and the teasing. As I was having all these thoughts, I became unconscious.”

“After that?” the Inspector asked, mechanically.

“After that?”  Anandita asked perplexed, “After that, I woke up in this hospital ward a little while ago.” She tried to laugh.

“I am so sorry,” the Inspector said, “I am making the same mistake. My next logical question should’ve been who brought you here?” “Yes,” Anandita replied, “It was Sameer; a boy from my class. He is also my best friend, Tanya’s younger brother.” “Ok,” the Inspector replied, “I will speak to Sameer about the rest. You go on and continue to rest.”

The Inspector left with his team leaving behind Dr. Awasthi.

Silent Screams(Part 10)

Anandita is surrounded by her parents on one side and her sister on the other. She was happy that they were there. She didn’t know what to say to them because she hadn’t expected it to end up in the way that it did. “I am just grateful to God that you are out of danger. For once, I was so happy for you, for the fact that you have friends you like you for being you and look how that turned out.” As she was about to continue further, she looked at Mr. Ram who was already giving her the stare. She silenced herself and smiled at her daughter lovingly and hugged her as lightly as she could. Anandita could clearly see tears in her mother’s eyes and even in her sister’s eyes. They expressed their emotions usually so it was normal. But the moment she looked at her father and saw tears in her father’s eyes, she couldn’t hold back her own tears. Anandita was crying, no she was bawling her eyes out. Her parents had to calm her down with a glass of water. During this hullaballoo, the nurse came into the room and was about to ask them to leave when she was the pleading in Anandita’s eyes. The nurse just stood in one corner, refusing to leave.

After about ten minutes, Anandita heard a knock on her door and looked up. She was shocked to see her best friend, best senior, Tanya standing at the door and her brother Sameer stealing glances from behind her.

“Tanya,” Anandita said with a smile. “How are you feeling now?” Tanya asked. “I am better than how I was found.” She then turned to Sameer who was still trying to use Tanya as his shield and said, “Thank you Sameer. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.” Sameer first looked at Anandita with wide eyes and then tried to say something. But nothing came out of his mouth.  He cleared his throat and tried again, This time, he said in a very low voice, “I should’ve done this long ago. I mean I should’ve protected you from these bullies right from the beginning, right from when it started. I should have stood up for you against them. But, no! I stood at a side and looked at you being tortured all these years. I am sorry for all that. I know that no number of apologies is going to cover up for what I did, but I hope you have it in you to forgive me. Anandita’s mother felt betrayed. All this time, who she thought was her daughter’s protector had actually a part, even if not actively, in this condition of her daughter. She was about to say something to Sameer in anger. Gauging her mother’s mood, Anandita said, “It is ok Sameer. You were being just like any other school kid who is worried about their social status. And I am not saying this in a wrong way. What’s in the past, leave it there. Today, at this moment, I am here and alive because of you.” She saw how unconvinced Sameer looked and let out a big huff of breath, as she continued, “See, let me put it this way. If you wanted, just like other times, you coud’ve just left me there bleeding and unattended worrying about your social status. But you didn’t. Knowing fully well that saving me could definitely affect your position in the school’s social chain, you helped me out and I am grateful for that.”

 By the end of her ‘lecture’, she noticed that Tanya had this peculiar look on her face. “How?” she asked when she was out of her trance. “How do you manage to do that, Anandita?” Tanya asked. “Manage to do what Tanya?” Anandita asked perplexed. “How do you manage to… manage to… you know… be so.. so… nice even after how he behaved with you,” Tanya finished, amazed. “Oh that is simple,” Anandita answered, “I know how it feels to be on this side. And I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that even if it means me being alone.”

“Ok,” they heard a voice from the corner of the room. “It is time for her to rest. You can meet up with her later, may be tomorrow,” the nurse said from the corner. “Bye Anandita. Take care and rest well,” Tanya said as they turned to leave. Anandita’s parents also left soon after. The nurse fed dinner and the medicines. As Anadita was getting ready to sleep, she heard shuffling before she saw a troupe of police enter her room followed by Dr. Awasthi.