Pinaki
By
Sudip Mukherjee
(Primary Characters: Me, Pinu/Pinaki, Other Characters: Bilu, Hela, Tinni Aunty, Boy 1,Boy 2,Boy 3, Student 1, Student 2,Student 3,Headmaster, Classteacher, My Dad, Person 1,Person 2, Father of that boy )
1. 1996,India,West Bengal,A Small Village
A few boys playing.All of them are more or less five(5) years old.
Me:Hey, friends,come and start playing again.
Hela:Hey, Let’s play.
Pinaki:But it’s too late.
Bilu:Pinu’s mom is calling.
Tinni aunty(Pinu’s mom):Come otherwise I will beat you with a stick.
Pinaki:Oh.mom.Commin.
(Pinaki in short Pinu was my childhood friend, a little part of our friend circle since we were five years old.I have to use this word “was” because Pinu is no more)
(All of us were normal kids growing up gradually as it is destined to be become a normal kid.But there was something different with Pinu.)
2. 1999,At our locality
One day at Pinu’s house.
His mother used to dress him up like a girl.It was very common those days in rural parts of India.Because these dresses were cheaper in most of the cases than the boy suit or baba suits or these were second hand that means somebody like the older girl child used to wear those dresses previously.
Tinni aunty: Pinu, come here.Let’s put on this dress.
Pinu: I will not put on this dress.Girls wear such dresses.
Tinni aunty: Don’t try to angry me.This is the only dress we have.Your father earns very little.
Pinu:Mom,sister used to put on this dress.This is very old.
Tinni aunty:Stop arguing and put on this.This is much cheaper than other dresses.Whrn you grow older we will buy you boys suits or baba suits.
Pinu after putting on this dress.When he looks at the mirror.And start to speak with himself.
Pinu:Am I looking good?Or ugly.Don’t know.
(Pinu sometimes tried to makeup with lipsticks,bindis(Indian women use this on forehead) as a girl.)
3. Oneday in 2000
Pinu was putting on a girl’s dress and lipsticks.
Me:(Looking from the window)What are doing?
Pinu : (Being ashamed) Just trying to know how do I look in this dress.
Me: Let’s go.
Pinu: Ya.
4. Next day at our locality
(Some boys were bullying him and pushing him hardly)
Boy 1: Pinu,you always behave like a girl. Let’s marry. Who do you want to marry?
Boy 2: Pinu will marry me.
Boy 3: I will escape with Pinu.
Pinu: Leave me and let me go.
All of the three boys are coming towards Pinu.
Boy 1:(Started beating Pinu) If you can escape,let’s try.
But one of them saw me and other friends coming.They fled from the spot.
(Days were passing quickly and we finished our primary school and admitted to high school.)
5. 2001,Admission to High School
On the very first day,some older boys from higher classes of our new school bullied Pinu and almost groped him.
Student 1: Hey boy. Put your head between your legs.
Pinu: (Staring at them) I don’t know what are you saying.
Student 2: I will smack you hard so that you can learn.
Student 3: (Forcefully grabbing his head ) I will teach you a lesson you will never forget.
Somehow Class teacher noticed and said : All of you three stand here.I will complain to the headmaster.
(Class teacher reported this to the headmaster but the wicked boys escaped from the punishment only getting some warning and scolding.)
Headmaster to the boys : This is the first time I am warning you.Next time there will be no mercy. Get out of here and go to your class.
(In the high school,some incidents happened to Pinu.But one or two of them were really disheartening.)
6. 2003,A day at the School Playground
(One day,some boys tried to hold Pinu from behind and tried to beat him badly and did something like pushing him inappropriately or you can say molestation.Yes this is the word which is appropriate for this kind of behaviour.But,we didn’t know what is this all about or what is the meaning of this word at that time?)
Student 1:Pinu,come here.
Pinu:What?
Student 2: I will make you cry like a girl.
Student 3: I will manage that nobody can catch us.
Student 1: (Trying to grab Pinu from behind)Now go to hell.(Pushing him hard and Pinu fell on the sand of the playground)
All of them were jumping upon Pinu and beat him brutally and try to stroke Pinu’s head with a stone.
Me: No,I am going to the headmaster.
They tried to catch me but I was quick enough.
(Thistime,these boys got some beating from the headmaster with wooden sticks and warned fir the last time.)
Headmaster: i will make sure that this will be the last warning.(Beating the wicked boys with stick and then..)Get the hell out of my room and read my lips.Never do that again.
7. 2005,Summer Time At High School
(At the ninth standard,one day at the recess period,I was walking towards the pond nearby the school.But what I saw I couldn’t understand at that age?Those boys who previously disturbed Pinu were trying to harass Pinu by pulling down his pants and almost choked him.)
Student 1: We will not let this skinny Pinu go this time.
Student 2: I will make him a girl for sure.
Student 3: I will buy you a frock.
Pinu: (Feeling humiliated) Don’t speak rubbish.
Boys get angry and one of them said: I will teach what is called rubbish.
They tried to pull his pants.
Pinu cried: No.no.Please help me.Someone.
I called the headmaster immediately.This time the headmaster called for a Guardian meeting.
That matter was mutually solved by the guardians concluding that boys are not mature enough to decide right or wrong.
8. 2007,One day At Midnight
The secondary exams were knocking at the door and it was vital for our career as told by parents.
(During these pre-exam period,one day I heard some noise at the middle of the night.)
Indistict Voice: Beat him.Let him die.You little wicked boy.
I woke up and came out of my house and saw my parents and locality members outside.
Person 1: This is disgusting.
Person 2: What to say. Get them out of the locality and finish the matter.
(Suddenly,I saw Pinu brutally injured and he was bleeding in some parts of his body.I tried to help him but nobody let me go.)
Me: (Astonished to see Pinu injured brutally)Pinu,my friend. What happened. Who beat you so badly?
Pinu tried but couldn’t say anything.
Me: Dad.Do something.
My Dad: Let’s go son.We will see him in the morning.
Me: But.He is seriously ill.
Dad: Nobody will let you help him.(Then whispering into my ears)I will help after these people leave from here.
Somehow,my parents arranged some medicine and foods for him and his family secretly.
I came to know that Pinu was caught red handed with a boy kissing him on forehead and pampering each other.
The father of that boy complained : Pinu is a Gay and he is polluting the atmosphere of the locality.
That’s why this punishment is made in favour of Pinu and his family was provided with two options . Locality Manager said to Pinu’s Family: Either leave the society with your boy or leave your boy and you can live here.
9. Next Morning,At Our Locality
Next morning,my childhood friend Bilu was shouting and asking me to come out saying : Please,wake up.It’s all over.All over.
I came out and he at once burst out in tears saying: Pinu is no more,he committed suicide.
I couldn’t believemy ears and went to the spot quickly and found Pinu lying on the ground dead with bloods all around body and I can read from his closed eyes those are just trying to say: Why,myfriend,why? What was my fault?I want to live like all of you.But they didn’t want me to live.
10. End note/Quote from the author/Soliloquy
Me fighting with my heart and my endless pain and grief and tried to say: Fault was not yours my friend.These fake societal values,the fear of acceptance of something abnormal because of ignorance or illiteracy or prestige – the people either literate or illiterate, civilized or uncivilized ,we all responsible equally for your death.In the days of new rules,laws, campaigns for the sake of LGBTQ community,we can’t think of these such incidents may be but it is not very uncommon to our India basically in rural areas.Try to live and let live as we or they are.It is natural.
The End
By
Sudip Mukherjee
(Primary Characters: Me, Pinu/Pinaki, Other Characters: Bilu, Hela, Tinni Aunty, Boy 1,Boy 2,Boy 3, Student 1, Student 2,Student 3,Headmaster, Classteacher, My Dad, Person 1,Person 2, Father of that boy )
1. 1996,India,West Bengal,A Small Village
A few boys playing.All of them are more or less five(5) years old.
Me:Hey, friends,come and start playing again.
Hela:Hey, Let’s play.
Pinaki:But it’s too late.
Bilu:Pinu’s mom is calling.
Tinni aunty(Pinu’s mom):Come otherwise I will beat you with a stick.
Pinaki:Oh.mom.Commin.
(Pinaki in short Pinu was my childhood friend, a little part of our friend circle since we were five years old.I have to use this word “was” because Pinu is no more)
(All of us were normal kids growing up gradually as it is destined to be become a normal kid.But there was something different with Pinu.)
2. 1999,At our locality
One day at Pinu’s house.
His mother used to dress him up like a girl.It was very common those days in rural parts of India.Because these dresses were cheaper in most of the cases than the boy suit or baba suits or these were second hand that means somebody like the older girl child used to wear those dresses previously.
Tinni aunty: Pinu, come here.Let’s put on this dress.
Pinu: I will not put on this dress.Girls wear such dresses.
Tinni aunty: Don’t try to angry me.This is the only dress we have.Your father earns very little.
Pinu:Mom,sister used to put on this dress.This is very old.
Tinni aunty:Stop arguing and put on this.This is much cheaper than other dresses.Whrn you grow older we will buy you boys suits or baba suits.
Pinu after putting on this dress.When he looks at the mirror.And start to speak with himself.
Pinu:Am I looking good?Or ugly.Don’t know.
(Pinu sometimes tried to makeup with lipsticks,bindis(Indian women use this on forehead) as a girl.)
3. Oneday in 2000
Pinu was putting on a girl’s dress and lipsticks.
Me:(Looking from the window)What are doing?
Pinu : (Being ashamed) Just trying to know how do I look in this dress.
Me: Let’s go.
Pinu: Ya.
4. Next day at our locality
(Some boys were bullying him and pushing him hardly)
Boy 1: Pinu,you always behave like a girl. Let’s marry. Who do you want to marry?
Boy 2: Pinu will marry me.
Boy 3: I will escape with Pinu.
Pinu: Leave me and let me go.
All of the three boys are coming towards Pinu.
Boy 1:(Started beating Pinu) If you can escape,let’s try.
But one of them saw me and other friends coming.They fled from the spot.
(Days were passing quickly and we finished our primary school and admitted to high school.)
5. 2001,Admission to High School
On the very first day,some older boys from higher classes of our new school bullied Pinu and almost groped him.
Student 1: Hey boy. Put your head between your legs.
Pinu: (Staring at them) I don’t know what are you saying.
Student 2: I will smack you hard so that you can learn.
Student 3: (Forcefully grabbing his head ) I will teach you a lesson you will never forget.
Somehow Class teacher noticed and said : All of you three stand here.I will complain to the headmaster.
(Class teacher reported this to the headmaster but the wicked boys escaped from the punishment only getting some warning and scolding.)
Headmaster to the boys : This is the first time I am warning you.Next time there will be no mercy. Get out of here and go to your class.
(In the high school,some incidents happened to Pinu.But one or two of them were really disheartening.)
6. 2003,A day at the School Playground
(One day,some boys tried to hold Pinu from behind and tried to beat him badly and did something like pushing him inappropriately or you can say molestation.Yes this is the word which is appropriate for this kind of behaviour.But,we didn’t know what is this all about or what is the meaning of this word at that time?)
Student 1:Pinu,come here.
Pinu:What?
Student 2: I will make you cry like a girl.
Student 3: I will manage that nobody can catch us.
Student 1: (Trying to grab Pinu from behind)Now go to hell.(Pushing him hard and Pinu fell on the sand of the playground)
All of them were jumping upon Pinu and beat him brutally and try to stroke Pinu’s head with a stone.
Me: No,I am going to the headmaster.
They tried to catch me but I was quick enough.
(Thistime,these boys got some beating from the headmaster with wooden sticks and warned fir the last time.)
Headmaster: i will make sure that this will be the last warning.(Beating the wicked boys with stick and then..)Get the hell out of my room and read my lips.Never do that again.
7. 2005,Summer Time At High School
(At the ninth standard,one day at the recess period,I was walking towards the pond nearby the school.But what I saw I couldn’t understand at that age?Those boys who previously disturbed Pinu were trying to harass Pinu by pulling down his pants and almost choked him.)
Student 1: We will not let this skinny Pinu go this time.
Student 2: I will make him a girl for sure.
Student 3: I will buy you a frock.
Pinu: (Feeling humiliated) Don’t speak rubbish.
Boys get angry and one of them said: I will teach what is called rubbish.
They tried to pull his pants.
Pinu cried: No.no.Please help me.Someone.
I called the headmaster immediately.This time the headmaster called for a Guardian meeting.
That matter was mutually solved by the guardians concluding that boys are not mature enough to decide right or wrong.
8. 2007,One day At Midnight
The secondary exams were knocking at the door and it was vital for our career as told by parents.
(During these pre-exam period,one day I heard some noise at the middle of the night.)
Indistict Voice: Beat him.Let him die.You little wicked boy.
I woke up and came out of my house and saw my parents and locality members outside.
Person 1: This is disgusting.
Person 2: What to say. Get them out of the locality and finish the matter.
(Suddenly,I saw Pinu brutally injured and he was bleeding in some parts of his body.I tried to help him but nobody let me go.)
Me: (Astonished to see Pinu injured brutally)Pinu,my friend. What happened. Who beat you so badly?
Pinu tried but couldn’t say anything.
Me: Dad.Do something.
My Dad: Let’s go son.We will see him in the morning.
Me: But.He is seriously ill.
Dad: Nobody will let you help him.(Then whispering into my ears)I will help after these people leave from here.
Somehow,my parents arranged some medicine and foods for him and his family secretly.
I came to know that Pinu was caught red handed with a boy kissing him on forehead and pampering each other.
The father of that boy complained : Pinu is a Gay and he is polluting the atmosphere of the locality.
That’s why this punishment is made in favour of Pinu and his family was provided with two options . Locality Manager said to Pinu’s Family: Either leave the society with your boy or leave your boy and you can live here.
9. Next Morning,At Our Locality
Next morning,my childhood friend Bilu was shouting and asking me to come out saying : Please,wake up.It’s all over.All over.
I came out and he at once burst out in tears saying: Pinu is no more,he committed suicide.
I couldn’t believemy ears and went to the spot quickly and found Pinu lying on the ground dead with bloods all around body and I can read from his closed eyes those are just trying to say: Why,myfriend,why? What was my fault?I want to live like all of you.But they didn’t want me to live.
10. End note/Quote from the author/Soliloquy
Me fighting with my heart and my endless pain and grief and tried to say: Fault was not yours my friend.These fake societal values,the fear of acceptance of something abnormal because of ignorance or illiteracy or prestige – the people either literate or illiterate, civilized or uncivilized ,we all responsible equally for your death.In the days of new rules,laws, campaigns for the sake of LGBTQ community,we can’t think of these such incidents may be but it is not very uncommon to our India basically in rural areas.Try to live and let live as we or they are.It is natural.
The End
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