Short Stories

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In many ways it made perfect sense to Neerav, and after speaking to his neighbor, an ember of hope began to fan into flame. Still, the burden of his impetuous decision remained as remorse forced bitter tears slowly down his clenched jawline. He pulled aside his home's "door," a mangled tarpaulin sheet, and stared down the rows of shacks and shanties, bare-bones living conditions for the families that called them home. Lean-tos and scrap material provided shelter for those, like Neerav, born mercilessly into a world of extreme poverty. The events that had transpired came rushing back, tears morphing to vertigo and nausea as his mind tossed in a deep, dark sea of regret.

The idea came to him as he saw neighbor girls vanish from the village and disappear into distant hope, what seemed the only answer for those left to pillage through life. Neerav had become angry at the despair his family was enduring. Out of desperation, they rummaged through garbage, sifting through countless filth to find rags, plastic bottles, pieces of metal, anything of value. They were regarded as mere beggars; thieves. The caste system had set the course of Neerav's life the day he was born, and in many ways, controlled the dreadful decision he made that day as he watched his oldest daughter, at eleven years of age, walk away with a man who had made him a promise, �She can work for me. She will give you and your family a better life; hope of no longer being a backward caste.� The man�s simple, stinging words continued to torment him. The transaction simultaneously completed Neerav�s goal and destroyed all that he had left.

Bringing himself to the present, Neerav watched the foreigner depart from his vision and turned his watchful eyes away from the repressive view as the missionary�s words resigned through his soul. The burden weighed heavy � causing his heart to nearly implode from the struggle. The rest of his family had already left to scour through the streets or to sell the few items they had been able to find in yesterday�s trash. The emptiness of the home left him with his thoughts; filtering through ways to redeem what he now realized he had lost and clinging to the hope the foreigner had offered.
On the opposing side of town, the brothel held ugliness in contrast to Neerav�s beautiful and only daughter, Aruni. She was remaining true to her promised refusal to give in to her slumlord�s demands, yet her face wore the outcome of his reaction. Dried blood from the latest blow marred the top of her forehead, while a wretched bruise revealed its healing process on her cheek. Her frail, malnourished body reflected the hopelessness she felt in her heart. Recalling the look of sheer defeat on the face of her father and the emptiness in the slumlord�s eyes as she was handed over, Aruni knew she had to find her way to freedom. By the first week�s end, realization set in that what was once perceived as a dream was actually a living nightmare, a customary fate for many girls of a backward caste life.

Fighting against an acceptance of her new life, Aruni petitioned daily to her gods to free her from this prison, but none would answer her cry. She listened to the desperate pleas of other girls who hung on to the same frail hope as she while the veteran girls hardened their hearts and turned to silence, their eyes hollow ...waiting for their turn to die. Aruni refused to become shallow and empty like those girls. In the vast sorrow that had enveloped her, Aruni clasped to an unseen promise and called out to the unknown a prayer of her soul�s deepest longing before being interrupted by the slumlord�s sinister smile, �You have a new one who has called for you. Do not disappoint.�

Aruni turned her eyes upward and trudged silently towards what would become a walk into the torments of Hell. Sight of the compound diminished in the distance, and light from the sun�s descent pierced her eyes as she rounded a dusty corner. She proceeded down the pathway to her assigned location, knowing if she strayed or attempted to escape, the outcome would be fatal. From the beginning, the girls quickly learned how disposable they were in a world of unspeakable darkness. Moving closer towards the sunset, she noticed a figure ahead standing in her direct pathway. Approaching with caution, Aruni and the stranger came face to face. Though she expected demands, his soft-spoken words were a breath of fresh air in the filth that surrounded them. �I have been watching you beautiful one.� The man had gentleness about him when he spoke, a voice of protection. �He has heard your prayers, and I have come to return you to your father. You are no longer a slave to the slumlord. Your price has been paid.� Slowly tears of joy began to stream down her face and a peace blossomed in her heart. Gathering her hand into his, the two walked silently away from the compound, interrupted only by joyous sobs coming from deep within Aruni�s heart.

Staring into a void, Neerav�s flicker of hope was extinguished the moment his family returned home early from their work; nothing in their hands to show for their labor. Forcefully he turned toward the doorway, preparing to exit into the streets, when his eyes caught a sudden movement. Emerging forth from the curtain was the missionary who had earlier given him a glimpse of hope - and behind him stood a bedraggled shell of a girl. Neerav took hold of the girl�s face and gently lifted her eyes to his own. An amber light shone within as he gently wrapped his arms around her, recognizing that before him stood the beloved possession he had chosen to give away as a sacrifice for his family. His precious and only daughter had been returned.

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