Chennai: “She only confided in the doctor,” Priya’s mother, Vanitha says, “for some reason, she does not want to tell me.” Over a week ago, when doctors scanned 13-year-old Priya’s stomach after she complained of discomfort informed them that she was four months pregnant. It is only then that her mother came to know of her child being raped repeatedly by her stepfather.
Now, admitted to Kilpauk Medical Hospital, the trauma continues to haunt her. Priya’s brother, Ganesh, too, has been unable to attend school as his peers either make fun of him or ask intrusive questions.
Priya* (name changed) says the only reason she did not complain was that Inbanesan, her stepfather had threatened to kill Vanitha if she said anything. “I already lost my father, I cannot lose my mother and my new father too. That’s why I did not say a word,” Priya says.
Priya’s mother met Inbanesan, a year after her husband committed suicide.
They fell in love and were married in 2012. “My children lived away from me for four years. I asked them to move with me only after I was sure Inbanesan would be able to provide for them,” Vanitha says.
Vanitha works in a packing company and earns Rs 6,000. The house which she rented when her children came back to live with her costs Rs 4,500. The needs of the children, including school fees, was taken care of by Inbanesan, Vanitha says, because of which she didn’t doubt him even once.
Priya is now healthy and has recovered from the complications involved in an abortion. She will be discharged from the hospital on Saturday. “Her period had not come since the month of May. But when we visited a doctor twice, they had said that it is only because she is anaemic,” Vanitha says.
Priya’s grandmother says that Priya had pointed out that her belly was growing and they should have realised it just then. “She eats a lot of groundnuts. I assumed it was gas built-up. After the doctors said anaemia, we had no reason to question it.” she says.
Vanitha’s concern now, is will Priya be able to go back to a normal life. “My son’s friends already have so many questions. I’m sure her friends will too because word got out. I hope she has the strength to deal with it,” she says.
Vanitha says that many fingers were pointed at her for not being aware. “I have been living with him for seven years now. And he did everything for my children. I did not even dream that such a thing could have been done to my child,” she says.
Priya says that he used to wake her up at night when everyone else was asleep and rape her. This had been going on for months until she got pregnant, Vanitha suspects. “How was I to know? She did not tell me anything and when we went to the hospital twice, he even accompanied us, Now I realise it may have been to eliminate any chance of a doubt” she says.
Although such incidents may be avoidable, a comprehensive sex education class may have helped Priya pinpoint her bodily changes due to the pregnancy, experts say. “Age appropriate life skills is a must. It has to start with the family. Parents, teachers and peers need to create a space for children to freely express themselves,” an official from the Child Protection Office said. However, he believes that it is unfair to expect these of all families. “In her case, her father is no more, and her mother works all day. She really did not even live with the mother for a large part of her childhood. She didn’t have anyone to confide in,” he says.
