The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal Read Free Book Online Page B

Do you have any idea how many female children in this country are cruelly destroyed either as fetuses or newborns?”
    “Bogus statistics cooked up by feminist groups!” was Baba’s disdainful response. “What Karnik does with his medical practice is none of our business. You stay out of it, you hear?” It was a clear warning.
    Nikhil had never again mentioned reporting against Karnik, and of course Isha had immediately switched doctors after that disturbing ultrasound appointment. But every day after that point the debate over abortion had insinuated itself into the conversation in the Tilak home, until it had come to a head when Ayee and Baba had come right out and ordered Nikhil and Isha to schedule an abortion.
    “We forbid you to have the child,” Baba had said to them.
    “What is the point in having another girl? We need a boy to carry on the family tradition.”
    For once Nikhil had put on his most intimidating expression THE
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    and stared his father down, making Isha’s heart swell with pride. “You have no right to forbid a child from coming into this world,” he’d countered. “Neither you nor Dr. Karnik can play God. So I would appreciate your not bringing up this topic again. From now on, the word abortion is not to be mentioned in my presence or Isha’s, or Priya’s, for that matter.”
    He had thrown his mother a blistering glance, silently warning her to keep her mouth shut, too.
    Amazingly the “A” word had never been brought up again, at least while Nikhil was alive.
    So now, as Isha’s heart was breaking over how her father-in-law had punished her grieving child, she knew the time had come to go off on her own. God alone knew where she would go or how she’d survive. She had no real skills, no more than a bachelor’s degree, and one and a half children to protect, but she couldn’t live in this sorry excuse for a home a minute longer.
    She waited till Priya’s sobbing subsided, then turned to her in-laws. “I think you’re clearly trying to tell me to get out and take my child with me, aren’t you?”
    Ayee remained silent and pretended to look out the window.
    The servants had retreated from the room but stood just inside the kitchen door, riveted by the unfolding drama. They were probably making plans on how best to spread the juicy gossip.
    They lived for such moments.
    Baba took a sharp breath, his color still high. “With Nikhil gone, I personally don’t care what you and your daughter do.”
    “Is this how much you care for your son’s memory and his child—your granddaughter, your flesh and blood?” Isha shot back bitterly. “According to you, she and the unborn child have no right to exist. Well, let me tell you this much: you can sleep in peace tonight because I’m taking Priya and leaving you right now.”
    “Where do you think you’re going, huh?” Baba snorted and went back to his chair. “You have no family; you have nothing.”
    “I’ll go to my cousin’s home in Mumbai if necessary. Anywhere is better than being here, where girls are considered no more than insects to be exterminated.” She grabbed Priya’s hand 40 Shobhan Bantwal
    and dragged her upstairs. Sundari followed them, wiping away the tears that rolled down her wizened cheeks. She was a sweet and dedicated woman who was much more than a servant.
    Within a short time, Isha managed to pack three large suitcases with Sundari’s help, all the while aware of Priya staring in grim silence. The child was clearly traumatized and confused by everything that was happening.
    But what could Isha say to her daughter? Priya was too young to understand what was going on around her, so Isha let her sit on the bed, clutching her favorite doll close to her chest.
    Her tear-swollen eyes looked at Isha as if she wanted to ask a hundred questions but didn’t quite know how.
    “Isha- bayi, please don’t leave,” pleaded Sundari for the umpteenth time. “Where you will go with