Only by speaking out can we create lasting change

 Kabita's father: Hello? Hello? Dear, our child must be with you. Can we talk to her? Sorry?

The plan was to stay in your house. Right?

Kabita's friend Aditi: Yes, yes uncle. At my house only. 

Kabita's father: She isn't picking her phone. Can we talk to her?

Aditi : Actually the phone is charging and she is in the washroom. 

Kabita's father: She hasn't come yet?

Aditi: She has uncle, but now I am not at home, came down to get bread for some sandwiches

Aditi: calling kabita, Pick up,

 Pick up the phone! someone respond 'Hello'

Aditi: shouted on her, Throw the phone away, when you have it then you won't use it. Your father is looking for you, Call him once and ask him what is wrong.

Kabita: Shit! Shit! Shit! thank you dear.

Aditi: And the next time you tell your father you are at Aditi's place then tell Aditi's also about this plan.

Kabita: Sorry dear, I'm so sorry.

Often our friends land us in such situations where we feel like very lovingly banging their face into a wall. Then we realize its okay, they are our children after all.

 And it's a beautiful thing to see that when someone is in a code red situation, they rely on you to handle it all. Now your girl has so much experience in this sphere that maybe she hasn't revised her exam syllabus, But these stories, she can cook up easily.

Now her father knows that she is at Aditi's place but Aditi doesn't know this because she herself is not at home and when the father gets to know this, it's a mystery if she will be able to go home. But this trust is something that you earn, like an achievement and often in fear, discomfort and insecurity, this trust overshadows and when that happens, one feels hurt.

school got over and everyone left for different cities. Call, whats App and  Instagram was my only way to connect and weeks would pass without talking to them and I was frustrated I had a friend, with whom I hadn't spoken to for long. She would make weird excuses. something was wrong with her. but I didn't know what and neither would she tell me. So I got frustrated and told her that I had seen enough of her and couldn't stop wondering that what is it that she can't tell me and if that's the case then let it be.

What's a friendship where you can't share anything with friends. She called then. I said hello, did someone say anything, did  something happen? "promise me you won't react" okay, okay...

So I had a break up, you had a break up? so you were so much in pain, that you forgot to contact your friends?! then she told me, "something else also happened, let me what's app" Soon one after one I received whats App messages. Her ex boyfriend molested her and abused her and when she decided to end it all, he stalked her and blackmailed her. 

But when nothing worked, then he went on spread rumors' in his  group that she is characterless and my friend had been bearing all of this and she couldn't say this out loud. My initial reaction was anger as in how did the boy have the guts to do this and then I was mad at my friend for not saying anything and then I felt like I had failed over the  pride that I carried with my friendship. But today I had failed. Why haven't you filled a FIR?

"Why FIR? I don't want to get into all this" Families will get involved and I don't want to get into all this did you confront the boy and tell him about this? I'm at peace now as he hasn't done anything since the past 2 months. Let it be. Did you tell his friends? Yes I did, They apologized and said that he loved me very much, So he became insecure.

He became insecure and made a mistake I see And you casually accepted this. You didn't say anything. you were absolutely quiet and you didn't say anything?! You let these things happen, why were you quite? ' what would I say? I was scared as well. If I filed an fir then question would raise on my character as well Relationship and teenagers.

You know my parents, they wouldn't let me go out to study then. what could have I done? I had no one, you guys weren't here in Lucknow and if I would say anything to him then he would threaten me with self harm I was tired. I couldn't understand who had failed. Society? Where teenage love was already a crime. They would immediately remark that the girl should have been careful.

Her parents? Who raised her well but yet couldn't let her know that no matter what happens, they are there for her. Or the boy's friends who didn't tell him that what he had done was wrong while he enjoyed the show sitting back. 

My friend was paying for her yesterday's freedom by staying quiet today. And then there was me .Who couldn't let her know that no matter what happens, I'm there for her. Maybe she knew that me alone could not help her much from the society.

Now she fine, is what she says. But I still can't believe that I had failed. But if you, if you can hear me then speak up. scream, shout and look into their eyes and stop them. stop their voice, their hand, don't let them get away with this if you can hear me, then please listen. Don't stay quiet. Your silence will shut us all. So don't stay quiet. And no matter where you fail in life, never fail here.