This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 7; the seventh edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.
Age 3 years , 9 months and 2 days: My first memory.
Baba came in drunk. Heard Aai and Baba fight. Baba hit Aai.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 5 years, 1 month and 7 days: My first beating.
Baba came in drunk. Heard Aai and Baba fight. Baba hit Aai and then came after me.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 7 years, 4 months and 3 days: My first abuse.
Uncle came home. He put his hand on my mouth and touched me. I bled.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 9 years, 5 months and 5 days: My first burn.
Baba came home to find me reading. He took his bidi and burnt me. I had to learn cooking.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 13 years, 2 months and 9 days: My first proposal
Aai got me all ready in a saree. I had to serve tea to a family. She told me I was to get married. I didn't know that meant.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 15 years, 5 months and 20 days: My first hope crushed.
I was married to a boy I had seen once before. Maybe this life would end. He came home drunk on our first night and beat me after having sex.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 15 years, 11 months and 28 days: My first abortion.
I was pregnant for 3 months where they tested that my baby was a kill. They had her killed.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 16 years, 10 months and 13 days: My first child.
I was pregnant again. This time with a boy. He lived. All the time I had with him was when I had to feed him. I wanted to be with him more.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 17 years, 11 months and 15 days: My first girl
I was pregnant again. No testing this time. They already had a boy. I gave birth to a girl. Her father never asked to see her.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 20 years, 7 months and 23 days: My girl's first memory.
He came home drunk. He hit me. She watched.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 22 years, 3 months and 1 day: My girl's first beating.
He came home. He hit me and then lashed for her.
What if I had spoken up then?
Age 22 years, 3 months and 2 days: My first realisation.
My girl was living my life all over again.
I had to speak up now.
The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.
112 comments:
Loved your take on the topic!!!
Superb! Very innovative idea. You've used the title effectively. And at the same time, a very strong message.
Cheerios!
bold-touching-awesome.
I am speachless... u have echoed the thoughts of probably 60% of Indian women out there... and u used the topic brilliantly there... hats off to u....
Cheers!
Tavish
Latest Blog Post: What if...
This was really really awesome! a wonderful take on the topic... keep up the good work :-)
all the best for BATOM
Touched.
Very well written.
this post some how have an effect. a chill, sadness, numb, don’t know wut the feel is. but there is a feel for sure. good one!
damn! that gave me the shivers!! oh an awesome write babes
wow! a new way of presenting your thoughts, i like it!
Serious take on a serious issue... I will highlight this post and base one of my future posts on this issue, which I feel needs to be properly addressed by the society... Thanks...
that is...errrrmmmm..... tell me frankly i hope its not ur story or anything,....
if its only fiction....AWESOME.
if its inspired...pls call cops, get those bastard in jail to rot...or leave them on the street...:(
Thanks a lot. It is nice to see men agree on this. I understand not all men are the same and people who do such things are just not normal. But when I read such comments, it reminds me that there is hope!
This is the story of many a women in India. I try to help them whenever I can. It aint helpful if I stand up to them but I can help these women find their voices sooner :)
I hope it isnt numbness. I hope that it springs people into action. I hope I brought out what she feels so that next time people can help her find a voice!
Thanks, sweetheart!
Thanks!
Thank you thank you!
Wow! Thats a nice compliment!
Thanks :D
Thanks :) I am glad I was able to do justice to the topic...
I am glad that I could do justice to it!
Thanks a lot. Means a lot that you liked it!
innovative and very creative, loved your style, it was a very good read...
Total justice done to the title! What a post! Totally loved the way you have voiced it! It conveyed the message and how! Glad that I stumbled upon this one! Good luck with BATOM :)
Wow! really liked your style....women will find their voice ...soon...high time world changed...nice writing!!
What a way to tell the woebegone tale of many women and their plight in India even till date!
Best 'What If' entry by far...
All the best for BATOM
I am glad you stumbled upon it too!
Thank you thank you :)
Sigh. I hope they find it soon :D
Thanks so much for the compliment! It means a lot that even one person thought that :D
awesome post..
touching and apt for the topic..
all the best for the BAT
a different what if
and true sometimes
good luck
Kudos.. othr thn the issue u raised here, what i liked is the way u prsntd it.. same thing wud hav been told in a vry monotous way nd hence wud have ended up 2 b jus anothr social issue write up.. bt the way u hav prsntd it does not only make one appreciate ur though process and the way u execute it but also the issue u raise here.. keep adding sch dimensions to blog-a-ton :)
Wow......u know na girl ur amazing always :) loved it :)
Yay! Where is your post?
Thanks for the comment and wishes!
Thanks :D :D
Thanks a lot. Unless stories have an impact, the message will get lost. People need to be woken up from a slumber. Thanks a lot.
I LOVED THIS! Great job! I'm envious!
Awesome!
Sorry for my late response, my site was hacked..
That's a compelling post with that hard hitting What-if leitmotif. Beautiful, very well done and has a very nice message. Reminded me of 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. We need more of these.. :-)
Wow that is one hell of a compliment. Thanks a lot! I mean it! The comparison floored me.
Thank you.
Envious of? Why?
Goood.Just so soooooooooooo goood.Thats one big POW!I love it,and how!
*blush*
Very well handled.....and I am very glad too see such a topic being highlighted......if only something can be done..........................................
what if .... more chunk of women can think about it...and then ACT as well
good job lady!
The best post I have read so far!! I loved the narration so much! Gud luck to u!
Such a sad and painful story told in such a simple and beautiful way... awesome...
A very good post highlighting the plight of female children that sadly still exists in many parts of India...
that is the life cycle of most of the women here.. it is unfortunate .. you have captured it very well.. thanks for using blog to spread the right message.
Wonderful...So good..Just the minimal usage of words and yet soo many feelings conveyed..Too good..
Also, I liked the template..very much..I have the same one too..:)
Wonderful.....really well written!!
gave me goosebumps! really nicely done...:)
Very creative & the end was unexpected. Good job :)
Thanks for the visit and the comment :D
Thanks a lot!
:D I am unsure if I should be happy about it!
I like the simplicity of this template too :) Thanks for the comment!
A different take on the topic with a very common issue..
well done...
All the best for BATOM 7!!
I hope I could get the word around! It makes me feel so helpless!
Thanks a lot :D :D
I hope slowly we can get rid of it..Slowly but surely!
A lot can be done but the most important thing is to ask people to speak up against it!
I hope a lot of people can ACT!
Thanks a lot for yr wishes and the comment!
Hi...
Am standing and clapping for exploring the much happening social malice in this so called land of karma bhoomi and veda bhoomi ....
Stupendous and quite rationally objective ......
kudos to you.....
great idea and perfect presentation.....
simple, straight but still impacting a ton .....
queer narration.....
did hit the bulls eye....
no second thoughts .....
quite original and innovative .....
keep up the great work and keep exploring the social arena .....
As of now your post is the top contender in my voting list ...
need to say more ?
all the best ....
:) :) :)
Yay! Your comment made me feel so damn happy! :D :D Thanks for the vote! :D
Amazing.. short, beautiful and strong!! Such a wonderful take.. I do not have enough words to explain.. I wish everyone would understand the agony of these women. Cheers to u for putting a feather in the cap. Best of luck.
I dont think any one can handle anything like this better than what you did...brilliant piece of work
PS: my first time on ur blog...loved it!!
Hai!!
A message told in a simple way that left a strong impact.
Its time women speak and learn to say NO.
:~) good work!
ouch...ouch...ouch...what if i had spoken then???
dam rash..
i loved it...
OH. MY. GOD!
I'm speechless, lost in a maze of What If's.... Still recovering from the impact this post had on me.... One of your best ones ever i would say....
You write too good girl!! I'm toh deffo voting for this one :)
Good job.... :D
Wonderfully written. It reminded me of the movie Chandani Bar though the plot line is slightly different but it also showed how the protagonist of the movie saw her daughter relive her (protagonist's) life.
This is awesome stuff. I found you from Leticia's post of FB. She was a colleague :) great stuff and keep it up.
It's a beautiful post that captures the trauma and feeling a girl/woman go through/went through. I the likes.
Thanks a lot. It needed to be said!
Me the likes the comment and the fact the youse make to me blog!
Thank you for the vote, the comment and the visit :D :D
I haven't watched that movie yet. Maybe now, I should!
Thanks a lot! I am glad you liked it1
Thanks a lot and welcome to the blog. Hope you keep coming! :)
I agree completely :)
I hope many women find their voices!
Wow. That blew me away. It's all in a circle.
I didnt quite like it...I didnt quite enjoy reading it...
and that's exactly why I liked it. ! Congrats and well deserved.
I couldnt quite like the flow...I didnt quite enjoy reading it...
it was too vivid, ...it was too close to reality....
and that's exactly why I liked it. ! Congrats and well deserved.
Congratulations Rashi!! Truly deserving win!! :)
Amazing take on the topic and very well executed!!
Cheers :)
You totally deserve the win! I din vote this time, but I guess if I did, it'd have to be you!
Congrats
I am just awestruck. Because of writers like you, Bloggers can make a difference in this society. Kudos to you and keep up the good work. And congrats for winning the Blog a ton Batom. Cheers! :)
Words will always be mighter than the sword, isnt it?
Thanks :)
Congras on the Win Rashi!!! Keep writting! Btw u were a part of my final 2 shortlists for the vote! :)
Cheers!
Tavish
Latest Blog Post: Jab We Met...
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wot a piece of writing...
full of feelings...
very well presented....
Hats Off to you!!!!
n ya congratzz lady... for winning.. BATOM-7
keep Writing..
Hi... That was amazing. We could really relate to the current situation in India now. I read it after I saw you win BLOG-A-Ton7... BTW, Congrats. I love your writing.. Do keep writing.. I'm blogrolling ya... C ya
Hi ....
Congrattttsss....
You know i voted for you at "12 Feb 2010 22:00:00" ..... exactly the last minute and i almost ran from my class at 9.30 to make it before 10 ....... didnt get a cabin in net cafe til 9.45.....and finally am in.
After writing a lengthy comment, the system got struck, at 9.57..... God..... restarted.....2 mins....opened blog a ton......1 min.... commenting.....its exactly 10.....submit comment ...... done.
Hmmm....am glad that my vote did made the tilt.... :)
Keep Going....
cheers,
Mahesh Kalaal
Its was a nice story. :)
Anyways, congrats for winning BAT-7!
Splendid... I had goosebumps.. wow..nicely written...
Yes. Unfortunately or fortunately, only we can stop this circle! Thanks!
Thanks a lot for the visit and the comment!
Err..Thanks I guess :D
Thank you. Thank you!
Ah! Thanks a lot! :)
Thanks for the visit, the comment and the blog roll. Hope to see you around! :D
Thanks :) :D
Ah thanks :) Goosebumps in such cases are good, I suppose!
Thanks a lot :D
Ah! The man who made the difference. Thanks a lot for your vote and rushing just in time to cast your vote! Means a lot! Thanks thanks :D
Very well written, loved it. SUPER! =)
And now, I want you to write a guest post for me. (Though, I know my blog is not worth writing!) By the way, can I actually use this post on my blog with PROPER credits to you? LOVED IT LIKE ANYTHING! :)
Surea go ahead! :)
that is so brillianly written... expressed so well...
congratz on the win...
damn!!that was great...brilliant...!you seem to know how to bring about 'perfect endings'
I wouldn't know if that was perfect. I hope so!
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