It was raining lightly, as if universe is crying on my misfortune.
How can I go home now? How can I face mum?
She always kept us away from her dark world. I watched her struggling and crying everyday. She never wanted her daughter to end up in prostitution. She wanted a good future for me.
They say the worm of the drain never leaves the drain..Hun ( scoff)
Given the environment we lived in, the only job I could find was as a bartender. I was still happy..at least we didn't have to beg. But I had forgotten that a bar is never a safe place for girls. And now… look what happened.
I am that worm in the drain, desperate to crawl out…
But how can I forget?
The drain is where I belong.
"No, I will not leave that man alone," Meera thought, her body trembling with rage. It felt like burning lava was flowing inside her. She just wanted his head…nothing else.
It was 10:30 p.m. when Meera entered the police station. The rain had stopped, but her face was still wet, her soaked hair clinging to her skin, her eyes tired and red.
An old fan creaked slowly above. The male officer behind the desk was busy entering something in a register.
Meera walked straight up and stood in front of him.
"I…..i want to file a report,"
The constable looked up at her and said - " Haan, what ? "
she said again, her voice shaking. "I've been abused… sexually abused."
With an expressionless face he picked up the intercom.
"Send a female officer."
Then he gestured toward a broken wooden bench. "Sit there.
She sat, shivering.
Two and a half hours later, a lady sub-inspector walked in….irritation written all over her face—" why are you calling me at this hour, I alredy completed my shift, I am about to go home."
The male officer glared. "This is a police station, not a corporate office. If duty calls, you come."
Fine," she muttered. "What's the case?"
He pointed at Meera. "Sexual assault. Needs medical and statement." And Went back to his work.
The woman sighed, gave Meera a quick, uninterested look, and said, "Come with me." guiding Meera to a side cabin.
"Your name?"
"Meera."
"Age?"
"Twenty-three."
"What?"
Louder now: "Twenty-three."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
She explained how her attempt to provide good customer service while following the rules of her job had led her to this point. She recounted everything that had happened the previous night ( she had to repeat everything multiple times to the time of breaking )
At times, her breath caught in her throat.
Then she paused and said, "There's something else… My friend Tony, he was working the same shift. He tried to save me… and… he got shot."
She started sobbing, overcome with guilt and helplessness.
The officer took a heavy breath - " so there is another man, where is he now ?"
"I tried calling him several times, but there's no response. The bar manager isn't answering either. No…no one is answering."
The officer's face turned serious. "When was he shot?"
"Right then… in that moment. He tried to stop them. Then everything went dark. When I woke up, I was alone. I don't know where he..whether he's alive or… he lives alone, he has no one."
The officer made a note in the register:
Possible witness – Tony (friend) – reported shot – status: Missing
Then she asked Meera, "Did you go to the hospital?"
"Yes. City Med Clinic. Around 7 in the evening. They did some medical tests. The report is due tomorrow."
"Hmm… okay. That's a private hospital. Forensic evidence might not be preserved properly there," the officer said. "We'll need to take you to a government forensic center to collect DNA samples, photographs of injuries, and other legal evidence."
Meera nodded, her voice barely audible.
"Okay."
"Are you still wearing the same clothes from that night?"
"Yes…"
"We'll need to collect your undergarments as evidence, with your consent."
"Okay," Meera replied softly.
Then she told her to sit and wait….
Then came the waiting.
Five endless hours.
Forensic Room
The room was white and cold. A female doctor and a nurse were present. Meera was now dressed in a hospital gown.
The procedure began.
Scrapings were taken from under her nails, hair samples collected, swabs taken from various parts of her body.
Suddenly, the doctor paused and looked at the nurse, alarmed.
"There's something written on her stomach."
They lifted the gown slightly. Written in black marker:
Number of the police station
"Ryan"
"Call between 3:00 – 3:30 only."
The doctor turned to Meera. "We'll need to photograph this. Just this part. Do you give permission?"
Meera whispered, "Hmm…"
Click.
Meera's face remained blank and they were all cold working like machine without any empathy or emotions. They were treating her like she did something wrong because of her now they all had to work extra hours.
This humiliation she will never forget, Her mind was somewhere else…still searching for Tony.
What will I tell mum?
I don't know… I don't know anything anymore. She closed her eyes.
A knock came on the door.
She got scared.
The female officer stepped outside.
Outside the Medical Room
Female Officer: "Hi, Caleb. I was just about to come to you, but I got held up with a stupid case."
Caleb, sipping his coffee: "It's alright. I had to step out anyway. Just leave the robbery case file in the left drawer of my desk. I'll check it later."
Female Officer: "Sure. Actually, could you do me a favor? You're going out anyway. The victim from this abuse case is getting her check-up done. I need someone to accompany her and investigate the crime scene. It'll take time, and my shift was over hours ago….I'm still on duty. I've taken her statement. Medical and photographs are done. I just need someone to visit the crime scene and gather evidence. Once that's done, the girl can be sent home."
Caleb: "Hmm. Okay. What's the location?"
Female Officer (checking her notepad): "Velvet Bar. She works there. There was a dispute with a customer, he assaulted her, and another employee was shot. There's no info on him."
Caleb raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Bar? We know these bar girls. They often trap rich men for money, and when they don't get what they want, they cry assault. These cases just waste our time and government funds. Just close it."
The female officer laughed lightly. "Wish I could do that… The law says we have to do our job. Though… that miniac Mishra called me otherwise I would be sleeping on my bed. I truly hate him. Please…please help me "
She made poor face with puppy eyes
Caleb smiled-" Ok, I'll handle "
Female Officer: "Thank you."