Sophia's Freedom

Chapter 34 : Memories Christened - 2

 *** Whenever I tried to recall that day, I would always scare the hell out of me. I tried telling dada all about it, but he wouldn't believe it. Even Mom and Dad felt I was trying to make things up. After a lot of struggle, I finally found someone who finally believed in me. It was Daniel dada. He told me about a friend of his, who had seen this ceremony with his own eyes. I asked Daniel dada if he can help Abhinu and his answer was that if I really believed that he would be able to help me?

I told him that out of all the people I know in the world, he was the only one who believed me, so obviously I trusted him. Daniel dada then told me that he will help me, however, I will have to pass a test to prove how much I love Abhinu.

I replied that for the sake of Abhinu, I will do anything and asked him what was the test. 

He then told me that the Banerjee family holds a secret, the secret of Helen Harper. He wants me to figure out who Helen Harper is. Once I am able to find out about Helen Harper, I should invite that person to Aarohi's grave. Once the 2 of us are in Aarohi's grave, we should give him a call. Once I am able to get Helen Harper to Aarohi's grave, he and his friends will make sure whoever dares to hurt Abhinu's modesty, will be suitably punished.

I agreed to his condition and decided to search for the person known as Helen Harper. ***

                                                                            6 YEARS AGO

 I tried to recall the series of events of that day and remembered reaching their home after I had paid my respects to Aarohi in her grave.

As I rang the doorbell Abhinu opened the door for me. He seemed excited to see me. He was wearing a white floral thigh-length skirt, a red sleeveless top, a pair of ankle-length frilly socks, and a white pump that had a bow near the toe cleavage. Will all these weird dresses, the small red shade of lipstick, and the dark kajal over his eyes, he was actually looking beautiful. Even though at a first glance, a newcomer would think he was actually a girl.

"Monika Ma'am, you have come? I am so excited to see you." He gave a broad smile and stepped forward to hug me.

I was still unable to accept his weird look and instinctively raised my left hand to dissuade his attempt to hug me. He stopped in his tracks, looked down, and said "I am sorry ma'am... It won't happen again" and then he asked me, "I am having my breakfast, will you join me."

I replied, "Go ahead, continue your breakfast or whatever the hell you are upto... I am going to talk to Aamaya didi. I don't want to talk to a loser like you." and began to walk towards Aamaya Didi’s room totally ignoring him.

A year ago, he would have stood up to it, but during those days he appeared so disgraced, disgruntled, and humiliated that he struggled to utter anything. After that particular surgery, he was not the same person anymore. His confidence was totally shattered. Even though I called him a loser, deep down I knew he is not and immediately regretted my harsh words.

Aunty called us after breakfast and informed us that since Abhinu would be living as a girl, she will be rechristened to suit her changeover.

A girl cannot have the name Abhinu, so aunty asked us to suggest a new name for her. Abhinu was nearly in tears, unable to say anything in protest. He might be really hurt when aunty addressed him as someone from the opposite s*x.

Aunty looked at Abhinu and said "Why don't you go and take a bath sweetheart and come out wearing a towel. We will start the ceremony as soon as possible."

I remember Abhinu bending down on his knees and begging aunty with folded hands, "Aunty, please don't humiliate me so much, You have taken away everything from me, at least let me continue being a boy. I am sorry for what I did. I won’t do it again, I promise. I will do anything you ask me to do."

Aunty grasp his hair and dragged him to Aarohi's room. He kept crying and wailing as he was being dragged by the hair. Somehow Aunty forgot to lock the door from inside and through a small space, I could see that Aunty had a phone in her hand and dialed a number and placed the call on speaker. I could hear Abhinu's cries and pleas for mercy, to the person who was on the other line and all the while that person was quiet, and then suddenly the person on the other end shouted "THIS IS NOT HUMILIATION, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HUMILIATION IS?  THIS CEREMONY IS WILL HAPPEN... EVEN IF YOU WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY WITHOUT A SINGLE CLOTH ON YOUR BODY... DO YOU REALLY WANT YOUR FRIEND MONIKA AND HARSH TO KNOW THAT WE TOOK AWAY YOUR MOST PRISED POSSESSION"

I saw Abhinu replied softly, still with his head bowed down "I will do it..."

And then the person at the other end replied "That's my girl... see I told you in the morning right... this is going to be easy... you don't have to worry a thing..." the person on the other end paused and then said "Aunty... After the completion of this ceremony, I want the 4 of you to pick up the leather belt hanging next to the window, and whack her 4 times each. That should teach her not to say no to me... and make user you don't forget..."

The voice on the other end was terrifying enough for Abhinu to understand that his pleas were in vain. When they came out of the room with a resigned Abhinu, I saw dark red and purple marks resembling bruises all over his back. It felt like Abhinu was probably being beaten up too. He was not wearing anything except a tank top and a pantie. It was a humiliating sight for me watching him wear a tank top and a panty and I dread to even think how he might be feeling too.

As Abhinu went to the washroom, to have his bath, aunty called all 4 of us, Me, Aamaya di, Garima and Darika and said," Girls, I want you to suggest a new name for Abhinu."

My subconscious mind kept telling me "Monika, this is wrong, stand up for what is right" but back then I was too young and probably a coward or maybe I thought it was just a few days of punishment for Abhinu and everything would be alright.

The only name that came up in my mind was "Sophia". It was Aarohi's official name. However, she hated that name and wanted everyone to call her “Aarohi”, which prevailed. Aamaya di suggested "Helen"  Darika came up with "Kajal" and Garima as "Ruby."

Aunty wrote the names down on separate pieces of paper, folded them, and placed them on Abhinu's study table.

After some time Abhinu came out of the lady's room wearing a towel. What was strange was that Abhinu was wearing the towel which almost covered his chest. For some reason, it felt like, he has suddenly started to develop breasts, but I cannot be certain about it. 

It was finally time for the humiliation to start...

                                                TO BE CONTINUED...

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~