Note : This narrative is inspired by real life incident(s). All characters appearing in this work are real. Any resemblance to real person(s), living or dead is purely intentional. The author takes full responsibility for consequences (if any).
~ x ~
He turned around and hit her one more time. This time with more force. Right across her belly.You could see where, because it left a mark. Almost like a scratch. She looked down at the red splotch on the vinyl of the kitchen floor and wondered if it was her’s or from the empty ketchup jar that she had been holding. This was not the first time. It was almost two years now !! And somewhere within all this time, the every day blows and kicks did not seem to hurt anymore.She had made peace with herself. She thought about her life and related to that of Chand’s. Their lives were so alike and yet so different, in a humane sort of way. They were both in Videsh (foreign land) and yet Chand’s was a performed tale while her’s was playing out, right in front of her own eyes. Every day !!
There was no love !! And, not one moment of rest. From the day they had brought her home, she had been put to work, right away. No one had spoken to her or asked her how she felt. She had taught herself how to blend in, to a corner of the kitchen. No one seemed to care, which corner it was, so long as she was not in their way. It was winter, almost a year ago,when they moved to the new place. She liked it here. She liked how the kitchen was bigger and people were not bumping into her. And, she wished that some day they would treat her like a real person. Like one of their own. And she would no longer have to spend her nights alone !!
She was never allowed to be alone with him. The family was always there. Some days when he was in a lighter mood, he would rush into the kitchen. Almost like he was getting ready to say something. Maybe, to touch her. She looked forward to those moments, when he would be standing next to her.She liked how the little drops of sweat built up on his nose. He smelled good, almost all the time. And then like his shadow, the mother would be there, behind him. And he would quietly walk away.With a childlike smirk across his face !!
And like today, there were days, when he just lashed out at her.Without any mercy. Like he just did not care or know better. These were the days, when she yearned to cry out to the mother. Hoping she would pull him away. Some days she did. But it was always a few minutes too late. By then, he would have hit her, hard enough to make her puke out the little leftovers that get thrown at her, after every meal. As she lay there on the kitchen floor, the little bugs would feast on the sourness of her mouth.
And today, just like any other day, her aching reverie was sliced by the shrill warning – “Pattu, kuppaithotiyi thodathey !! ” (“Darling, stop playing with the trash can”) !! She looked up to see the mother kiss and carry him (the two year old) away from the kitchen. Her eyes found the father, copiously typing away on his computer. And she told herself – “I, refuse to be treated like trash !!”.
~ x ~
Foot note : This post is a mere attempt at humor and does not in any way condone the distress of domestic violence. My apologies, if as a reader, your sentiments have been hurt in any way.
This post is an entry to the “Emotional Atyachaar” contest hosted by IndiBlogger. If you know any one of the judges, 😉 please click here to vote…..for me !!
Interesting post , I think this calls for a serious long post !
Good job.
Thanks GB…. 🙂
Could almost empathise with the girl, her helplesness, her despair, her yearning.
It doesn’t read like fiction, it’s so raw that it hurts!!
Never read a better piece.
Thanks Purba…kind words as always….great inspiration. You are a great team player.
Duhhh, feel like the thick skinned hippopotamus who took two days to get the joke.
Well your trash can has a heart and a soul. And I promise, next time when dump some thing, I will be more empathetic and not treat it as just another inanimate object.
A word of caution for the unsuspecting readers.. This is no ordinary post and deserves a second read.
Thankooooo …. for getting the humor and passing it on. I hope other readers read your comment. 😆
The buildup showed that this was a wild goose chase – guess it was a wild garbage chase
And I hope you are saying that in a good way … 😆 Thanks for your comment PV. Much appreciated.
Yes – in a good way ! Not rubbishing your post or anything !
Thanks much PV… am going to start breathing now…. 😆
U r starting to write really well LEB
What do ya mean by “starting to write” ?? Ahhh….just playing. Thanks much for your kind words. 🙂
Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles!!! I knew I had to be prepared for a sharp twist in the tale but nobody warned it would trip me up like this… it was so sharp it pricked hard 😛
Good read, and an innovative plot…
Sharp like cheddar cheese maybe ? Glad you liked it. Thanks much for your kind words as always. 🙂
This happens in the LEB household!!!! OMG!
Like the post says… every day !! Thanks for your comment and glad to see you back CW. My posts have been missing your feedback. Get time, please do visit my earlier post. I am not sure if I spelled the Tamil word correctly in this one. 😆
hey just like Purba i had to read it twice to know the twist.
i think i already told you before.You got some style and i am an admirer 🙂
Thanks much Shivani. With kind words like yours, I hope I will be able to improve on that. 🙂
Superb!
I’m sure this can win some awards (real ones) in short story competitions.
I’ll keep re-visiting this post in my mind 🙂
Thanks Raja for your encouraging words. It means a lot. Writing the post, I was not sure if I will be able to get to the reader at all. Hopefully they are getting the humor and the twist. 😉 I have submitted this for the Emotional Atyachar Contest on Indi. First time contesting in anything competitive. Not my style. Just did it. 🙂
I’ll sure vote for you there.
btw, what language is this: “Pattu, kuppaithotiyi thodathey !! ”
T’is Tamil. My wife speaks Tamil to our son and I speak Bangla to him. He is totally confused and takes out all his frustration on the poor vicTIN !! Please do vote and share with your friends and fans. This goes back to the part where Ma told me … boro hoyo 😆 “Yeh award mujhe de de Thakur (GOD)” !!
Wicked, totally wicked. Cheers!!!
Uday
Welcome to the blog Uday and thanks for your comment. Glad to see that you are amused and not “shocked” !! 😆 Hope to see more of you in future.
I am just 24 hrs late whoopy. 🙂
Though you twisted the tale and really made it Emotional attyachaar. I have seen this happening in the neighborhood. A Telagu H1 B software engineer beating his wife black and blue and instigating their 3 yr old to call his mother B word and spit on her and not to listen to her.
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Witnessing-Abuse-Video
Abusers often work in team. They bring in allies to emotionally manipulate the abused into thinking abused is crazy. Research has shown children who see a parent being abused try to imitate the abusive parent because it shows them how one feels powerful by abusing others. Usually boys take up abusive traits and the girls pick up learned helplessness.
I wish someone will read this comment and understand the seriousness of the issue you raised.
Peace,
Desi Girl
Welcome to the blog Desi Girl. Like I mentioned, I have attempted to provide a comic twist, but the truth remains the same. I am sure we all realize the darkness in the lives of these victims.Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future. 🙂
Interesting twist! I didn’t have to read it twice but then I guess I was sympathetic with the trash can’s feelings!
Nice post, LEB.
Welcome to the blog D2. Brilliant. Good news is that I did not have to read it twice either. 😆 Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future.
Can disposable and dispensable and the easily replaceable refuse refuse to be treated like trash?
Ah …finally someone uses the word refuse in a comment. So it was not so abstract after all. Thanks IHM for saying so much with little. 🙂
heheh..so funny…absolutely tongue in cheek…loved your post
😛 thankooooo LP …glad to see you back !!
well written ….
what disturbed me … was it being based on real ppl …
I rmr making some sketches on it some times back. I was so obsessed with Domestic violence issue … and wanted to do some thing that time ….
funny … we forget things so quickly and move on with our life
Welcome to the blog Ankit !! It is based on how a 2 yr old (my son) treats the vic“TIN”. The graphic nature of the post was an attempt to relate to the actual human pain that some unfortunate ones go through. The twist in the end was to provide relief to the reader and yet try and keep the message alive. Hope you liked it. Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future. 🙂
brilliant!! though had me cramping in disgust till the end 🙂
Sorry about the graphic details. But I am sure you will agree it was all in context 😉 Thanks for your kind comment 😛
Yes, I know I am late to read this post – but look at your fan following. Good testimony to how nice the story is. Ha Ha Ha.
Inimitable, THE blogueur style.
Ah Ramesh … so glad to see you back. The comment eyes have been yearning for your presence. Glad you liked it. 😆 Thanks so much for your encouraging words !!
My smile curve was down till the end 😦
Very nicely written.
Welcome to the blog Zainab. Glad the curve turned positive. 😛 Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future.
Okay, got it! But had to read it again to get it. Interesting post
Welcome to the blog Phoenixritu 🙂 Thanks for your comments. Hope to see more of you in future.
Nice post. Just promoted it. I hope you win. 🙂
Thankoooo Ani 😛 If I do not win, a post about my dejected state of mind is in the works 😦
Lovely post! 🙂
Welcome to the blog AOR 🙂 Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future !!
gosh that was voilent. just finished reading something on domestic voilence, and this was a punch in the gut (pun not intended) 🙂
Sorry about the graphic details. Hopefully you will remember the humor part. 😆
I was hoping for a rescue till the end…But your “twist” in the tale got me.
I hope it got you in a nice kind of way 😛 Thanks for your comment.
I had to read it twice. The twist was placed just right. Good post!
Welcome to the blog Hiyaa. Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future. 😛
Hey LEB! sorry i am late so cannot vote for u, if i could i would have voted twice! Wonderful expression, very well written, if its your first attempt in humour, then hats off!!
Just where did u get this idea?!
when r u putting new pic?!! am waiting!
RESTLESS
(http://myworldmyperception.blogspot.com)
Welcome to the blog Restless. No need to apologize at all. Your support is much appreciated. I think this is probably my millionth attempt at humor and am not sure how well that is working out for me. Please feel free to check out some older posts to let me know your thoughts. I got the idea from my son’s lack of tiredness. 😛 About the picture … will need to work on that one. Thanks for your kind words. Hope to see more of you in future. 😛
I think I prefer your regular style of writing. From about four lines in I knew this is where it was headed, but that’s not your failing as a writer. It is my failing as a reader because I can’t enjoy the piece as it goes along. My mind has to jump ahead and try to guess where this is going.
It’s descriptive and could fool very easily, but I am suspicious kinda girl 🙂 I like the ease with which your paragraphs flow into one another. There’s absolutely no disconnect, something that I fail to achieve when I write.
All in all, it kept me reading to the very end. I like 🙂
Thanks TRQ 😛 I am glad to know that you think that at least I have a style of writing. Coming from you that means a lot. How did you know ? Even I did not know I would end it like this 😆 Thanks so much for your kind words. And please …. do not even think along the lines of what you think you fail to achieve. Your writing is number uno !! 🙂
Amazing post – poignant and had me hanging on to the end…..and what an end it was! Clever is too mild an adjective.
Will be back for more – for sure, LEB.
Welcome to the blog Corinne. Glad you liked it. Thanks for your comment. Hope to see more of you in future. 😛
oh come on… I read this post now and till the last two paras, felt like this was a doemstic violence scenario being played out or something like violece with teenage maid etc…
A practical Emotional Attyachar if there was any
Like the flow of the story and how powerfully it was told!
Will be back for more later
oh come on… I read this post now and till the last two paras, felt like this was a domestic violence scenario being played out or something like violence with teenage maid etc…
A practical Emotional Attyachar if there was any
Like the flow of the story and how powerfully it was told!
Will be back for more later
wow… gud post…..well written and brief….nice subject and presentation…keep blogging and all the best…….
By the way:
hi………i’m a 15 year old blogger…..currently taking part in the “My Demand” contest……
please read my post n support me by voting if u find it interesting….
My post link: http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=30629
Greetings,
Mohammed!
Superb write up. I loved the way you handled the sensitive subject and combined it with a grasping narrative. Kudos!
Loved it.. Hehe..
By the way nice blog yu have here..
Bookmarking it for sure.
Toodles
Nia charms
http://www.allfacesofneha.blogspot.com
ooh la la….. !!aweomsE writing