It's Never too Early!

Devi was busy cooking lunch for her family when her phone rang, and it was her neighbour who stayed down the road. Devi washed her hands and picked up the phone, on probably the last ring. "hello."

"Are you busy for a quick call?" asked Lavanya. "No, tell me," Devi said. What is it?"

"It is Anita's birthday next week on Monday. We have organised a small party, and I want to invite you all to it. It is at 7:30 pm. And I have a request. Mirai and Anita are best friends. Why dont you send Mirai over by 6 pm? Some of my friends and guests, children will be coming over by that time, and we could engage the children in games much before you adults arrive, " said Lavanya. 

"Let me see if I can get her to do her homework by then," Devi joked. The women laughed and spoke for a few moments before hanging up. 

Devi was a working mom, and she and her husband Prakash did their best to provide for their children. Devi was also very protective of her two children, Aliya and Mirai, and she never liked sending them anywhere on their own. However, this time although grudgingly, Devi agreed to send Mirai by 6 pm.

The days passed quickly; before she knew it, it was Anita's birthday. Mirai had been preparing for the day, and now that the day had arrived, her excitement was at its peak. That morning she rose early even without being woken up and rushed into the kitchen as Devi was cooking breakfast and gushed, "it's today, it's today, it's Anita's birthday, and I am going to the party."

Prakash was helping his wife in the kitchen; he turned to Mirai and said, "Oh no, it was yesterday, Mirai, we missed it," he then turned to his wife and winked at her in conspiracy as he said, "Devi did you forget to send Mirai for Anita's birthday party yesterday?" Mirai stopped to think for a moment and then said, "No, daddy, it is today, not yesterday, it's on Monday, not on Sunday, and today is Monday!"

Prakash loved his children; he smiled at his younger daughter as he said, 

"so it is today, and yes, I will come home early and drop you there, and mummy and I will come there later." Mirai started jumping for joy, saying, "yes, daddy, please come home as soon as possible; I will be dressed and ready for the party."

Soon it was evening, and Mirai was evermore excited as she told her mother how they had celebrated Anita's birthday in school. Mirai was a friendly child and had no issues making friends, even with strangers. 

She brought out her books and finished the homework in record time that day. As soon as her dad came home, she was ready to leave for the party. Prakash dropped both his daughters at Lavanya's house for the party and promised to be there soon, but Mirai couldn't have heard that, for, within seconds, she dashed out of his car and was inside Anita's house along with her sister Aliya.

Later that evening, Devi and Prakash joined the party, Lavanya and her husband Parijit welcomed them in and introduced them to the other guests. Devi looked around, but she couldn't see any of the children. Devi walked to Lavanya and asked her, "where are the children?" Lavanya told her that they were enjoying themselves in the hall upstairs. 

Devi went up the stairs to check on her girls and tell them that she and their dad had joined the party. But as she opened the door to the hall Lavanya had directed her to, Devi was unprepared for what she saw. She saw her daughter happily participating in a game, but Mirai sat on the lap of an 'uncle' who Devi thought held onto her daughter a little too close for comfort!

"Mirai!" Devi called out. Mirai jumped out of the 'uncle's' lap and rushed to her mother. "Mom," she said, " we are having so much fun." She grabbed Devi's hand, pulled her to where the 'uncle' was seated, and said, " this is uncle Ajit; he is very nice. Come and meet him." Devi looked straight into Ajit's eyes; the man could not look her in the eye; he was uncomfortable. Being a victim of child abuse herself, Devi knew she had to protect her daughter from this man. 

If she stayed at the party, she would only be exposing her child to the risk, if Devi left the party, she would save her child, but he could pick on some other child. Devi had to think fast, and she had to do something to protect all the children there. 

Breaking into Devi's thoughts, Lavanya came to the children's party room and said, "Devi, let the children be; come, join us in the other room." Devi pretended to want to go with her and started to walk towards her, but stopped short and said, "you go ahead, I will join you; let me watch these kids' games too."

Devi stayed in the room until the end of the party. Ajit waited a while, but when he knew that Devi was there to stay, he decided to leave the children and join the adults. Devi was disturbed, but she did not let anyone know of it. They returned home after the party, and she did not say a word to anyone about what bothered her.

The next day the kids went to school as they usually did, but Devi decided to talk to them when they got home. She sat with both the kids and told them how one of her mother's colleagues had mistreated her by touching her inappropriately when she was a child. She said she did not realise how bad that was until she was older. 

She pointed out what had happened yesterday and how Ajit had walked away when she stayed upstairs with the children. Mirai spoke up and said she was uncomfortable but did not want to say anything and make 'the uncle' feel bad. Devi looked her in the eye and said, "Mirai, when someone does something wrong, you cannot worry about such things; you tell them to stop and if they don't make some noise by crying out for help." Without mincing words, Devi told her daughter such behaviour was not to be tolerated.

My Thoughts

Children trust easily, and when showered with 'extra love', they mistake it for being okay, even when it makes them uncomfortable. As parents, we must stop such advances and fight back, even if the abuser is the most important person in our life.

Liked this story? Read another one- 'Moms Have A Life Too!'.