Volcanoes

Posted on by Reena Saxena

The verdict is out.

“All four accused found guilty, to be hanged to death….”

The defense lawyer is defiant.

“I cannot let four young people die for the sake of one girl, who was out on the streets in late hours.”

A whisper in the crowd,

“Is this man for real?” The nervous speaker has witnessed cold-bloodedness for the first time.

Back in the chambers, another meeting is on. An enquiry about the antecedents of the defence lawyer, and funding of the case is being set up. All the accused hail from  lower strata of society, and could not afford the legal fees of taking their case to the International Court of Justice.

“How many more skeletons will tumble out, before I can rest in peace?” screams a ghost on the dark streets.

Money doled out as compensation, crowdsourcing of funds by non-profits, filmmakers betting billions on the commercial success of this plot, media earnings after candle marches in sympathy for the deceased, fundamentalist forces out to curb a woman’s freedom …. all run for cover.

Candles drop one by one into a volcano– till they erupt again with renewed vigour to wipe out the land that commercialized a rape.

Reena’s Exploration Challenge #135

11 thoughts on “Volcanoes”

  1. Pingback: Reena’s Exploration Challenge #136 – Reena Saxena

    1. It was an incomparably brutal rape and murder which happened in Delhi in December, 2012. Nirbhaya was the media name given because local laws do not permit revealing a rape victim’s identity. It was revealed later as her parents fought the case to the Supreme Court. Nirbhaya means Fearless, and she fought back to the end.

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