Paani re paani

Water was a very precious resource one used it for everything. Cook, clean drink , wash but the most important was to sustain .It was the life- source. Kiran loved when water slid off her hair in rivulets, neck and then her back. It made her clean, whole and pure. Happiness to her was an unlimited water supply and to bathe with it non – stop using the small tikki of khushboo daar soap from the nukkad wali shop. Swarna Ram had new, brightly wrapped soap cakes from the city that promised a lingering perfume, and also made the person white.

Kiran was a good, obedient but a very shy girl who used to do all her work before going to the next village with her brother to attend a private school. They used to walk to school, she obviously carrying Hari Om’s bag. Girls were taught to be docile, servile and they did all their brothers work. It was in their genetic code. This is how it was and she could not imagine going against her brother. In fact her mother made her press her father and uncle’s feet everyday. When they came back from home, they were obviously tired and she had to press their feet. Kiran knew of nothing else, or she could object to this.

Life kept on moving at its pace and then she heard of this evening school where she could go and improve herself for free. No questions asked, she just needed to study, attend school and she would also get clothes, books and sometimes the stationary like her friend had got. The new Princess sharpener in pink with glitter was so beautiful. It was a few villages away. She would have to convince, cajole and also promise to her mother that she would come back on time to help her with evening chores. In fact she gave the logic that she would get clothes and stationary free thus her mother would save money also; which could be used somewhere else.

Kiran loved going to class, listening to her teachers, the  gentle coaxing by her teacher to speak out loud, to not be afraid. To use her voice, to think , to dream of a life where she could earn and to be independent .

Kiran was excited , next week they were going to travel in a bus and they were all going to the city and to the biggest hospital in Jalandhar where they were getting a dental and eye exam .

Kiran had never had had a dental or an eye exam . Plus , the catcher was getting a frooti to drink and a meal there. She , just knew what she was going to wear .

Finally the day came, they all went to the hospital , dressed in their finery , hair oiled , combed and plaited . They all had their little name tags and had a hanky each . It is something It was something all kids carried, as if it was a security blanket. Some carried a white one, some a little printed bright towel.

Hospitals are always intimidating but this one was huge. Kiran had never seen such a big building ever. It was bigger than anything plus it was very clean. They kept on visiting new rooms, eyes done, and teeth done. They had just finished there, exams when ma’am started distributing juice and samosas.

Kiran and her friends loved samosas and were eating them when the teacher made another announcement.

She had decided that the older girls would all have another physical test .

What was a physical test? She didn’t understand. Were they supposed to run, and then they would test them. It must be that, she thought in her mind. And, she was wearing her mother sandals. She didn’t have other shoes. How would she compete with the other girls? Now, she would come last and Madam would be unhappy, she was failing the trust that had been given to her. Kiran loved the way she called her Kiran Kumari.

Kiran went to room no. 21 with the nurse.  Dr. Gurpreet looked at her and when asked her to go lie on the bed where she would be examined. Kiran vomited. The lady Dr. was taken aback. Was it the samosa or just too much excitement? She let her lie on the bed with the help of a nurse. When Kiran woke up, she looked at her; Kiran had marks around her mouth, dark stains, and a boil on the side of her lip.

When she asked her to pick up her shirt, to just examine her, Kiran burst out crying and laughing at the same time.

She said, Dr sahib aap bhi …

Kiran , suffered from sexual abuse at the hands of her father and uncle. She thought the Doctor was also going to use her sexually . 90 percent of the cases go unreported and the mother always knows of this sordid act. Kiran Kumari was my student , she stopped coming to my evening school and is missing . Her brother is still seen around the village and has the same boil marks around his mouth and has the dark discoloration like his sister. This abuse was admitted and it carried on when she would press their feet. Kiran Kumari is 14 years old.