Chapter 19: Unexpected Truth

Book:An Unexpected Wedding Published:2024-5-1

Shourya PoV:
We went to meet the girl and her family. They called her to talk to me. I honestly lost my control over my emotions for a few minutes, seeing that girl with a bump as she is too young to carry a child. It’s tough to inquiry a rape victim.
“What is your name?” I asked the girl.
“Ganga,” she replied.
“How does this happen? Do you suspect anyone?” I came directly to the point.
Ganga started crying. I know how painful it is to explain what happened. As police, I must know what happened, and only then I can help her get justice.
“Don’t worry. Share your grief with DCP sir. He will help you in getting the justice,” Diya said softly to Ganga.
I observed Diya. She didn’t take her camera or any instrument to record anything. I liked her behavior. Diya is eager to help Ganga rather than making it a piece of sensational news and earning through it.
“Sir, I don’t understand anything. I don’t know how and what happened,” Ganga said with tears.
“How did you become pregnant without sleeping with anyone?” Someone said from her relatives.
I clenched my fist. How can they talk like this to an innocent girl without knowing the fact?
“I want everyone to go away. We need to talk to Ganga personally,” I said
As Diya is with me, everyone left us and went out.
“Ganga, you didn’t do anything wrong. We trust you. But, we need the information to do justice to you. Remember everything that happened in the last six months and tell us if you suspect anyone,” I said to her in a soft voice.
Ganga tried to remember. After half an hour, she started speaking.
“Sir, every day from my childhood, being a shepherdess, I used to go to the forest to feed the cattle. I used to accompany grandpa to the forest every day,” she said.
“Grandpa?”
“Yes, he is not my grandpa. He lives in my neighborhood,” she replied.
“Do you doubt him?”
She closed her eyes and tears escaped from her eyes. I understood that he might be the culprit.
“One day, that grandpa changed the way we go to feed our cattle. I asked the reason, but he said there is no fodder that side. Hence, he changed the route.
After reaching a little distance, he asked me to…………. ”
Gange sobbed, remembering the incident.
“Control yourself, Ganga, and tell me what happened.”
“He asked me to remove my clothes,” she said, shocking me.
I felt to punch that b*st*rd. What a pervert is he to behave so with a girl, who is of his grand child’s age! Society is becoming cold day by day. Anyway, I must save these innocent girls from the clutches of those heartless, cruel culprits.
“He too removed his clothes and did something to me. I felt uncomfortable, and I asked him why he is doing so. He said that everyone does in the same way, and if I say this to anyone, I will be cursed by the forest goddess and will die. So, I didn’t say this to anyone. He did this every day to me,” the girl said to me.
I asked Ganga to show him to me. We went to his house. Ganga confronted him, but as every culprit, he denied the truth and pushed the girl away. I punched him in the stomach and gave him a few more punch, which he deserves, and arrested him.
“See, because of you, all this happened. How can we live here anymore? We told you to keep quiet, but you reported to the police, and we lost our reputation in society,” her mom accused her.
I felt it’s not safe for Ganga to stay there anymore. I decided to join her in a home for women victims and asked her to accompany us. She agreed with me inspite of her parents’ refusal. The next day, we three went to our place, and I joined her in that home.
That older man was released on bail, and the court-ordered to take care of Ganga for three months until her delivery. Three months passed by, and Ganga gave birth to a baby boy. The DNA test was held, and he was proved as the son of that person. Court declared ten years imprisonment to him. Finally, Ganga won the battle. Unfortunately, her child was dead within a week due to a lack of nutritious food and proper rest.
However, Ganga is an inspiration for every girl to raise their voice against the injustice that happened to them. Though she is illiterate, I admire her for her courage and determination to get the culprit punished.
When I asked Ganga what her next move is, she replied bravely that she would lead her life by finding a job in the city and didn’t want to go to her village anymore.
No one on this Earth has the right to play with the self-respect of a girl. When something happens to a girl, though it’s not her fault, the whole world will be ready to shoot arrows at her. This makes a girl stay silent and bear injustice. Even the family shouts at her and advises to keep quiet as it’s a matter of their reputation. Is reputation that important than their daughter?
The family should stand as a supporting pillar and make her confident to confront the person who spoiled her life just within a few seconds. Who gave the right to him to play with her life? How can he quickly take advantage of her innocence? Today, as Ganga raised her voice and confronted him, she got justice. She continued her fight inspite of accusations by her own family and society. As she didn’t quit till the end, today, she became an inspiration to many girls. I saluted her in my heart for her courage and never quit attitude.
I hope every girl will stand for her self respect and dignity. We can end this cruelty of that culprits only when we fight together. It’s not just the victory of Ganga. It’s the victory of good over evil. The victory of every girl over every womanizer. The victory of courage over silence.
I got a little hope that one day my nation will be free from rape. Because when an innocent, illiterate, lonely girl can fight for justice and prove the truth, definitely I wish every girl can do it. The only weapon which is very powerful to end this torture towards the girl is her courage and confidence. Fight back until you win. Never quit unless you prove the truth to the world. Let your spirit rise and spread throughout the sky, inspiring every girl.
I looked back at Ganga with a smile and once again saluted her in my heart and moved ahead to catch another culprit and do justice to other victims.