Shaila had been an introvert all her life. She had trust issues and very few people she could talk to. She had gone through a lot in her life. Most of it remained unsaid.
“Shaila, you need to figure out what you want in life,” said Bharath, Shaila’s younger brother. He was the one who never gave up on her. He kept reaching out to her even when she pushed him away.
“I know. I will. I have to do this before anything else,” said Shaila nervously. She did not like being advised, especially in public.
That day, she saw him, the man who had caused this to her. She knew that she was not the only one. It had been eleven years since she last saw him. Raavan was her tormentor and her greatest fear. He walked alongside a team of lawyers. He noticed her and stopped to look at her. “Sheela?” he asked snidely.
Shaila tried to control her rage. Raavan remembered her. She could tell from his smirk. It infuriated her that he did not remember the name of the woman whose life he had ruined. Bharath held her hand tightly. It was the only thing stopping her from attacking him. “We are here to put this behind us,” said Bharath in a whisper. He turned to look at Raavan and frowned.
“We need you to be strong. Your testimony will help many women,” said Ganesh, their lawyer. Eleven years ago, Raavan had tried to take advantage of her. She had been a promising singer and he had been in the music business. Since she resisted, Raavan had ruined her career.
“I’m sorry you had to see him again. I promise that this will never happen again,” said Bharath apologetically.
“Why are you sorry? This is a good thing. It is the best thing that has happened to me in the last decade,” said Shaila seriously. She had been scared and in her shell for too long. She had been building herself for this moment. She had to face him if she had to get ahead in life. When she heard of the case against him, she had volunteered to provide testimony. This would give her the closure that she desperately needed. She would be heard. Nothing else mattered.
“This isn’t going to be easy. It is going to bring back a lot of memories,” said Bharath, looking at the ground between his feet.
“I know but if I don’t do this, I will be haunted by these memories forever. It is time I face him with courage. No more being afraid. I have the truth,” said Shaila confidently.
Bharath looked at his sister with concern. This was the first time she was being brave in a long time. He did not know if the law would side with them. He did the only thing he could. He held her hand and stood by her side.
[zombify_post]
