r 3: W

ya’s

past. People changed, empires rose and fell, India gained its independence, new generations were born an

girl had to not only grow up, but do something that no child of fourteen should ever have to dream about. A cold night painted in dee

ill entire packs and take over their land, only to leave it in ruins a few days later when all the previous packs income had been spent on alcohol and their women had given birth to the next generation. If there was one thing I was th

spot. I saw several women in colorful ghagra-choli’s (an Indian dress worn mainly in Gujarat and Rajasthan) with wide smiles on their faces as they led the other touris

ur world. To humiliate women in a land where the people call our country "Matribhumi" (mother land), a land where Goddesses Durga ( Mother Goddess), Kali (Death Goddess), Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealt

the kitchen and give birth to their children. Although now I see several women getting educated, takin

than ten years so that the humans don’t start questioning why I don’t age. I’ve worked odd jobs at several cities and villa

t I have someone who has tagged along with me my enti

, the hot steward had grabbed her attention. That was why, at present, I was standing in this sma

ly have children with our mates. Unfortunately, I’ve never once found a mate in my one hundred and twenty six years of existence; and frankly, I don’t plan to find him either. And to think that Mother Natur

ed the remains of Ruksaar’s mother. “You’re

daughter from the scorching flames or let her die along with everyone else in the village. And I’

r wobbling over a dune, trying to cross over to me without gett

hrugged as I debated entering the village or turning back

y; almost like milk chocolate and her big almond shaped dark brown eyes were looking at the place of her birth with interest. She had no memories of that night, of course. That’s why I did

h mine and began dragging me towards the villag

my mother used to feed me. Both Gujarat and Rajasthan were known for

and joy we deserved, but with fear and anguish. As old memories swirled, I crushed them do