Sahityasetu

I don’t like this lockdown at all. It has created such a problem in my beautiful life. It was because of this lockdown that Anush uncle stayed here. You know he creates so much trouble for me? He is not my real uncle. He is a friend of my new mummy. You know what new mammy means no? This new mammy is not my real mummy. My real mummy was…

It’s a story of many years back, before seven or eight years. That day I and my mummy were returning from school. Mummy was a teacher there and I was in 2nd standard. Our school had an annual function after a few days. I was going to sing a song. We were returning home after practice. We were on the scooty. Mummy had worn a helmet. Her purse was hanging near her feet. I had my schoolbag behind on my back. I was still singing. The road was empty but I don’t know from where suddenly a loaded riksha appeared and crashed with us. And ‘BANG’. Our scooty toppled. My mum and I fell down. The road was very rough. And hot too. I remember only this much. I don’t know what happened after that but when I woke up I was on a hospital bed. I could not sit up, there was a bandage on my head and my back was paining like hell.

I saw Papa standing near my bed. I asked for mummy. He said, ‘Prita beta, God took her away from us.’ And mummy was gone. For so many days I could not get up. I had two surgeries but the doctor said that there was some irreparable injury in my spinal cord and I will never be able to stand up or walk. I will have to sit in a wheelchair, always. I came home after a few days. Mummy was not there but a pretty, good aunty had come. She was to look after me. Her name was Kaushal aunty. She was very nice. She loved me very much. Loved me like Mummy. But how can she be my mummy? I used to cry a lot. Papa brought an electric wheelchair for me. Kaushal aunty taught me how to use it, to read, write, sing and move around the house on a wheelchair.

Now I sit on it and do whatever I like. Now I know that some vertebrae in my spinal cord are broken so I will never be able to stand up or walk. I am used to that. Now I don’t cry much. I go to school. I am in 7th standard now. Then Kaushal aunty became my new mummy, I call her Kaushal mummy. This Anush uncle is Kuashal mom's brother’s friend. That day when they said on TV about lockdown Anush uncle had come to meet Kuashal aunty. He stays in some other city. He used to visit us earlier too. He used to tell me jokes, play with me, and keep me happy. I liked him very much. Now I don’t like him. I loathe him.

The other day when they announced lockdown on TV Kaushal mummy said, ‘Anush, leave for home just now. You will reach there by 12. People will be waiting for you.’ Anush uncle has aunty at his home, his son has appeared for 10th exam. But he did not go. He replied, ‘Aakash is there to look after. I’ll stay here to give company to Prita.’

Prita means I. My papa’s name is Ashvinbhai. I am twelve years old. I am in school, 7th standard. There have been no exams due to corona, otherwise I would have gone to 8th standard. I have to stay at home because schools are closed due to corona. Everything is closed. Otherwise I go to school, go to music class to play keyboard. I go to my friends’ house also. I was so happy. When at home I used to study, play songs on keyboard. I even went downstairs in our compound by getting into the lift. Girabaa always went with me. My papa works in a leading pharmacy company. He cannot come home every day. They are doing research to find out medicine for corona. But he calls me on a video call everyday on whatsapp. Kaushal mummy also never leaves me alone with anybody except with Girabaa. She is a dress designer. She has her studio in the house. Often I sit with her in the studio and study, talk with her, watch her working. She makes very beautiful designs. She designs my dresses also.

Girabaa who stayed with us to look after me had gone to see her son on that day. She had to stay there. The cook also doesn’t come. So Kaushal mummy has to do everything. She has to cook, clean the house, wash clothes, look after me, everything. I cannot help her much you know? Our flat also is very big. Four bedroom penthouse on tenth floor with terrace. There is a garden too. Papa has bought this flat so that I can move around on the terrace. But this lockdown has stopped everything. Now this Anush uncle harasses me. I feel very angry. I know Papa doesn’t like him much. Kaushal mummy also feels angry.

You know what Anush uncle does? When Kaushal mummy is busy with housework he comes near me and touches me. I push him away but he comes again and again. He moves his hand on my face and makes such noises, yukk… Kaushal mummy comes to my room very often. She says, ‘Prita will stay alone Anush. Go and sit in the drawing room.’ But he doesn’t go. He says, ‘It’s ok,’ and would open a book and start reading. As soon as Kaushal mummy goes he would start doing bad touch. Do you know what bad touch is? I understand everything. Our teachers in school have told us. My counsellor Ruchita aunty also told me. ‘Don’t allow anybody to do a bad touch.’ But what can I do? I can’t run away. This Anush uncle is a bad man. Then he says, ‘You are grown up now.’ What is his business? Why is he bothered if I am grown up or not? He needs a strong thappad, what else? I once tried but he held my hand with such force…..

When will this lockdown go? I feel like crying. Earlier we two, Kaushal mummy and I were in the house. Then this one came. I don’t feel like speaking his name.

In those days, you know, when I had nothing else to do I used to read story books, watch films on my laptop. I very much like to watch comedy. ‘Tom and Jerry’, Charlie Chaplin I like best. Mr. Bean also. I used to laugh so much that my Girabaa would say, ‘This girl goes mad laughing.’ I would even make Girabaa sit with me to watch film and then we both would laugh. But now when will Girabaa come back? Only after this lock down goes. That day I talked with her on mobile. I was crying and crying. She too sounded tearful. She said, ‘ How can I come my child? Buses have stopped, rikshas also don’t run.’ Lockdown will stay for many more days. Anush uncle also will stay all those days?

I feel afraid of him. He is a very dirty man. He shows me films on his tab. Those films have big big men and small girls…. I cannot even speak of that. I feel so much fear. I would close my eyes. But Anush uncle would tickle me to keep my eyes open. Then one day I snatched his tab and threw it away. It broke into pieces. That was good. But he started laughing.

What can I do? I cannot sleep at night. I don’t like eating. I feel afraid all the time. I feel like crying loudly. So many times I have asked Anush uncle ‘Please, don’t do all this.’ But he does it every day. How long will this lockdown stay? What if this Anush uncle stays here for many many days? What if Girabaa won’t come for many days? What do I do? Shall I tell all this to Ruchita aunty? Should I tell Kaushal mummy when she comes at night to put me to sleep? Should I tell Papa? Can you tell such a matter to anybody? What if somebody calls me a liar? If Anush uncle comes to know this will he harass me more? Should I tell this on the phone to Girabaa? I think I should do that. Girabaa is my best friend. I can tell her everything. Girabaa will surely believe me. I will do that.

I waited till it was night and my sleeping time. Kaushal mummy came to put me to sleep. I was awake but acted as if I was sleeping. When Kaushal mummy left I called Girabaa. I told everything to her. Everything. I sob profusely. Girabaa told me, ‘It is very late night dear. Don’t cry Pritu beta. Go to sleep. I will come tomorrow. OK?’ I heard her speak and went to sleep. Whole night I slept very nicely. In the morning I found that Papa had come. He was yelling like mad. He sounded very angry. I heard in his shouts saying, ‘Leave this house this instant. You…’ Kaushal mummy also said, ‘Shame on you, Anush. Get out.’

Is this Papa? When did he come? Sweet sweet Kaushal mummy also is yelling angrily. Is she scolding Anush uncle? How did they know? Who told them? Girabaa? Yes, it must be she. I cannot get up on my own. So I lay quietly for some time. Shouting continued for some more time. I could not hear Anush uncle’s voice. I heard the door closing. Then all was quiet. So I called Kaushal mummy. She picked up the phone and said ‘ Oh, Pritu beta, you have woke up? I am coming’.

After some time Papa and Mummy both came. They hugged me tightly. I cried and cried. Then Papa said, ‘Don’t cry beta, I will go and bring Girabaa today.’

I feel so relieved, so happy. Girabaa will come. Anush uncle is gone, gone, gone. Hey my lockdown is over!

*****

Earlier published in Gujarati magazine “Shabdsar” October 2020 issue.