My smile and the wish to be with her were snatched right away, as a man strode into the room and lifted me. Within a second, I was in somebody’s control. Like a kid dragging a doll by holding a hand, the man pulled my hand and dragged me out of the room and onto the steps, where my feet were tapping every step and then I was thrown out of the home. The open door closed. It all happened in a blink.

The man who brought me in rebelled. He was in the grip of two men struggling to save me. Till today I remember the look, the way he looked at me when the door was shut is still fresh in my mind.

I was on the steps feeling the pain in my feet. The little version of me didn’t know then, that it was an opportunity given by God. I should have run, out of that home on that day. But I stayed there frightened weeping as I heard the quarrels inside the home.

The men and women at work in the garden space were looking at me out of sympathy, but no hands didn’t come forward for help. How could they have come forward, against their boss? How could they do that?

 The man who took me to that home screamed and shouted as we did today. Was that for the promise that he made or for me? Why was he so sure of taking me into that home? I don’t know, to date, I don’t know the reason for his fondness for me.

I sat in front of the home where the man pushed me, I was weeping and wiping the small drops of blood emerging out of the scars. The physical wounds faded away as time ran, but in my mind they didn’t, they didn’t fade even a single bit.  

The gate opened again, I thought it was for me, but a car entered. Three girls and a boy stepped out of the car. Everyone ran towards the door I didn’t even exist for them, except one. She stood in front of me, having a lollipop stuck in her mouth and stretching chocolate for me. She was shocked to see the blood on my leg. She wiped it with her skirt and poured water from her water bottle to clean the scar.

As she was doing that, the door opened for the kids. It wasn’t for me. I turned to see him, the so-called dad was in the same position but a little farther away than before, struggling to get out of the grip. His shirt was open, his eyes were red.

How did I do that? What made me do that? Is still a million-dollar question for me.

I stood from there and ran towards him surpassing the other kids and neglecting the good soul who offered me chocolate. Some tried stopping me but I reached out to him as a jet. I held his left leg tightly and closed my eyes. He shouted at everybody; he challenged them to touch me if they dare. I was swinging holding his leg as he moved it to protect me. It happened for a while simultaneously he was arguing with one man. One single man. At one point I felt someone hugging me from behind and giggling. I giggled too.

Uncle, move your leg, she said giggling. That’s when I opened my eyes.

Original Copyright © Sukanya Pon