“And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.”

- Mark Anthony

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With just a single step on the grounds of that one place she had been dreaming of for months now, every fiber of her being vibrated with anticipation. Adrenaline was coursing through her veins and her hands trembled. Yet she was deliriously happy, excited and felt more alive than she had ever before.

She felt as if the magnificent building of the Calcutta Medical College was smiling magnanimously down at her and in one breath she knew that this was where her heart lied. She was meant to be here… for the ones whom she loved as her own, for her sister who had always loved her more than anything else and above everything she was here for herself and for the dreams she had cherished for all her life.

Standing amidst the cultural heart of the country, she was astounded by the aesthetic ambience of the place. With a beautiful smile embellishing her modest features she looked around in utter amazement and the beauteousness of her smile multiplied several times as her eyes fell on the love of her life… 

BOOKS…

Sitting proudly in those glass chambers of the shops by the road side and smiling at every passerby. Chatters of the literati group of society sounded like perfect melody for the place. This place couldn’t have been any better.

And now that she had come this far, she knew this had to be it. This was the one time opportunity she had and she was determined to show everyone what a ‘WOMAN’ could do. A woman was not something they could crumble under their feet. A woman was someone who could break free of all the shackles binding her and fly free to reach her dreams.

There was no turning back now!

“Chhauri haee, padh likh ke ka kartayee?(She’s a girl, what will she do by studying?)”, the indurate chidings of the people she had been living with for last 20 years of her life reverberated in her ears and she sucked in a deep breath.

“Uuh padhtayee (She’ll study)”, that was what her elder sister had always said coming to her rescue and all her sister ever wanted was her to fulfill her own dreams.

Anuradha Jiji, this’s for you!

Taking one more deep breath and expressing her deepest gratitude to all the deities above, she entered the premises of Calcutta Medical College, only to get submersed by the serene surroundings of the place where she was going to spend her coming years. The placid morning breeze whiffed past her and the fragrance of freshly blooming flowers embraced her wishing her all the luck for her days ahead.

“Ms. Gayatri Joshi, it’s so great to see you here. I have been expecting you for a long time, my dear”, came the voice of the man who changed it all for her. The one who had recognized the passion she held within even when she couldn’t…Prof. Bhimsen Roy!

“Prof. Roy Sahab, it’s great to see you too! How have you been?”, Gayatri said with a slight smile and Prof. Roy returned the smile with all the warmth. “I’m doing great, Gayatri. And please address me just as Prof. Roy”, the middle aged man smiled again making his wrinkles appear quite prominently yet the shine he held in his eyes was nonpareil.

“I’ll try, Professor Sahab.”

“Just Professor or Prof. Roy!”

“Y-Yes! Professor”, she said with a shy smile fiddling nervously with the end of the falling drape of her cotton saree. All this was way too much for her. She had never imagined that one day she would be studying at a place as magnificent as the Calcutta Medical College.

“Good. Now, as I see you’ve just arrived, I assume you haven’t completed the rest of the registration formalities.”

“I was just about to go for the same, Professor”, Gayatri replied with her eyes trained on the worn out sandals she was wearing then.

“Do you mind if I accompany you to the office? Even I have some work in the administrative block”, he asked with yet another smile and all Gayatri did was nod her head.

With a slight gesture of his hand, Prof. Roy took the lead and started moving ahead with Gayatri following right after him. As they proceeded in the direction of the administrative block, she couldn’t help but let her eyes wander around taking in the little details of anything to everything.

Amidst the lush green lawns, was the stone pavement that led to various blocks and academic buildings. Turning around the corner of one particular building, a soothing aroma of ginger and cardamom tea flared her nostrils. Ah,heaven!

That must be the cafeteria. Craning her neck and peeping inside a little she saw a few students sitting around wooden tables and benches enjoying the various delicacies served over there.

And that instantly reminded Gayatri of her beloved sister who was one of the greatest reasons that a girl as simple as her showed the courage to step out of the pretty unknown village of Ramnagar and dreamt of having a future ahead in the mighty nerve center of the entire nation - Calcutta!

It was her fight and no matter if she had no one by her side, she knew her sister would always be there even without asking. In her sister, she had found a mother, a mentor, a best friend, a confidant and her greatest support. Gayatri was the youngest of all the five sisters and the most pampered sibling especially by her Anuradha Jiji. She loved her as her own.

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A few months ago…

“Gayatri, why don’t you listen to me? Don’t go out there”, her sister Anuradha tried convincing her yet again seeing her haywire condition as Gayatri shuffled around her room to find some of her old cotton sarees.

“Jiji, they need our help. We can’t sit back”, Gayatri replied holding a bundle of cotton clothes in her arms and securing it above her waist and under her armpit, and Anuradha’s disquietude 
increased several folds. Her baby sister always thought about others before anything else… even before herself.

Sensing her sister’s apprehensiveness, Gayatri took a deep breath holding both her hands with her free one, “They are our people, Anuradha Jiji. Our near and dear ones who are dying out there. Aren’t we supposed to help them if we can? They would have done the same I’m doing.”

Anuradha sighed. They wouldn’t have but her sister wasn’t one of the kinds who would hold themselves back even when they could help. Every bit of the little knowledge she had gained of herbs and medicines from the Vaidya ji of the village, she wanted to put it to the use of everyone out there.

“Gayatri, uuh Haija haee. Tohra kuch ho jaitu tab? (Gayatri, that is CHOLERA. What if something happens to you?)” Yes, she was scared… scared for her little sister beyond her wits. She couldn’t afford to lose her.

“Nothing will happen to me Jiji. Don’t worry”, and with those words being said Gayatri stormed out of the house without another word. And all Anuradha could do was just pray for the well-being of her youngest sister. She had always loved her the most.

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It was the year of 1885…

India had been shedding tears of blood for the loss of Her brave sons forfending Her honor had become too much for Her. And even after the tremendous bloodshed, the gallant warriors were not ready to stop before achieving what they really yearned for.

FREEDOM!

It was high time they finally fight for what was rightfully theirs. And they weren’t going to compromise at anything less!

After the first phase of the peasant struggle against the British in 1877, Champaran had become one of the most important centers of the brewing revolutionaries and one of the most tremendous fighters battling for the honor of the nation was Prof. Bhimsen Roy. A legendary revolutionary who was adding fuel to the little sparks here and there, and merging them together into a larger flame.

Prof. Bhimsen Roy, one of the most honored professors of the Calcutta Medical College, had been visiting Champaran quite often and when he heard about the outbreak of Cholera in a village, around fifty five kilometers away from Champaran, he couldn’t help but decide to pay a visit.

But what he never knew was something astounding had already been waiting for him in that small village.

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With each raucous squall of her own loved ones, her heart shattered even more that she couldn’t help but let silent tears escape from the corner of her eyes. No matter how much she wanted to ease their sufferings, their pain had left her crestfallen. She was terrified…and not for herself but for the ones she loved, who were getting crushed callously by the ruthless demon of Cholera and the blood thirst of the cacodemon didn’t seem to be quenching anytime sooner or later.

Prof. Bhimsen Roy who had reached Ramnagar a couple of minutes ago, was left flabbergasted by a young maiden who had been just running around and helping anyone and everyone asking for her aid. The empathy she carried around for all the patients was really commendable and heart warming. With those experienced eyes of his he could see what caliber she had and what passion she held within her.

“Kakka, sab kuch theek ho jaitwa. (Kaka, everything will be fine.)”

“Kaki, chinta naahi kara. (Kaki, don’t take tension.)”

These were just sentences. A mere collection of words but from Gayatri they were nothing less than a remedy for the people around.

“Greetings, my dear!”, Prof. Roy said with a smile as he stood next to her and Gayatri was taken aback. Was he talking to her? Lifting her head up, she found him staring directly at her clearing the slightest doubts of hers that he was talking to someone else. It was like something she had never imagined.

“Prof. Roy Sahab?” No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t hide her astonishment and Prof. Roy chuckled at her baffled expressions.

“Do you know me, my dear? Tumi amake cheno?”

“Everyone does”, Gayatri answered back immediately, “We all know who you are and what you are doing for our country. We will be obliged to you for all our lives.”

“That’s my duty being a proud citizen of this nation and it would be an honor if I could do something for my motherland. Now, that you already know my name…May I know your name please?”

“Gayatri. My name is Gayatri Joshi”, she replied with a weary smile and Prof. Roy instantly sensed the gloominess she was trying to hide behind all those curtains of smiles. “You don’t seem alright, my dear”, he spoke the first thought that crossed his mind immediately.

“I’m fine, Professor Sahab. But my loved ones aren’t”, Gayatri replied with a choked voice throwing a glance at all the patients in that small room of their Vaidyashala. “These medicines don’t seem like working anymore.”

“I see that you’ve a pretty good knowledge of the medicines. Have you learnt about them?”

Gayatri shook her head in denial, “No! I just have the elementary knowledge from the local school. The little knowledge I have about medicines is because of Vaidya ji.”

And that took Prof. Roy by surprise. This young woman in front of him was really a wonder and deep down in his heart,maybe, he knew what she wished for.

“So, what do you want to do, Gayatri?”

Gayatri smiled weakly at him and sighed in despair, “I want to be someone like you. Maybe then I’ll be capable enough to find a powerful remedy to help my dear ones in fighting this battle. I feel so helpless but I know I can’t do anything.”

“Yes, you can!”, Prof. Roy shot back immediately and Gayatri was startled. “I can?”, the words involuntarily left her mouth and he nodded his head in approval before continuing, “It’s time for the admission of new students in our Calcutta Medical College. Exams will be up soon. I suggest you sit for the entrance test.”

“But what if I don’t make it?”, Gayatri asked and Prof. Roy smiled. At least she wasn’t denying.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to. And if you don’t then you can always give it another try. Just think about I’ve said.”

Gayatri nodded her head and with yet another genuine smile Prof. Bhimsen Roy went back to Calcutta.

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Anuradha paced to and fro in front of her house as she waited impatiently for her sister’s arrival. She prayed earnestly to all the divinities above for everything to go well. The moment her eyes landed on the approaching figure of Gayatri she ran up to her, her desperation reaching up to its peak level, “What happened?”

Gayatri looked at her sister emotionlessly and walked past her making her way straight into the house and sat on a jute cot with a thump. With a heavy heart and fighting back her tears, Anuradha followed her sister before sitting in front of her on her knees and holding Gayatri’s hand in assurance .

“It’s okay, Gayatri. You can try it again. There are…”

“I did it!”

“What?!”

“I did it, Anuradha Jiji. I got selected”, Gayatri replied with yet another emotionless face and Anuradha was confused, “That’s great Gayatri… but why are you so sad then?”

“How will I manage the studies, Jiji? What about the funds I’ll need?”, she finally spoke her heart out and Anuradha sighed, “You said they give scholarship of Rs. 20 to all the female students.”

“But will that be all I’ll need? I mean… the books and…”

“I will give you whatever you’ll need”, Anuradha blurted out immediately and took Gayatri by surprise. Yes, she knew that her sister would help her but wouldn’t that be too much. How will she manage everything on her own? Yes, her sister was married but even though how would she!

Sensing her sister’s exact thoughts, Anuradha said immediately, “I always wanted to study Gayatri but was never able to. Now, I want you to fulfill our dreams… yours and mine together. I know these people won’t let a woman rise, so, run away. Go far away and live your dream. That’s all I want from you.”

And that was exactly what Gayatri did. She ran away to live her dream… her sister dream… and of every woman’s who wanted to break off the manacles of this orthodox society to achieve something her heart desired.

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A small pat on her shoulders pulled Gayatri out of her thoughts and she realized they were already in front of the academic block. Prof. Bhimsen Roy gave her a worried look and asked, “Are you alright, Gayatri?”

“Yes… Yes, Professor. Just thinking of my village and how things have changed in the course of just few months. I owe a lot to you.”

“You don’t owe me anything, my dear. Just promise me that you’ll give your best here and I will be more than happy”, he said these lines with such an affection that her heart overwhelmed with gratitude and respect towards him. Even though she never said that but he was like a father figure to her. A father who had done things more than a daughter could ask for.

“I promise. I will give more than my best to this place and to you”, Gayatri replied with a smile and Prof. Roy nodded his head in approval. He knew she would. It was high time that the flair she had buried deep within her showed up.

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As Gayatri proceeded to complete the remaining procedures, Prof. Roy went to get his personal work done with a word of meeting in an hour before bidding her the farewell for the time being.

The whole procedure of getting herself registered in the Bachelor of Medicine (MB) took forty five minutes and with fifteen minutes still in her hand before meeting Prof. Roy, Gayatri decided to have a look around. Keeping all her belongings on a wooden chair in the corner of the office room, she went out.

Walking down the corridor, she tried greeting everyone with a polite smile. A very few of the young women she met on her way greeted her back with a smile of appreciation and the men… some looked at her with a not so discreet disapproval and some ignored her as if she never existed, whereas some had been kind enough to acknowledge her with a nod of their heads. Gayatri sighed. All her coming years here immediately seemed pretty long now.

Walking down a little further, she noticed a man, wearing a white dhoti and khadi kurta, standing at the end of the corridor. By the looks of him, he appeared to be another one of the professors. So, she decided to move a little closer and maybe greet him too. He was discussing something with two other male students.

From the corner of her eyes, Gayatri saw another female student, just like her, standing behind the professor with a book in her hands. Apparently, she wanted to ask something but to Gayatri it was quite evident that the professor had been ignoring her making it pretty clear that he didn’t approve her presence in the college. 

And at last he walked past the student without giving it a look what she wanted to ask. He had already made a conclusion that whatever it was, it wasn’t worth his time.

Disgusted by another show of the orthodox society she was living in, Gayatri stepped back and hurriedly turned around walking past everyone and away from all. She kept walking aimlessly and when her feet finally gave up she found herself in a secluded corridor, possibly somewhere behind the administrative block.

And all of a sudden the serene surroundings of the college turned into something terrifying and bone-chilling. Oddly, Gayatri couldn’t see a single student down this corridor. The silence pressed in on her and all she could hear were her own rapid heartbeats. She couldn’t shrug off the feeling that something wasn’t right but she continued to move ahead anyway. She wasn’t of the type one could hold back.

But she regretted her decision the very next moment as she felt a gush of air swoosh in and immediately out of her body as if something ‘unseen’ had passed right through her and she stumbled back. It sent a shiver down her spine and she felt her blood freeze in her veins. Her brain had shut down immediately. This was something too… too foreign to her and she had never experienced something as terrifying as this ever before.

And the next moment, she felt a breath at her back and the hairs on the nape of her neck bristled. Turning around instantly, she expected to see someone but all she could see was an empty corridor yet again. She tried to scream, but the inside of her mouth lacked any moisture and a croak was all that issued from her gape.

Without giving it another thought she ran… she ran as if her life depended on it. Her feet gave up but she didn’t. She breathed in and out but air wouldn’t enter her lungs. Starving for air, her heart raced at tremendous speed and that was the moment she bumped into someone. Her senses gave up and all she could see was a male figure before darkness engulfed her in its merciless embrace and she fell unconsciously in his arms.

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“How do you feel now, Ms. Sudha?”, he asked his twenty two years old patient with a small smile and she nodded her head with a bright smile on the view of such a gentleman. He was the first man ever in her life who had talked to her with such a respect that undoubtedly shone in his eyes.

“Your vitals look very much fine to me, miss. I guess you can go and attend your classes now. And if you feel any type of uneasiness then please make sure to come and pay me a visit”, he said in a professional tone but still that smile of appreciation lingered on his lips.

“I will. Thank you so much, Doctor”, Sudha replied and he nodded his head accepting her word of gratitude.

That very moment the doors to the college infirmary burst open and all he could make out through the flimsy white curtain separating the beds of the infirmary was a man carrying a woman in his arms and not soon enough he heard the anxious voice of his senior, Prof. Bhimsen Roy, as he started treating the patient.

Through the curtain his eyes could behold a female figure lying motionlessly on the bed and he sucked in a deep breath on this unusual feeling tugging at his heart. His hands itched to reach out and pull away the curtain just to have a look at ‘Her’.

He felt an unusual force pulling him towards her and for the first time he didn’t want to fight back he wanted to let himself go with the force for he felt something, or precisely someone, really special was waiting for him on the other side of the curtain. Till now, he had only heard about the connections between the people who had never met but it was the first time he was feeling something like this.

Serene and Pure… these were the only words he could use to describe this feeling.

And when he heard her mutter something in that excruciating voice of hers, his heart raced. He could feel the pain she might be feeling right now. If not anything more, then not anything less either. He leaned closer to the curtain and he could finally hear small bits of her murmurs…

“Anu… dha… Ji”, that was all he could hear and when his self control gave up and he was about to lift up the curtain he heard his senior’s voice, “Dr. Harrison, do you mind coming here for a bit?”

And that was it. His heart picked up pace as his feet involuntarily moved towards Gayatri’s bed. The first ever look at her and he took in a deep breath at the sight his eyes beheld!

Written by GS_Stella for the group story writing contest hosted by freakswithus

We hope you enjoyed reading it. Do leave your feedbacks and responses. That would really mean a lot to us. Will see you on 10th with the next chapter. Till then stay blessed and happy reading! ❤️❤️