I rang the bell of Shanaya's Masi house and soon the door opened. A woman was standing infront of me. Police she whispered fear etched on her face. J-Ji she asked. Hello Mam my name is SP Kartikeya Ghosh. Main yaha pe kuch janne aaya hoon.
(I have come here to know something)
Ji andar aaiye please. (Yes, come inside please)
We both sat and I got straight to the point. Kya aap mujhe Shanaya ke baare main kuch bata sakte hai I asked.
(Can you tell me something about Shanaya)
Shanaya? Meri bhatiji Shanaya she asked (Shanaya? My niece Shanaya?)
Yes I said.
Kya janna hai aapko she asked. (What do you want to know?)
Ji main Shanaya ke ek classmate se mila tha. Usne mujhe kaha ki Shanaya ke chehre aur shareer pe chehre pe chot lagne ke nishaan rishta rehte the. Kya aap mujhe bata sakti hai ki aisa kyu before I could complete my sentence she started crying.
(I met one of Shanaya's classmate and she told me there were always some marks on her face and body. Can you tell me why)
Ji aap ro kyu rhi hai I asked. (Why are you crying?)
S-Sir Shanaya meri behen ki beti thi she said.
S-Sir Shanaya was my sister's daughter.)
Continue please I said.
Sir Shanaya ke Papa usse bahut marte the. Choti choti baat pe usse punishment dete the. Kabhi (sobs) uska haath jala dete the dry iron se toh kabhi paani main sar duba dete the. Apni biwi yaani ki meri behen ke saath bhi yahi karte the. Bahut marte the usse.
Humari himmat nhi hoti thi kuch bolne ki. Par aaj guilt feel hota hai ki tab kuch kyu nhi kiya. Phir Sir ek din she said.
(Sir Shanaya's father used to hit her a lot. He used to give her punishment for small things. Sometimes (sobs) he used to burn her hands with dry iron and sometimes he used to drown her head in water. He used to do the same with his wife i.e my sister. He used to hit her a lot.
We didn't have the courage to say anything. But now we feel guilty about why we didn't do anything. Sir then one day she said)
SHANAYA'S AUNT'S POV
FLASHBACK
Sir Shanaya was 8 years old when she returned from her school one day. I was at her house that day when Shanaya's father Anuj came home. We could tell from his face that he was in a bad mood. My sister brought dal and rice for him to eat. After taking one bite he threw the food on the floor. He grabbed her hair and started hitting her for not cooking properly. I tried to stopped him but he glared at me. I backed off and took Shanaya to her room so she wouldn't have to see it. Few minutes later we heard a glass breaking sound. I ran outside and saw my sister lying in a pool of blood. She wasn't moving. S-She w-was d-dead. Anuj hands were trembling with fear. I immediately took my phone and started to call the police. Anuj grabbed my by my hair and tied my hands with my Dupatta and ran away with Shanaya. Hours later my husband Saurabh untied my hand. By that time Anuj had run away.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Tears rolled down my face as I listened to the harrowing tale of Shanaya's life. Her aunt, Meenu Ji, sat before me, sobbing uncontrollably. I stood up, my mind racing with questions, but before I could leave, Meenu Ji grabbed my hand.
"Sir... p-please find Shanaya," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
I nodded firmly, my resolve solidifying. "I will, Meenu Ji. I promise."
As I stepped out of her house, I couldn't shake the image of Shanaya as a frightened child enduring unimaginable torment. The determination to find her burned stronger within me. I would uncover the truth-no matter what it took.
TO BE CONTINUED