Sophia's Freedom

Chapter 33: Memories Christened - 1

                                                           MONIKA’S POINT OF VIEW

***I went to my room and locked the door from inside. I was mad at them for treating me like a child. I am really going to miss Joe dada from tomorrow. I don't understand, why mom thinks I am a child, I have been taking care of Abhinu for 6 years and now I am grounded. I really wish mom would understand my dilemma, or I could tell them about the Phoenix***

After a while, the house went silent. I peeked through the keyhole and found that everyone had left except mom.

The clock hanging on my wall indicated 6:30 p.m. Dinner is not due for another 2 hours. I took out my photo album from the drawer, climbed on my bed, and started browsing through it. I started this album the day I figured out that I loved Abhinu and found him amongst those few people whom I truly cared about. Every picture of this album depicts specific memory of our close acquaintance.

Initially, this album contained photographs of the times I, Aarohi, Sam, and Abhinu had our happy moments. Occasionally Aamaya di would also join us. After Aarohi's death, one-day Abhinu came to me and gave me his digital camera and asked me to keep it with me. I have been keeping the camera safe with me. One day Harsh got to know about our hobby of taking photographs, and only to make me mad, he used to occasionally visit Abhinu's place after his transition to Sophia, he would constantly take pictures of Abhinu in compromising positions and would send it to me.

I would get really mad at Harsh, but I made a promise to Abhinu not to fight in school, except during the mixed martial arts championships. 

*** As I kept flipping through the pages, I stumbled upon one of the photos. That was the day when Abhinu was christened Sophia. It had Grihamani wearing a White Kurta and Abhinu in a Ghagra Choli with a veil over his head. 

Ghagra is a form of skirt that is long embroidered and pleated. It is secured at the waist or hips and leaves the lower back and midriff bare. While the choli is a midriff-baring blouse and is cut to fit tightly to the body with its short sleeves and a low neck. The choli is usually cropped, allowing exposure of the navel. The cropped design is particularly well-suited for wear in the hot summers of the Indian subcontinent.

It was Abhinu's birthday that day. I recall that few days prior to that, Abhinu was subjected to some surgery. I remember precisely because Aamaya didi informed me that Abhinu was hospitalized with severe pain in his lower abdomen a couple of weeks ago, and the doctors performed some kind of surgery on him.

When Abhinu returned home from the hospital, I asked aunty about the surgery. She told me that the doctors diagnosed certain complications with his internal organs and they had to perform surgery to rectify it and block further aggravation of his condition. It necessitated the removal of his testicles which is called emasculation surgery.

At that time I didn't know about it. However, one day while leafing through a biology book in our school library, I came to know that emasculation is the removal of organs from a male body that produces testosterone and without which a male becomes impotent. He can never have babies.

It was also written there that emasculation surgery is generally performed by the transgender community of India to attain blessedness. In other words, they have turned Abhinu into a transvestite.

With what is happening in his life, it would be a miracle if Abhinu ever musters up courage and strength to pull through till the day he grows up. With the daily mental and physical a***e, humiliation, and disgrace he was facing, I had to make up my mind to protect him till I can find a way to rescue him from the family.

My love for Abhinu was eternal, however, during those days, I had a little disgust for him, looking at his new avatar. However, after this particular incident, I knew I had to be there for him. Without me, he would be lonely and I should be his support system, until such a day when I am able to get in touch with people who would actually believe such a thing is happening within the 4 walls of the house. 

A day before the incident, I went to church as I was really disturbed. That day in Sunday school, we learned about St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers. After school, as I was praying to Mother Mary, a voice spoke in my head. For some reason, it felt real. That voice introduced herself as St. Dwynwen. She said that I am one of Mother Mary's favorite child and if I truly cared for Abhinu, it should never matter to me, how he looks now. 

She told me that true love should always break the shackles of society and become an example for everyone around you. This was a time when Abhinu needs me the most. Every member of his family has only one goal and that was to humiliate him in every possible manner, and during that time, if I would try to stay away from him, it would shatter his soul. I was his support system and the only person who gives him a reason to live.

That was the time I decided, I will fight against all odds to ensure that he stays safe and give him hope that a day will come when he can be Abhinu again, he will just have to be strong.

With a lot of courage, I decided to attend the ceremony so that I could keep him company and make him believe that there is someone who will always be by his side no matter how much the universe conspires to hurt him.

However, before visiting his place, Joe dada and I went to visit Aarohi's grave to seek her eternal blessings for the perilous quest I was about to take, and I have no clue if I would even get success in it.

Aunty also told me that the particular ceremony will be a christening ceremony which will take place on the day of Abhinu's birthday, and since Abhinu has only a few friends including me, Soham, and Grihamani, we will all be invited. 

I knew the family was nuts and I was also disgusted and disturbed with Abhinu's new incarnation but after that dream, I knew I had to be there for him. One thing I must admit. After that surgery, he was not the same person anymore. Maybe the physical a***e, the humiliation, the mental tortures, and worst of all no support from his only best friend was taking a toll on his self-confidence.

I was also to be blamed for it, but at that moment I was confused too. He kept referring to me as his elder sister, and worst of all he was dressed up as a girl with scared me the most. ***

                                                                TO BE CONTINUED...

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