Bitter chocolates

Background : the protagonist (krupa) belongs to a middle class family. Both her parents are working and work hard to make ends meet. But in the hussle-bussle of life they aren’t able to take time for their only child whom they love so dearly!! Parents generally depend on others to take care of the child

Main protagonist (krupa) : 11-12 years of age. Innocent, quiet, naïve, frightened, socially withdrawn, lacks confidence, finds difficult to talk to people…

-avoids eye contacts

-doesn’t express herself,even not to parents or friends

-spends time playing alone

Uncle (Akash) about 35 years of age

Appears decent, caring, loving, pampers the child, spends money on her. Has good terms with parents. Visits their home often

-confident and convincing

-always smiling

-adores the kid. Calls her his favorite

Father : early 30’s

Caring, concerned , loving, cool, finds solace in his family, is fond of the child. Tries to strike a conversation with child, fails usually

Mother : worried about the child’s behavior, doesn’t trust her, cant take out enough time for her. Frustrated due to her social conditions.

(Sometime in the evening)

She sat alone, absorbed in her thoughts. Too numb to feel anything. She knew what had happened was wrong, ugly but she couldn’t understand what was it!! She felt dirty, guilty, ashamed.

She needed someone to talk to, someone to tell what was happening to her. But this was bound to be kept secret… otherwise he might tell her parents!!

It was a while later she heard the doorbell ringing. Unwillingly, she sat up and went to open the door for her parents. She subsided her feelings so that she could confront them, an art she had learned over time… she had tornados swirling inside her but now she knew how to appear cool.

She took her doll with her, which was the only object she could cling to.

Now since her parents were home, she felt more secured and confident.

Her dad hugged her and Krupa could barely manage to hold back her tears. She looked at him with a silent cry of help. He knew there was something wrong but couldn’t figure out what!!

“how was the school” he asked

“as usual, nothing new”

“did you do your home work?”

“no, not yet… but I ll do it later” Krupa was so taken into herself that’s he almost forgot she had homework

“what would you like to have for dinner?” asked her mom

“nothing, I am not hungry” said Krupa. She wasn’t hungry… she just wanted to run away. She just wanted a way out of this desolate abyss!!

“did Akash uncle drop by to see you?” asked her mom

And the name flared up the emotions she had buried deep down her soul. She nodded her head.

“must be him who got so many chocolates for her. He is going to spoil the child” Krupa heard her mother saying over her back. She was going to her room, in the world of her own.

“he mustn’t do it. We cant pay him back ever to what he doing for us” said her father with gratitude.

But her parents were too ignorant of the fact that the chocolates laid there all evening…unwrapped!!

They sat on the dinner table. She wasn’t much interested in eating. It was only out of their routine she had to sit on the dinner table when clock stroke 9. Her parents were worried about getting the roof repaired, getting the lawn mowed, paying electricity bills. She knew that her interference was neither required nor entertained.

She ate some bits and hid others which she would eventually throw away.

She went to bed

She was afraid, lying alone there, the darkness following her. The ugly, shameful darkness.

She always kept a scissor besides her to hush away the monsters of her nightmares… but even that wont help now. She felt helpless. She had thought of all the ways out. May be ending her own life would help…it was her own fault after all

--flashback—

“you are so beautiful…those red roses of your cheeks” and he kissed her. “does that feel good” “cause you feel so good to me, almost heavenly” and he touched her further.

“this is our one little secret. You know you are my favorite kid and I can’t afford to loose you.” He said with an ugly mocking smile. “you ll better listen to your uncle if you want those chocolates and toys…or ill tell your parents what a little slut you are”

She woke up with a start. Drenched in sweat. Feeling like a trash. Watching the darkness cover her. But she had no where to run to, no one to speak to. She sobbed and sobbed until dawn.

Next day at school.

Midst the cacophony of school, she walked alone… slowly, aware of the darkness that would follow her. She was too naive to talk to anybody. Too quiet. Too guilty.

She dint hear people making fun of her. It didn’t offend her anymore. She quietly walked in the class, engrossed in her thoughs.

She couldn’t concentrate what was going on in the class. She had given in. she dint even know when she picked up her pen and started sketching something unconsciously on the paper. Until suddenly she heard her name being called over her shoulder.

Her teacher was watching her sketch. Horrified. Fixed!!

Teacher and kid alone in the class

Krupa sobbed and sobbed, unable to tell anything. Her teacher wanted her to confide everything. She was certain of what the child was undergoing. She was concerned and wanted to help.

“its our little secret” kept coming to Krupa’s mind. She was afraid that her teacher might fail her and tell her parents, making the matter worse. Moreover, she was afraid that her parents would hold her responsible of everything that happened to her.

But she couldn’t take it anymore. She told everything… about being abused when her parents had gone working.

--flashback—

Doorbell rings

Krupa opened the door an saw her uncle with lots of chocolates in his hand and a mocking smile on his lips.

She stood appalled, aware of the consequences.

Akash entered the house and locked the door. He made himself comfortable on the couch. He asked Krupa to come near him.

She was so afraid and knew that saying no wasn’t an option. Her soul was torn, her eyes crying for help. She wanted to run away. Instead she clung tightly to her doll.

He took the doll from her and made her sit on his lap, fondling her. She felt uncomfortable.

He smiled and kissed her on her cheek.

“you are so beautiful…those red roses of your cheeks” and he kissed her. “does that feel good” “cause you feel so good to me, almost heavenly” and he touched her further.

“this is our one little secret. You know you are my favorite kid and I can’t afford to loose you.” He said with an ugly mocking smile. “you ll better listen to your uncle if you want those chocolates and toys…or ill tell your parents what a little slut you are”

She stood there too numb while her uncle left. She could still feel his touch. She felt dirty to her soul. No matter how she washed herself, there was something too ugly that remained.

*NARRATOR*

Abuse changes your life… fight back and change the life of your abuser by breaking your silence. It is important to talk about it. You raise awareness. But you can also prevent it by not letting it be a secret.

Your child can be abused by anyone… “anyone”. Listen to your child. Have faith in her.

Abusing casts a lifetime shadow on the person. Don’t let a moment’s misfortune mold the future of your child. Please listen to your child.

47% of the girls face abuse sometime in their life… mainly between the age of 11 to 16.

So far there is not a single law aimed at safeguarding children and protecting them against abuse!!