25. Tender Trust

I came back from school, finding my parents gone for a wedding. My uncle was home, watching television. I ran towards him and as my usual ritual, hugged him and said, 'Namastey, Uncle!'. I was very close to my uncle and loved him like my own father.

He tapped my back and kissed my forehead. I was so excited that I have got alone time with my uncle as whenever we would be alone, we would watch my favorite cartoon show, 'Tom & Jerry' and had loads of fun.

I squealed with fervency and said, 'Hey uncle! Let me change first and then we would watch Tom & Jerry today. What do you say?'

I looked at him and awaited his response. He was not his normal self that day. With a sombre look, he smiled and nodded. I ran towards my room and changed.

When I came back to the living room, my uncle was watching a Hollywood film. I smiled at him and said, 'Yess! I am free now uncle. You can play Tom & Jerry.'

He looked at me with a queer look. He held my hand and made me sit near him. There was something unusual in his behavior that I couldn't interpret. He touched my hair and said, 'No Piya, cartoons are for kids and we are not kids, right? Today we will watch something for mature people. This movie that I am watching is very interesting. Won't you watch it with me?'

'Of course uncle! I am not a kid. I am 12 now and I love Hollywood films. You know, Evil Dead is my favorite.', I said enthusiastically as I really wanted to enjoy the film with my uncle.

He took the remote and played the film. For a minute or two, it was going good but then the events in the film started turning out to be inappropriate. I was feeling shy as well as self-conscious. It was an awkward situation for me where I couldn't watch the scenes and even leave the place.

It was an eerie moment where I could sense something wrong but couldn't perceive what it was. When I couldn't watch it anymore I got up from the couch and said in a quivery voice, 'Umm .....Uncle ...I have to complete my homework so....I ', my sentence was left midway when my uncle got up from the couch and held my hand.

He came closer to me, his voice shaky and he seemed nervous. Reluctantly, he said, 'Piya, I have something to show you. Do you like to see, what it is?'

I couldn't comprehend what was going on. I could sense his peculiar behavior and it was making me anxious. I was scared but didn't want to panic so I nodded.

He told me to check his room and find out. I opened the door, trying to see what he wanted to show, when I sensed him behind me. I turned around and saw him  locking the door.

'Uncle......!', I tried to speak but couldn't utter a word. He came closer to me and pushed me to the wall.

He was so close to me that I could feel his breath on my face. He held me tightly from my waist, his hands moving swiftly on my back.

I tried to scream but my voice chocked. I stood there, frozen, tears running down my cheeks. I tried to push him back but had no strength to fight with him.

I was crying bitterly. A man whom I adored so much, who was a father figure,  was trying to steal my innocence from me. I was immobile for I don't know how long, all I remember is that a strange noise that distracted him for a minute and he stopped.

I opened my eyes and saw an unknown expression in his eyes which now I know is lust. I hated him for what he was doing. I wanted to fight him with huge intensity but he was on me and I couldn't move.

I thought of my dad and tears started pouring down. I wished my dad would come and save me from this devil whom once I called my uncle. My mom's face flashed in my mind and I don't know from where I got that strength that I pushed him really hard and yelled at him. His back touched the wall and he looked at me in complete disbelief.

I got up from the bed and ran towards the door. I expected him to chase and stop me but he was so taken aback by my outrage that he stood there immovable.

I unbolted the door and ran outside as swiftly as I could. Suddenly I realized, I was barefooted and my shirt was unbuttoned but I couldn't stop. I opened the gate and ran towards my neighbor's house. When I reached at her gate, I buttoned up my shirt, cleaned my face and went inside.

I met my neighbor's daughter who told me that her mom was sleeping. I relaxed for a bit and waited for my parents to come.

                 _______________

In the evening when my parents came, they inquired about uncle. I told them that I have no idea and went to my room.

Whatever had happened was too much for me to handle. I laid down on my bed and cried a lot. I wanted to tell my parents but dreaded the consequences. Thousands of 'what if's' were circling around in my mind.

I was in a turmoil about what to do but then I remembered my dad telling me once never to hide anything from them. I was closest to my dad and he was more like a friend than a father.

So I did, what was right. I went to my parent's room and told them everything.

My dad, though was feeling tattered, supported me a lot. The man who was a part of our family, had crumpled our trust to such an extent, that we could never heal it.

After that incident, I was traumatized to such a level that I used to be scared, even in the company of my own father.

The tender trust that a child had, was crushed and it took years to finally ... ... ...

Trust a man again!!

⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺⏺

Hey AmazZzing Palz!!

An awareness update!

Eve teasing, Sexual Abuse, Child Molestation and Rape is a curse on our society and in maximum cases, the victim hides it from her parents and society which is wrong. It encourages the doer and he might repeat it.

So first and foremost thing is informing your parents and then there are many *Women helpline cells* and *NGO's* that can be a great help in punishing the culprit with the help of law.

Parents should arm children with knowledge about good and bad touch, that might save them from being victimized. Afterall, 'Prevention is better than cure.'

Please read and do share your views. Love you all😘

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