A Lotus in the Pool of Love
Jessica’s story was a stimulus to Sister Carmel’s mission. She listened attentively to her narration.
“Oh Sister, I cannot describe the acute pain I suffered then. It was as if a bullet pierced through my body. He was enjoying it every much. Drops of sweat were visible on his forehead. I felt only intense paid and heartache. I had lost my breath. At last he throw me into the sofa like piece of wood. With panting breath he said.
“If you will lie with me like this often, you will get high posts in the bank. No one will get high positions for nothing. You should make sacrifices for that”.
I was dead tired. But I got up and dressed. As I left the room, he closed the door behind me. I did not use the lift. In a semiconscious stage I slowly climbed down the long staircase with wavering steps.
“Oh, my life! I came here wishing for a good life. But my fate….Oh. God!” Jessica whined and whimpered. Sister Carmel held her close to her body and stroked her hair. Jessica continued her story.
Getting out of the bank, she entered the street. She found out the location of the police station from an old man and walked towards it. Her mind was filled with desire for revenge. She did not even see the vehicles and men who passed by her.
She was staying with a childhood friend in the city. Do all the girls who come to the city from a village have similar experiences? Jessica decided to hide the matter from her friend. The police station was close by. She looked at the board and made sure that she was at the right place. Then she entered the office and introduced herself to the officer there. “I am Lucas” the police officer said. Jessica wrote a complaint and handed it over to him. Reading the name of the bank mentioned in the complaint the officer looked up with a shudder.
“Is it Carlos?”
“Yes”
“The Carlos we know is a gentleman. I know him well. How can I believe your accusation?”
The officer got up from his chair and walked to and fro in the room thoughtfully. He again sat down and read the complaint carefully once again. He stared at Jessica and went to the next room. She could hear him talking to someone in his mobile phone. After two minutes he came back to his seat. Another man came with a complaint. The officer read it, wrote something on it and sent him inside with it. Then he turned to Jessica and said.
“Look here, Jessica, if I do not accept the complaint it will be harmful to me. Those who are in power should not do such foolish acts. It will give wrong message to the society. Many women fall in danger like this. I will get that bank officer the punishment that he deserves. He should never again insult a woman like this. Be bold, Jessica”.
He again began to think. The mobile rang. He answered it in very few words. Then he turned to Jessica again.
“Jessica, think once again. If you go about with the police and law court here, the purpose of your journey from home will be futile. I don’t want to force you. Still, can’t you make a compromise with that bank officer? Those who are in power sometimes try to bring about compromises in matters like these”.
Jessica’s eyes opened widely. Her face became red, and the lips trembled.
“No, No I will never compromise. That dirty fellow should be punished. He should not repeat this to any other woman.”
Seeing her response, the police officer shook his head and said.
“O.K., O.K, cool down. Cool down lady…. Now look, Jessica…… I have been here for many years. I have handled many cases like this. Beautiful women are the preys always. After their use these men will sell them to somebody else. So think well once again and take a decision.”
The officer again went out. Jessica looked out through the window. He was talking on the phone. He returned and asked.
“Well, what is your final decision?”
Jessica declared her firm decision.
“There is no change in my decision, sir. Wicked people like him should be punished”.
A policeman came with a cup of coffee. The officer invited her to drink the coffee and said that he would help her. He wrote something on the complaint. Jessica was much relieved. As she drank the coffee she felt better. The belief that the police was there to help her increased her confidence.
“O.K. Then a case should be charged against him. This is a case of woman abuse. Having a sexual intercourse without the permission of the prey. That is rape. So you want to do everything legally. Don’t you?”
‘Yes sir. He has destroyed my virginity I cannot let him go free. “She said firmly.
“O.K Jessica. So the first step for that is medical check-up. Let us go to the hospital”. The officer set out with Jessica, carrying a file.
He took the key of the police car from the driver. Jessica felt slightly suspicious. When he had beautiful girls with him, the officer did not need the service of the driver, she taught. Getting into the car he told Jessica.
“I don’t know when we can return from the hospital. So it is better to inform your friend that you will be late.” She obeyed.
The police vehicle travelled a long distance and stopped in front of a Bungalow. A white car was lying in the porch. It did not look like a hospital. Jessica asked.
“Sir, why have we come here? This is not a hospital”.
He answered calmly. “This is the home of the lady doctor of the government hospital. I have telephoned her already. She will come soon. It will be very busy in the hospital. There you will have to undergo many tests. I believe what you have said. The doctor has faith in me too. So if you give clear and correct answers to the questions that the doctor asks, she will soon give the medical report”.
They got out of the car and walked towards the car. Lucas opened the door and asked Jessica to sit down on a chair. Then he bolted the door. Jessica jumped up anxiously.
He roared to her cruelly. “Sit…. Sit down you, slut!”
His face was like that of a wild animal. Blood red eyes shining with carnal desire. He took hold of her. Using all her strength Jessica pushed him away from her. He hit the table and was about to fall. She ran towards the door to escape. He rushed behind her, caught her and squeezed her hand forcibly. He threw her into the bed. Her body hit here and there and blood began to ooze. She held out her hands in supplication and begged again and again.
“Please, don’t ruin me, don’t ruin…”
There was no humanity in him. His bloody eyes shone with rage.
“Shh…. you dog! Who are you? A Saint?” He showered obscene words on her. Pulling off the buttons of his uniform he asked. “What did you think you slut! To punish Carlos? He is my bosom friend, very dear friend. You do not know our business now. But soon you will learn it. We want to own all the beautiful women of this world. Your beauty has the price of gold. Your poverty will end and you will earn wealth, name and fame. You will become the favourite of admirers.”
He approached her lustfully and tried to embrace her. “Ha, come here my sweaty, come, come to me!” Jessica tried again to push him away. He gave her a slap on her check. Soon she fainted. She could neither feel nor know what went on after that. When she came back to her senses, Lucas was wearing his uniform. She lay there like a lifeless body.
Lucas told her lovingly. “You need not be afraid of anything. From now on you are going to live in this city under our surveillance. Your body and beauty have become ours. They are not only for us but also for many other. From today onwards you are only our slave. Our slave. You fool! Think about it. Do you want to enjoy all pleasures of life by selling your body or commit suicide? “His words were scratching open the wounds that were already on my body. I lay in a swoon. Even than I could hear somebody knocking at the door”.
Jessica wept on the Sister’s shoulders. The rest of her sad story appeared in Sister Carmel’s mind as in a film.
(Cont’d)
