2 days later, 2:00 P.M

It's a cold afternoon and I'm in my kitchen making Mexican rice; I add the rice, water and salt to the pressure cooker pot. Then, stir and lock the lid in place.

It's been two days since the waterfall incident. Jasper and I came back right after the whole weird situation that day. But, that nagging feeling that I might hear other sounds still sits in the back of my mind. I'm glad that I've been at peace for two days now.

I select high pressure and 3 minutes cook time on the cooker when my phone rings. I walk towards the table where my phone sits.

Kushi calling.

Kushi is my friend from India. I met her during a student exchange program. Things have been rocky for her since she got married last year, she is 19 now. I sympathise with her. No, I don't empathize because I can't understand torture.

"Hey you okay?"

"No," she sobs.

"Are you okay physically, Kush?"

"N-Yes."

I know she's lying and that's when the pressure cooker goes off and the mad sounds start again.

Whistle. Whistle. Whistle, It mocks.

***

Mother's love.
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Morsels fed by hand,
Awe and delight filled eyes.

Mother's care.
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Teaches and learns,
Gives and grows.

Mother's responsibility.
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Delusions of dreams,
Housed in the girl's mind.

Mother's burden,
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
A body dispatched to him,
A soul splintered into pieces.

Girl's heart,
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Hope ignites,
They're lying, He's lying.

Girl's pain,
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
The pressure builds,
Reaches the brim.

Girl's life,
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Burns the house,
That housed dreams.

Dreams of home.

Are you Her?
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Hear my laugh,
I hope it stinks and hurts.

Will you be her?
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Rest is for you to see.
See and face.

Face the known unknowns.

***

I'm in cold sweat and too shocked to answer Kushi on the call when I stop hearing those creepy sounds.

"A-are you th-there?" She sobs.

"Yes, I'm sorry I thought I heard something."

"Hmm.."

"What's wrong? Tell me?" I ask her ignore the voices in my head that says,

Thrice in five days. This is something. I'm scared now.

***
A/N:
What do you think about the speaker? Please comment your thoughts as I love to hear from you. Vote and comment to send your love.

Important note:
In India, National Crime Records Bureau reveal that a crime against a women is committed every three minutes, a women is raped every 29 minutes, a dowry death occurs every 77 minutes and one case of cruelty committed by either the husband or relative of the victim occurs every nine minutes. 50 million girls were killed in the past century in the practice of female infanticide or foeticide; around 100 million women and girls are estimated to be victim of human trafficking; 44.5 percent of girls are married before the age of 18.

#Be a WOman, Don't suffer in silence.

Until next time,
-Sneha.