Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : YoungAdult

EPISODE 1: RUN THROUGH VEINS
        It was all happiness in her life, wandering all over the neighborhood with tons of friends, playing together, mouth-full of smile, heart-full of joy.
‘Hey Fe, look what I have found a Scorpio’ exclaimed a friend.
‘Wait, I haven’t seen a Scorpio before’ screamed Fe.
Fe actually misses those days, 

After 10 years, it was a dreaded situation for her, as she attained puberty. Plus, she lost her sick mother a day after. She was all broken. Fe’s the third for her mom and dad, but she’s alone now, as she lost her twin elders during their birth. Now, her mother passed away one a day after her puberty along with her stillborn. Fe remembers her mother as sick women all over her days. 
‘I think it’s because of Fe, mom. Her astrology is bad now, and I think its hunting the family members’ said Fe’s dad to his mother. 
‘Oh, she’s already a weak women after losing twins. She’s helpless son, don’t put even more burden on Fe’ said his mom.
Anyway I have the responsibility to protect my daughter from her bad times, I will consult some astrologists about this mom and I need a remedy.
Ok son, whatever you do, remind this. You can’t change anything that’s written
Unfortunately, Fe heard last part of the conversation and could able to understand what was happening?
Tears rolled down, she was depressed. The only relief she ever has is her grandma.
‘Grandma, am I the reason for my mom’s demise’ said Fe with a low tone.
With a sigh, ‘No child, you are a little girl. That’s not the situation dear. We, old peoples need an alibi to justify our problems. My son should have taken some care toward your mother’s health’. 
‘See my child, I knew that you are the luckiest child I have ever seen, be brave Fe’ grandma convinced her.
Ok grandma. 
Fe was alone all her life. Losing mother and happiness at the same time, doesn’t seem to be a good omen for the family. But why all the world’s omen particularly concentrated on things other than man, because of the reason that they created it? If there is a creator, then there will be bias.

Days roll on,
Fe was constrained all these days inside her room as she wasn’t allowed to go out. The past week has shown some terrible part of her life, as she was desperate for a break from this confinement.
‘Grandma, would you allow me to go to my friend’s home?’ Asked Fe.
No dear, your dad will tear me apart if I allow you. May be you can sit on the entrance porch to get some sight, other than these walls.
Ok grandma, thanks.

Fe went to the porch and watching some friends playing.
‘Hey Fe, come along. We are playing treasure hunt’ yelled a friend.
She never replied, silently watching a guy hiding a hint near her porch while playing. Fe giggled at him. After her friend came for a search. 

Help me Fe, I want to beat those boys. Tell me where that clue is.
She can’t resist, at that age, she wants to play, because we know nothing other than enjoying. We believe the world is to enjoy.
‘There is it, below the boulder’ said Fe. She exactly showed the location thus her friend’s team won easily.
‘Come Fe, why you are sitting idle. Join my side’ asked Fe’s friend.
‘No, I won’t allow to play with others’ said Fe.
Why not?
‘I don’t know; my dad is so upset on me’ said Fe.
So what? He’s not around, let’s play a single game and no one’s going to find you playing.
Fe looked inside for her grandma as she couldn’t find her on the hall, turned and smiled at her friend. ’ok, I will play with you’ she smiled.

Fe started playing, but she kept watching the street, where from her father will arrive. After half an hour, she was so immersed in the game and was back in joy. She forgot about the rules and flies like a happy bird. In religion, every bird has its cage.

She suddenly saw that her father was entering the house. Fortunately, he failed to see her playing. He entered in to the house, as he looked for her all around the house. 
Mom, where is she? Fe’s father to his mother.
She’s at the entrance son.
I haven’t seen her at there.
Maybe she went to the restroom, don’t put too much stress on her.

Then, She came through the door with full of sweats. Her father freaked out seeing at her.
‘Oh my god, you little idiot. Are you dumb? You have to respect the elders’ father yelled at Fe.
Fe replied politely ‘But dad, I was so bored and I needed a break from those walls’.
‘Shut up Fe, I think the bad time plays with herself. Just go to your room and lock the doors. I don’t want you to see till night’ screamed dad.
‘Stop it son, I am the one who allowed her. Think of her situation. She lost her mom, her friends and you want her to take all the blames’ grandma came for her rescue.
You should shut up first mom, you are the main reason for her reluctant behavior.
‘Sorry dad, I promise I will never disrespect you’ Fe started to cry, she then bolted to her room and closed the doors.
Soon after she left to her room,
Dad: I have to find a remedy before it’s too late in her life.
I think it runs through the veins for decades, society never teaches us life. It dumps beliefs and it’s the time that our beliefs surpassed our logic and empathy.

















GROWN LITTLE GIRL
EPISODE 2: A WORTHY ADVICE
Then after some hours, Grandma was so worried about Fe. Fe was emotionally weak as her grandma can witness it clearly but couldn’t help her in anyway. The rough patches of life trembles the heart of the innocent. 

Soon days roll on… 
In a dull evening, when Fe was sitting at the window watching her friends playing together and often giggling at them. A single day is enough ruin a whole life. It suits her situation, but she would always find a way to smile and her age helped her to attain that too.
‘Hey Fe, you look dirty. Come on let me comb your hair’ said grandma caressing her hair.
Ok grandma, But, I will come later.
You have to look fine dear, what if some guests come by. They might see you bad, you have to be happy Fe.
They will stop playing in few minutes, it will be really boring inside grandma.
And after sometime Fe went inside to her grandma and laid on grandma’s lap.
‘Grandma, when will dad allow me to go to school?’ Fe asked in a broken tone. 
‘Don’t worry Fe, I will talk to you father. Come sit up, I will comb you’ grandma then continue telling her childhood stories when Fe used to cry to go to school, but wanted to travel in bus to the city instead. They were both laughing of memories.

‘Fe, hey Fe’ father called her softly when entering the house.
‘Right here dad’ Fe’s voice came from the other room.
‘Ah Fe, you look beautiful dear’ he complimented her.
Fe hasn’t reacted at all. With a sigh, her dad sat aside her.
Look Fe, I scolded you because I just don’t want you to get in any trouble girl. Tell me, why you look so sad.
‘Am really bored pa’ Fe muttered.
Oh, that’s the problem. I suspect that your grandma will bore you with her 1920’s story. Ok, mom what’s the day tomorrow?
‘It’s Friday, and I think it’s time to allow her to continue her schooling son’ mom replied.
‘That’s what am thinking too mom, her happiness is my happiness. I really worried about her. Fe pack your books for school tomorrow, you have to be happy there’ father said smilingly.
Fe was so happy to hear that word from her dad, she even laughed and hugged her grandma. The irritable school looks heaven at that time for Fe.
She ran to her room and started to pack her bag for the joyful tomorrow.
At that night, she held her bag with her while sleeping. The grandma was also very happy about her. She thought it would bring the happy Fe back.

Next day, Fe woke up at 5.00am and got ready with her bags and a comb. She came to her grandma, 
Grandma,
‘Grandma, wake up grandma. Comb my hair. I have to look pretty’. Fe was out of the world that time, 
‘Fe, you have time and tell me what makes you so amused about your school’ grandma asked mockingly.
‘It’s not the school grandma, it’s for my friends. I really missed them’ excited Fe can’t hold her happiness.
‘You look so crazy, anyway am really happy to see you like this. Let me brush my teeth and come’ grandma chuckled at her and caressed her hair while leaving.
‘Ok fast, grandma’. It seems like Fe can’t hold her moments from entering in to the school again. Of course, its been over a month. She isn’t a child, but everyone becomes a child, during pain and when relieved from it. 

Fe got ready even before an hour and sitting at the porch, waiting for her dad to get ready to drop her at the school. After much waiting, her dad came from the room. It was all teeth in her face. 
‘Come on girl, I think it’s time’ said father.
Fe run toward her dad and sat on the bike. She’s so happy that, she smiled at everyone she sees with her mouth wide open. He was so happy to her again like that. And they reach closer and closer to the school, she started to shiver as the distance from the school decreases. And they reached,
Here you are dear, your school. Come get down. I will talk to the principal and drop to your class.
She has no words, just nodding.
They started their walk inside the school, she was watching everything. Each step makes her even more nervous and it overtakes the happiness. And they reached the principal’s room.
Her dad starting to speak about her situation to the principal, while she was watching all over the school silently. 
Principal: Ok Fe, you can go to your class now.
‘Ok sir’ Fe bolted to her classroom.

The classroom that usually looks awful, now it looks like a paradise to her. As soon as she enters, there’s no staff at that time. She saw her friends, they invoked the happiness again.
1: Hey welcome back Fe.
2: Hey how are you?
3: Why you took so long to come back?
Fe: Yea, it was so bad at my home. I really wanted to be here all the time. 
Suddenly, math teacher enters the class, everyone stood up and said ‘good morning’.

‘Hey Fe, are you alright now’ asked teacher.
Yes, am good mam.
Ok keep up with others and finish all the works.
‘Ok mam’ Fe nodded plainly and went to sit with her friend.

She talked about everything to her friend and feel so relieved from the stress. ‘And one day after the school, they said I have grown. I have attained puberty’ said Fe to her best friend.
Friend: Oh, then there will be a function to celebrate that right?
Fe was totally down after hearing that (usually peoples conduct a function when a girl attained her puberty. The reason is awful, it is a function to showcase a girl to the whole region, telling them that we have a girl ready to get married, interested people can contact. As I said, it’s awful for the women),
Yea, but unfortunately I lost my mother a day after my function. I really loved her. Grandma helped me relax all these days. But I was worried and bored at the same time.
And that math class turned out to be the story class, a terrible story indeed. But it helped Fe, as she felt so happy to be in the school, this day was all she needs. After the classes are over, in the evening while walking down the school aisle with her friends,
Suddenly,

‘Hey you girl, stop’ two senior guys (one from her neighborhood) stopped Fe along with her friend.
‘I didn’t ask you to stop, make your way dumb’ said by a guy to Fe’s friend.
Her friend was frightened and walked away fast. Fe was startled by their entry, they never bothered her before.

‘Hey girl, we heard that you have grown very well the last month’ said by a guy.
She was totally feared thus kept silent.
‘Tell me Fe, am your friend’ said the neighborhood guy.
‘You are not my friend and I don’t want to be your friend’ Fe tried to show her anger.
‘I heard that you have grown and attained puberty. That makes you that you can love anyone you want now. Just want to remember you that I should be the one who comes first in your mind’ said the same guy.
She started to cry, it was more painful than the walls. Soon, her friend brought math teacher in to the conversation. 
The boys fled.

‘Come on Fe, you are grown now. You have to face these boys. There were thousands of them outside the school. Be bold, don’t cry like a coward’ said math teacher with pressure.
‘Ok mam’ said Fe. And she started to walk
Then she saw her father waiting at the entrance. She wiped her all her tears and smiled at the father. She thought about the situation where her father yelled at her, she want to hide all the things that happened earlier.
‘How’s school dear? Are you happy now?’ Asked dad.
‘Yea pa, it was fun and relaxing’. But the heart beats fast as the guy’s picture and words stays right at her mind.
She came back from school, her dad dropped her in the home and left for work. 
‘Welcome Fe’ grandma greeted.
‘Grandma, I am so confused and frightened. I don’t understand’ she hugged her grandma and started to tear.
‘What’s it dear?’ grandma lift her chin, to see the tears.
‘A boy bullied me at the school, everyone asked me to stay bold because they think am very grown now. But I feel the same. I am the same Fe they have seen before. I don’t feel any change, is that I didn’t grown fully?’ Fe asked curiously.
‘Ha-ha, no dear. No need to worry. Let me explain’ grandma smiled at her innocence. 
You are the same grown little girl my dear. I know you are the same playful little girl. But once you enter in to adolescence. Everyone will see you differently. They want you to take of yourself, yet no one will lend a hand to help you. It’s only them that changed. Men will seek to abuse or bully you. Women will try to push you down.
One thing dear, in this world it’s really hard to live as a woman. Am saying the same, it’s not that you have grown. But fight those guys who bully you. Never worry about them. 
“I know you are a bird and you have to understand that they were the cage makers”
Fly so high, so that their cages will go in vain. 
‘Do boys attain puberty?’ asked Fe with a giggle.
They do dear, but they don’t celebrate it much like girls.
Oh that’s weird.
‘You will only understand it when you actually grown’ grandma made it clear for her at the moment and Fe got some inspiration from her. 

And her dad enters the house with an astrologer.
Grandma and dad sat down with astrologer. Dad explained everything to that guy and he started to read the astrology of everyone in the family.
‘Ma, send Fe to her friend’s house’ whispered dad to his mom.
‘It’s ok son, she should hear these. It’s no point sending her out’ grandma then looked at Fe who was so nervous and felt so afraid seeing the astrologer.
After several minutes, he started,
‘Ok, from your astrology. She’s a lucky charm for your family’ astrologer.
Fe was happy to hear that, but the astrologer didn’t stop there,
‘If the girl is happy then there will be happiness in the family. If she’s sad, then everything will go bad’ Fe was totally confused when her father and grandma took a glance of her face who stand beside them. Grandma smiled at her, then she smiled back.
But Fe hasn’t recovered from his entry, still look so afraid without a reason. Maybe she’s afraid of him saying that she’s the reason for the death of her mom. 
Astrologer saw Fe and found that she was sad about something, and said,
‘Now she’s sad as she looks, she’s the only girl in the house, and you can’t make her happy? If you can’t do that, make her happy again with someone she can really be happy’
Grandma and dad understood what he was trying to say, but Fe was totally perplexed. She was wondering what astrologer is talking about.
‘Fe, can you please go to your friend’s house for some time’ said father politely. Fe’s eyes were totally on her father while leaving, she walks to her friend’s house and sat in the verandah.
They continued,
‘Are you talking about her marriage?’ Question raised by dad.
‘Yes, she’s able now and what else you will do with her? it’s the right time’ astrologer confused both. Both have thousands of questions, mom and son saw each other and his mom shook her head as clear objection.
Every decision taken for her without her considerations will always go in vain. Is that women not eligible to make a decision, false.























GROWN LITTLE GIRL
EPISODE 3: LOST AN ANOTHER GEM
The stumbled duo have no answers at the time, but hundreds of questions. And again the astrologer continues,
‘And one important thing, make her happy. If you made her weep, then she will make the whole family suffer. Once charm become negative, then it will be deadly’ said the astrologer.
‘But he lost his wife less than 2 months ago. And I don’t think it will work, please suggest an alternative’ this time grandma can’t hold her voice back.
‘No grandma, there is no other choice. Until you make a decision, make sure she’s happy’.
‘But, she’s already happy now, I don’t think she and we are ready for a function, even though she’s ready physically, she needs more time to be ready mentally. Son, I will never allow this to happen now’ grandma said in a strict voice.
‘Ok, grandma. It’s my job to warn you and it’s your decision’ astrologer again threatens them.
‘My daughter’s life is more important than mine. I will arrange her marriage when the time’s right. Nothing will happen in this year’ said father to both grandma and astrologer.
‘Then you are ready to face the risk man, the last advice is that, be sure she’s happy’ then the astrologer left the house with a daring look.	
‘Son, I am so proud of you’ said grandma to her son. Fe’s a great girl and she deserves a good parent like you. Be sure to make her happy. Not saying for the sake of astrology, but saying as her grandma.
‘Yes, mom. I will do the best thing for my Fe’.

Fe returned after half an hour, she looks really tensed entering the house. Grandma was cooking in the kitchen. She rushed to her.
‘Grandma, what happened? Did he said about sending me out to someone’s home as a wife? But grandma, how can I do that?’ Fe posted several questions.
‘Nothing to worry dear, I promise you, I never let anything happen to you until you are completely grown and able to make your own decisions’ grandma pacified Fe.
‘Thanks grandma, I am so relieved having you. What’s father saying?’
‘I think your dad’s afraid of giving you away, don’t worry he will never push you in to marriage, even he did, I will break his spells. Just concentrate on studies now’ grandma encouraged her. 

Days and months passed by, Fe was happy those days. She now managed to tackle the bullying with the help of her friends and teachers. Her grandma taught her to tackle the obstacles and she seem to be coping very well. Now, she can at least strongly reply to a bully with some harsh words and run back home. But still the society doesn’t allow her to think beyond what’s happening.
                             …………………………………………………………

Her mother’s demise was more than a year now, and Fe looks more confident now. She was at her last days of schooling. Grandma was little down these days, struggling to walk. Fe has to take care of her father and grandma. 
And it was only a couple of days left in her school life. On a fine evening, back from school…
‘Evening grandma, have you had your lunch today?’ Fe has to cook breakfast and lunch for their grandma and father. It was hard for her at first but she mastered it now. But I doubt whether she mastered cooking or not. Grandma, these days find hard to walk, she needs help often. 
‘Yes dear, it was good’ grandma replied.
‘Ha-ha grandma, I know my cooking’ Fe mocked.
‘How was the school dear and what your plans next?’ asked grandma.
‘Really I don’t know grandma, my few friends are getting married’ Fe said as she was in a doubt.
‘Do you think you are ready?’ grandma’s strong question.
‘For marriage? No grandma. I don’t know. One of my friend asked me to join with her to the sewing class, am really wanted to do that next’.
‘Ok dear, ask your dad. Or else he might have plans for you’.
‘Ok grandma, take rest’.

Few minutes later, her dad entered the house. 
‘Fe, am really hungry. Please make me dinner. Did you grandma had the food?’ her dad asked.
‘No dad, I will make it in 15 more minutes’ in between the busy cooking works, Fe’s mind was thinking about her next plan, ‘whether I have to tell dad about sewing class or ask his plans for me’ …’no I should ask him my wish’ she talked to herself. And finally she finished the works and she placed everything in front of her dad, and start politely with serving. She even asked her dad, dad do you need more rice, more water?, an abnormal polite.
She then started her mouth saying.’ can I ask you something? Will you allow me to go to sewing class, my school is going to get over in 2 days’.
‘Oh, that’s why you are so polite today. I think of getting you married, my savings for you reach its top point. I think you should stay in the home and get advice from grandma on how to take care of a family. A woman should stay inside the home and take care all the members, you are grown now and I don’t want anyone from your future home to complain me that I didn’t raised you well’ father gave her no time to reply.
But dad,
Dad left to his room and shut his room strongly. Fe was worried, but she thought that may be every friend is getting married and I should follow the same. But her heart tells her differently, she’s not confident enough or ready to get married. Puzzled Fe looked at her grandma, grandma has no words to say at the moment.

Two days later,
‘Mom, am starting to search for a man for Fe. I think it’s the right time. You fell ill, and am becoming old. So I think someone needs to stand aside and take care of her’
‘But son, I think she’s not yet ready. She’s just 18 and you should give her some time, let her decide when she can marry’ mom replied.
‘Don’t be stupid mom, I don’t have to explain these to you. If we let her unmarried, society will talk bad about her. Then it will be so hard to search for a man’.
‘Anyway son, do what’s good for her’ grandma wasn’t much excited about the idea, but his logic seems to make sense for her. Since she’s getting old and Fe needs a new life now.
‘Ok mom’. Her father wanted her to marry soon after the school days. 

And the same evening…
‘Fe, come here darling. I think your dad is thinking of getting you married. Whatever happens Fe, just stand bold on your decision, it’s the only hope you have.
‘Oh no, I don’t want to marry now, grandma you should help me out’
Dad was hearing the conversation from his room and shouted,
‘Stop it mom, she’s a little girl. You can’t feed her bad thoughts. It will not help her in life. When did you get married, at 14? She’s 18 now and it’s the absolute time to get her married’.
‘You will never understand how the 14 year-old struggled in her life’ grandma said to herself silently.
Grandma stood silent and ask Fe to talk for herself with her eye reaction.
Several thoughts ran in to Fe’s mind. She suddenly stood up, ‘Dad, please understand me. I am not ready for marriage. Allow me to study further, firstly allow me to go sewing class. Please dad’
‘Now, you are arguing me and taking your own decisions for yourself. Then why am here! I am like a stupid now, who always think about his family and getting dumped. I will stand with my decision and you have to obey me. You are not matured enough to take your decisions’ said dad furiously and left the house.
Grandma was so worried and Fe started to weep. An Hour later dad came back seeing that Fe was sitting sad on the sofa.
‘Fe, are you going to cook for me or not?’
‘Yes, I will dad’.
Fe started to cook and later served it to him and to the grandma. But grandma refused to eat and seemed to be worried with the decision. 
Fe was worried too and skipped her dinner. She kept on thinking and it was already midnight. A sudden choking sound came from the next room. Fe understands that it’s her grandma, she rushed to her,
‘Grandma, are you alright?’ Fe yelled.
‘Dad, come here, she’s struggling to breathe’
What happened? Mom, relax, wait Fe, I will get a doctor and come’ dad said and started moving, but there was a pure silence, and a last gulp of air removed from her body. Fe could feel the last air of her grandma, the soul touched Fe before leaving to the eternity.
Both were terrified.
It comes a day for everyone that they need to take care of themselves, speak for themselves and fight hard for themselves. That makes them fight for others too.