Heart wrenching adoration Part-25

 “Khushi, I’ll tell you everything, but I only ask you to be just open-minded and patient.” I pleaded, looking at her to which she nodded resolutely.

We were seated on the merry-go-round in the deserted playground. Since it was on the other side of the football field, far away from the hostel, with its view partially obscured by huge birch trees nobody had a prayer of finding us here if anyone searched for us. I looked up at the hazy moon, trying to arrange my jumbled thoughts.

“Khushi, have you read about the caste system and all that in Indian traditions and customs?” I asked quietly.

“Um...yeah, I read about it. It has something got to do with Brahmin, Kshatriya, Shutra and all that.” She replied immediately and I smiled.

“Its Shudra, not shutra and yeah you are right! Despite the fact that the Indian Constitution absolutely prohibits any sort of discrimination on the basis of Caste, yet there are some Indians who are awfully set upon it. There are some people for whom love marriage, or more precisely inter-caste marriage is a taboo, and they can go to any length to stop it...which even means killings!” I whispered and heard khushi’s quick intake of breath. So, I quietened, letting my word hang ominously.

“So?” Khushi finally prompted me.

“My mom lived in Lucknow and just like Ranveer had pointed earlier, she belonged to a middle class family. She lived with her parents and brother and despite their not-so-sound financial status, she was quite much the pampered princess of her family. When she was merely 20, she met my father, Mr. Randhir Singha in one of her friend’s wedding and gradually they fell in love. They were pretty much crazy about each other...hopeless romantic!” I smiled as I used my di’s word to describe their relationship, shaking my head slightly.

“They wanted to marry each other. So, my mum told her family first. Even though my grandpa was reluctant at first, but eventually as he saw my dad’s love for her, he melted and gave his permission. Then, ball was in dad’s court. But, he didn’t dare utter a word to his family.”

“Why?” Khushi’s startled whisper interrupted me and my thoughts immediately darkened. I could practically fell hatred radiating from me.

“ Khushi, my dad was from one of the most influential and rich families in Haryana. But that wasn’t their only identity. They were also downright orthodox, to an excruciating extent! Even I don’t know, how this caste system and all works, but somehow my mum’s family belonged to lower cast than them and the fact that they were thoroughly middle class didn’t help it either! Now, khushi, you’ve to understand that even today there are certain bodies in this country which quite vehemently oppose such inter-caste love marriages and stuff and cross every limit to stop them. One such body is ‘Khaap Panchayat’. Have you heard about it ever?” I paused, looking down at her.

“No, the term is new for me.” She breathed, looking intrigued.

“Well, they are this group of people who have arrangement like normal panchayat, complete with sarpanch and all that. Theses panchayats are especially very dominant in Haryana and Rajasthan and often take arbitrary, literally sycophantic decisions to curb these inter-caste marriage and don’t even hesitate in getting the couples who defy them, murdered!” Khushi gasped, looking revolted. I nodded in understanding.

“In fact, murder is quite decent in front of the other punishments they inflict, which make death sentence look nothing but a walk on the path of roses! So, here’s the catch. You see, my paternal parents were ardent supporters and chaperones of this caste system. In fact, my dad’s father was the ‘Sarpanch’ of the khaap panchayat of their village. So, you can’t really blame my father for his unwillingness to tell his family. Though, my dad did call up his family to let them know about his marriage with my mother and tried to persuade his family into accepting them, but even he knew it was a lost cause.”I sighed, glowering at the night-sky.

“My dad’s family was very furious and my grandfather, in order to save his fickle reputation, gave orders to kill his own son and his wife!” 

“WHAT?” Khushi screamed, looking horrified.

“Yes, khushi! A father inflicted a death sentence on his own son, without flinching, without a second thought. Just because he had defied him! So, my parents were hunted and my dad who knew what his father was capable of, moved to Delhi along with my mum and her family. He didn’t want to leave my maternal parents alone, in case his dad’s men caught up with them. You know, there’s an age-old custom in my dad’s family that as soon as any male member of the family becomes a legal adult, he’s allowed his inheritance,...the part of the ancestral property."

"So, my dad naturally had his. So, he started his new business of hotels, which soon flourished. Then, my di, Anjali was born and 5 years later they had me. We were just the perfect family...or so my di tells me, since I was too small then.”I gazed unseeingly at moon, my hands clenched.

“But one day our little family was torn apart! My dad’s family caught up with us. I was just two then and as decided, they caught my father and tied him! Then They...they r...raped my mother and tried to bludgeon her to death! They even killed my mum’s dad when he tried to stop them. Me and my sister were not in the house at the time. My grandma and uncle had taken us out, otherwise those unworthy nutters would’ve killed us too."

" Neighbours called the police and informed us. Just in a single blow, on that wretched night  I was rendered orphan, my entire family torn apart, though at the time, I didn’t realize it.I was too young! Though my mother survived her injuries, she slipped into coma and when she regained consciousness some 4 years later, she had lost her senses. She couldn’t even recognise me! She didn’t know  that...that she had a son and a daughter...that she had a husband...a family!” I chocked, my wounds feeling raw.

I felt khushi’s arms go round me holding me tightly and I couldn’t help but lean into her warmth, seeking comfort.

“We went to the courts and sought protection. We filed a suit against my dad’s family. You know khushi, all those who were involved in that heinous crime were never brought to books, were never punished as my dad’s family was quite rich and was perfectly capable of throwing lots of money to evade justice. They threatened me grandma and maternal uncle to withdraw the case if they didn’t want us dead, and my nani finally broke down. "

"She had already lost her husband and daughter and now she didn’t want to lose us! So that was the end of it, though my dad never returned to us and nobody told me why.And all these years, I hated my father, thinking of him as a spineless man who left us in the direst situation...in that mess, until very recently!” I whispered softly, feeling regret burning in my voice.