“Wow! What a lovely car!” Preeti thought to herself, her face shining. Her friends stood around her vying for the front seat. But she got lucky along with Anu and found herself seated in front between Anu and the driver. A bunch of excited 10 year olds in a shining new Mercedes!
This was her new found friend’s car. She met Tuhina in the dance class and every day, they were part of a car pool to get to the classes and back home. This was the first time Tuhina’s mom had sent their car. She never realized that her new friend was so well off. It never showed in the way she was so simple and social. But then, she wasn’t being fair in thinking rich kids had attitude right?
Preeti watched the trees rushing by. Heard her friends chattering away, making plans to meet up over the weekend. She smiled and nodded her head.
She didn’t really notice his touch at first. Or maybe she thought it was simply nothing.
But this time, it was more obvious.
She gave a start! “Are you ok?” Anu looked at her puzzled. Preeti nodded “yes”
She didn’t get it? What was he trying to do? Why was he touching her? Why were his fingers prodding her thigh?
It scared her. There was a sense of alarm, of utter confusion…of shame?
She pulled her legs together. Moved closer to Anu and wrapped her skirt tighter under her thigh.
He tugged against her skirt. It felt rude. She sensed his frustration. She sensed something more. She didn’t understand.
All she wanted was to get out.
Something told her she should speak out. Something in her wouldn’t let words come out.
“5 minutes more and I’ll be home” She prayed. A tear trickled down her face.
Anu whispered, “What’s wrong Preeti?”
“I don’t know” She choked.
The car came to a stop. She saw her mother. Scrambled out of the car and hugged her tight, her heart beating hard against her ribs.
She heard the car pull away. She turned to face it. Her eyes caught the expression on his face as he watched her numb expression.
He was smiling. A look she couldn’t understand. He seemed to enjoy her discomfort and her sense of confusion and shame.
In time, she pushed this memory away like a bad dream…a nightmare best forgotten.
Years later…
She watched her 6 year old daughter laugh and smile at the bus driver. She caught the expression on the driver’s face.
“NO!” her mind screamed.
She walked off holding her lil one’s hand as a quiet resolve shaped in her mind. It’s time to talk to little Rhea about it. It’s time to help her daughter shed some of her innocence if only to keep her safe from “sick” perverts.
Her only regret, she sighed “Why didn’t amma talk to me and warn be about this?”
This was her new found friend’s car. She met Tuhina in the dance class and every day, they were part of a car pool to get to the classes and back home. This was the first time Tuhina’s mom had sent their car. She never realized that her new friend was so well off. It never showed in the way she was so simple and social. But then, she wasn’t being fair in thinking rich kids had attitude right?
Preeti watched the trees rushing by. Heard her friends chattering away, making plans to meet up over the weekend. She smiled and nodded her head.
She didn’t really notice his touch at first. Or maybe she thought it was simply nothing.
But this time, it was more obvious.
She gave a start! “Are you ok?” Anu looked at her puzzled. Preeti nodded “yes”
She didn’t get it? What was he trying to do? Why was he touching her? Why were his fingers prodding her thigh?
It scared her. There was a sense of alarm, of utter confusion…of shame?
She pulled her legs together. Moved closer to Anu and wrapped her skirt tighter under her thigh.
He tugged against her skirt. It felt rude. She sensed his frustration. She sensed something more. She didn’t understand.
All she wanted was to get out.
Something told her she should speak out. Something in her wouldn’t let words come out.
“5 minutes more and I’ll be home” She prayed. A tear trickled down her face.
Anu whispered, “What’s wrong Preeti?”
“I don’t know” She choked.
The car came to a stop. She saw her mother. Scrambled out of the car and hugged her tight, her heart beating hard against her ribs.
She heard the car pull away. She turned to face it. Her eyes caught the expression on his face as he watched her numb expression.
He was smiling. A look she couldn’t understand. He seemed to enjoy her discomfort and her sense of confusion and shame.
In time, she pushed this memory away like a bad dream…a nightmare best forgotten.
Years later…
She watched her 6 year old daughter laugh and smile at the bus driver. She caught the expression on the driver’s face.
“NO!” her mind screamed.
She walked off holding her lil one’s hand as a quiet resolve shaped in her mind. It’s time to talk to little Rhea about it. It’s time to help her daughter shed some of her innocence if only to keep her safe from “sick” perverts.
Her only regret, she sighed “Why didn’t amma talk to me and warn be about this?”
-----------------------------------------------------------
This is just one in a zillion such instances where children don’t even realize what they’re being subjected to. When the child doesn’t know she’s a victim. When she doesn’t even know of what she is a victim?!
My point is, children are vulnerable. And the lack of awareness is appalling. Parents shy away from talking to lil ones for two reasons. One is their sense of false security that “this can’t happen to my child”, the others "he/she is too young to understand" or “this would give them ideas”
Please, wake up and get out of your comfort zones. This is happening and this is REAL. Talk to your kids. They’re yours to keep safe and innocent.
"This" (click the link!) blog talks about it at length.
This is just one in a zillion such instances where children don’t even realize what they’re being subjected to. When the child doesn’t know she’s a victim. When she doesn’t even know of what she is a victim?!
My point is, children are vulnerable. And the lack of awareness is appalling. Parents shy away from talking to lil ones for two reasons. One is their sense of false security that “this can’t happen to my child”, the others "he/she is too young to understand" or “this would give them ideas”
Please, wake up and get out of your comfort zones. This is happening and this is REAL. Talk to your kids. They’re yours to keep safe and innocent.
"This" (click the link!) blog talks about it at length.