IT IS A CURSE TO BE A WOMAN

IT IS A CURSE TO BE A WOMAN
by A.Priyangah

There was a loud bang. The noise was almost defeaning. The door had splintered and fallen to the floor. Kamala whilred around in shock. A gigantic figure was standing there. The hands of the figure were covered in blood. As though it had taken an huge amount of effort to cut down the lock of the door.

                In a swift motion, before kamala could realize What had happened, the figure had started searching and upturning all the contents of the nearby cupboards.

                Without thinking for a moment, kamala started clutching the figure’s hands and tried stopping it from whatever it was doing. For a split second, she didn’t realise what happened, then the pain came her head was burning like anything. The figure had pursued her with so much force that kamala’s head had collected with a nearby oak table.

                The pain was extremely unbelievable. Blood was flowing as though all it wanted was only freedom. Her eyes started tuning misty.  She could not see clearly.

                Fearing she might not open her eyes, if she closed them even for a moment, she started straining her eyes to stay awake.

                Before her she could see the figure searching the dustbins, turning all its contents on the floor.

                Memories came flooding ,she saw the figure helplessly. . . .

                Her  head pained like anything to even think but the thoughts can flowing into her mind.

                It is said that only at the times of death that the entire life of us, or as much as we remember them, come before us.

                Kamala’s earliest memories were those of the orphanage. She was told that her mother had left her there, since an fourth girl child was not welcome to the family. Kamala knew nothing of love and affection. She grew under the horrible conditions for most of her childhood.

                It was all until vikram came into her life she was fourteen years then and a full woman. Vikram was 5 years elder than her. He was sent there by his aunt and uncle because his parents had died in an Accident. He came from a wealthy background. The filthy conditions of the orphanage were unbelievable to him , he even tried to commit suicide unable to withstand anymore. It was kamala who came to his rescue. The scenes came alive before her eyes.

                Soon they had become friends sharing everything about their past lives. Kamala liked vikram a lot. At first, even vikram who thought her only as his friend developed a liking towards her. Kamala was childish, but bold at times and above all carrying and affectionate. They were an perfect couple. Vikram soon joined to work in a construction site as a laborer. As soon as he had enough money, both vikram and kamala rented a home and moved there.

She remembered how life was wonderful for both of them. But it hurt kamala to see vikram working hard at the site while she was idle at home. So she strated to learn stitching and spent her time helping the neighborhood women with their dresses. Soon vikram moved to an bigger company, this time, as the supervisor.

The images were moving faster now.
It was her delivery date. She was rushed to the hospital. There was only pain. And when she opened her eyes vikram was clutching a small bundle in his hand. It was a baby boy. Tear welled in her eyes.

Kamala thought how the rest of her life was spent by bringing up Pratap. Those were the happiest days of her life. She would wonder at times, how God had been grateful to her for all the wonderful moments.

Terrible scenes came unfolding now…….the arguments between vikram and her…..he had changed…………..he had gotten to the habit of returning late at night…………sometimes only at dawn. And then never…………….

She closed her eyes…………..tears were flowing across her cheeks……vikram had left her for his boss, an wealthy widower.

                                       

Kamala thought sadly……..all these times he was with her since their time in the orphanage, the only thing he ever had in mind was to become wealthy again and kamala had foolishly thought it to be love.

She opened her eyes again, Pratap……….unable to hear the separation of vikram she turned her anger towards the only victim ,pratap. She started to shout at him for meager things. Afraid that she might hurt him she had put him in a boarding school.

She would only see him once in there months and it surprised Kamala at times now fast he could grew.

She closed her eyes again and the memories came too forcefully…
Pratap was 18 years old, when he had finished schooling. With colourful marks, he had joined as esteemed college. But it was only after that he began to changed. At first, kamala had thought it was due to the load, but when pratap lost more and more weight she took him aside to ask his problem. As expected, he refused it. But the problems kept on coming. This staffs spoke about him. Soon she heard what was wrong.

Her son had become an drug addict.
He denied it whenever she questioned him about it.

At first she too had tried to believe him but soon it came to light. Sensing that hostel was his main store for drugs. She had taken him home.

She tried to face him to come out of it but he was stubborn.

She stared helplessly at the figure before her. She had removed all his drugs from home and had tried to lock him up in a room so that he would forget about it.

But his rage was overwhelming.

Now he was standing before her. The syringe in his arm injecting himself.

It brought kamala back to reality she tried to move but her entire body had become numb.
 She thought helplessly about her state. No family to care about her, no friends to help, not even her son now. Her life had become empty. She closed her eyes. The world swirled around her and slowly, very slowly there was blackness around her….