Blogging

Monster

Hello and welcome to my blog.

I am participating in the #writebravely #writetribeproblogger October 2017 challenge. The story I am attempting to write is not about just one ‘Asha’, but many like her in our society. The trauma and heartbreak her parents go through has been experienced by many more such helpless parents. This story highlights the issue of dowry demands and domestic violence in our society. Today’s post is part seven of the story.

Today’s prompt is MONSTER

Links to the first six parts of the story are given below. Do read these before reading today’s story as it is a continuation. Don’t miss out on crucial twists and turns of the story.

Part 1 Pattern

Part 2 Nostalgic

Part 3 Terminal

Part 4 Bated Breath

Part 5 Disobedience

Part 6 Wrong Choice

 

‘Mummy, today I want to listen to the story of the Monster.’

‘Why do you want to hear about monsters?Don’t you know that Monsters are scary looking and dangerous people, who do bad things.

‘No,Mumma. I know they are good, Shama says so. See, I got this book from Madhu aunty’s house, it is Shama’s book. She told me how much she loved the little monster in it and wanted me to read it too.’

‘Okay, I will read it with you tonight but If you get scared after listening to his story and have nightmares in the night, don’t come running to my room.’

‘Promise, I won’t.’

Asha knew her mother was joking, she was the gentlest of souls and couldn’t bear to see Asha cry.

Uma sat on the easy chair next to the bed and started reading from the book. It was titled, Monster. It was a story of a gentle giant who loved children. Every night he cooked lots of food and left in outside the orphanage in the town. One day the warden sees him from the window and starts screaming in fear; the monster looked dangerous and menacing…

Asha had slept off midway through the story and Uma yawned too looking at the sleeping little girl. She switched on the night-light and went out leaving the door slightly ajar.

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‘Asha, I will be home by midnight; make sure the money is in my room when I get there. If you haven’t yet called up your father then do so, you have the entire day. Also pray that I get a good hand today. I am tired of losing.’

‘Vilas, I had called him up last night and he told me his money is tied up in mutual funds and fixed deposits at the moment. He can only send us 1.5 lakhs by next month.’

‘Tell him to break the fixed deposits. What is more important, a measly interest on his money or his daughter’s happy married life?’

Vilas banged his phone on the table and gritted his teeth. She needs another lesson; why is she so stubborn?

Asha felt trapped. She wanted to run away. She stood up abruptly and rushed to take her handbag from the cupboard. Their wedding picture on the wall next to the cupboard caught her attention. The sunlight pouring in through the window was making Vilas’s eyes glow red. Vilas was tall and  good-looking ; almost like a model. His face unmarked by scars and he had a good physique. So why did she think of the monster from her childhood. Asha remembered her mother reading her the bedtime story. Vilas wasn’t at all scary looking so the world didn’t know how sick he was on the inside. The monster from her book was dangerous looking but an extremely gentle soul. Her mother was wrong! She’d said Monsters are scary looking and dangerous people, who do bad things.

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge

by Sulekha Rawat

33 thoughts on “Monster

  1. Monsters are ordinary people who take advantage of the poor souls with no care. How true! Love the way you narrate, Sulekha. Beautiful and poignant.

  2. Enjoying the way this story travels. Yes monsters can look good and be unkind and cruel. Hopw Asha gets the courage to leave the hell called home

    1. Corinne, you read my mind 🙂 I am planning to make it into an e book and share on relevant platforms. Hope my humble effort helps someone, somewhere. Thank you for the blogging challenge and the awesome hashtag #writebravely, it made me think and write something thought provoking and meaningful.

  3. Yes, monsters aren’t the ones that look scary but the ones that do bad things! I liked how you liked the childhood memory with her current situation. Loved your narration.

  4. Oh Sulekkha, really, monsters are ordinary looking people who are just sick on the inside…so beautifully pointed out. Love the way Asha’s childhood memories make the narrative less heartwrenching…all I can say is, I am happy Asha at least had a good childhood, good parents and beautiful childhood memories.

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