ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

IShK is a final-year medical student with a soft corner for storytelling. She started writing in 2017, not knowing it would become a big part of her life. For her, writing is a way to say the things she can’t always speak out loud. It has helped her heal, grow, and connect with people.

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Not All Wounds Bleed

The monsoon season began in mid-June.

To some, the monsoon means a romantic and peaceful aura, the sweet smell of nature, it’s love and nourishment for us.

But to some, the monsoon feels like thunder from hell. The moments they regret and want to wash away in the rain...

That’s exactly what Maya was going through in her life.

She was sitting in front of her house as her drunkard father banished her from entering because she denied marrying...Maya wiped her tears as her father’s words kept replaying in her mind.

“ You will be getting married the day after tomorrow. ” Her father announced, entering the house, a drunkard. “ Baba, what are you saying? You must be heavily drunk. Let's talk when you get sober. ” Maya replied, helping him reach his room.

“ I'm not drunk.” He replied, denying through hand motion.

“ Baba, I'm currently studying…” Maya said. Baba removed his hand from Maya's support and fell on his bed.

“ I don't care…And who will pay for the fees? You are a useless child who cannot even help your father by getting scholarships. Look at your school friend, Shirin, she got the scholarship. Her father saved money. And me? What did I get except debts?” He said, standing up, and continued,

“ You are a curse to me. It would have been well if I had a boy… because of you, I had to sell my fields and what not… because of your damn studies… Now, hell with your studies…” Baba shouted. His words were like a knife, piercing Maya internally. She didn't expect her father would say that.

“ Baba…” Maya gasped as tears fell down her face.

“ You were the only one to get admission in medical College from our town, but at what cost… You couldn't even get a scholarship. And your mother… She died without treatment… so that we could afford your fees. She even sold her jewellery for you. You are a burden… a cursed burden…”

Those words shocked Maya. She didn't know what all happened behind her back at home. Her parents didn't tell her much. Being called a burden worked as a sword in the heart. She felt suffocating. She couldn't breathe. She wiped her tears to speak when her father said,

“ That's why I have fixed your marriage with my friend’s younger brother. The family is wealthy, owning an alcohol factory. They don't even want a dowry. Marry him and have mercy on me. You couldn’t give me a scholarship, at least don’t burden me with a dowry.

“ I won't…marry…” Maya replied in a low voice with some courage. It was her dream to become a doctor. Her mother's dream was to see her working as a doctor. It was her last wish. How could Maya compromise on that?

“ What did you say?”

“ I won't marry…” Baba grabbed Maya's hand and threw her out of his house.

“ Then I'll forget I even had a daughter…” saying that, her father closed the door.

“ Here I'm trying to save money and she is…” Maya heard her father say behind the door.

“ You are only trying to save money for these drinks.” Maya whispered, but it seemed her father heard it. “ MAYA!!! ” He shouted her name.

Goosebumps flowed throughout her body. Maya stood there for a few moments. She couldn't believe her life would turn this way.

Slowly, she sat down in shock. She remembered her mother.

“ Maa, would you have done the same?” She started crying, remembering the happy moments she shared with her family before entering college. The celebration her parents organised for the town as she got selected for

the Medical College.

Maya was back home for a 7-day holiday after their annual function in college. She’s an intern at KML Medical College, Rajeev Nagar, Bhopal. She lost her mother a few years back. Her father, who was supportive of her throughout her life, suddenly became an alcoholic and thought of her as a burden.

Maya looked at the sky as the thunder began. A few drops of rain started to fall on the ground. She was sitting under the shed while crying tears, knowing her father wouldn’t have mercy on her. She lay down in disbelief.

On the other hand, Baba heard the loud sound of heavy rain. He was worried for his daughter. Slowly, he walked out of his room to sneak outside through the window after much thinking. He saw Maya sleeping on the floor, near the door. Taking a deep breath, he walked back to his room and slept.

*****

The news of Maya's wedding spread fast in the college. It was 4 days after her marriage. Her husband, Kabir, agreed to drop her back at college for further studies. Maya glanced at Kabir as they entered the college campus.

“ I had a conversation with Kabir. He agreed that your studies won't be affected or hampered. He’ll also pay the fees.” Her Baba informed her right before the wedding.

“Maya” Maya was busy with her thoughts. All events of this vacation replayed at home in her mind.

“Maya…” Her Baba called her for one last look, but Maya didn't dare to see him. She did what her Baba wanted by breaking her.

“Maya!!”

Maya came out of her thoughts. She glanced at Kabir, who held her arm. “ I was calling you… Where's your mind today? ” Kabir asked.

“ Sorry…”

“ It should not happen next time. Whenever I call or message, I need a quick reply. No matter what. You ignore and you’ll face the consequences…” With this strict warning, Kabir dropped her off at the college. His deep

voice was enough to scare her. Whatever and however her life goes, Maya was ready to accept this marriage for the sake of her studies.

Her friends soon joined her to help her take the suitcases to the room.

" Welcome back, Mrs. Maya. " Jiya welcomed her roommate with a bright smile and hugged her.

" Thank you " Maya just made a straight smile and started arranging her clothes in the cupboard to avoid further discussions of her marriage.

" So, how is your husband? When can we meet him? "

" I came back just a day after walimah. We didn't get much time to talk. " Maya replied. " Ohh, they didn't get much time to talk. " Aliya teased her, but Maya ignored her.

" Let's not talk about my marriage. Tell me what all happened in college these 2 days I missed, and I need notes. " Maya changed the topic of discussion.

*****

Months passed by when one day, while passing the corridor to reach the lecture room, she heard someone saying,

" Look at him. He loves that married woman in our class. How pitiful of him. " She looked at Sam as he was walking out of the class while other batchmates of her class laughed at him. Sam looked at her and nodded in denial slowly. She walked past him.

That day, she had a feeling. Something bad was going to happen soon. The dark clouds, thunderstorm, and heavy rainfall. The electric shock blacked out half of the building on the campus, leaving just the hostel and garden area. Just when the thunder sound was heard, Maya’s phone rang.

“ Maybe Kabir Jiju is calling you…” Her friends teased her again.

" Come down. I am here to take you. " Before Maya could reply, she looked at the mobile screen, which showed that he had already hung up the call.

" Who was that? " Jiya asked, casually walking into the room.

" Kabir... " She said and took out the small bag she carried to the house whenever he called her.

" Ohhooo!! Look at him. The electric shock happened on the campus, and he is here to take her away. " Aliya teased her while scrolling through her social media page. Maya got freshened up and walked downstairs to meet her husband. It was their 1st month anniversary.

As they sat in the dining hall of the restaurant, Maya felt at ease. So far, her married life felt good. Nothing bad. But on her return to the college the next morning, something changed. Everyone noticed, she lost her smile.

“ Is everything okay?” Her friends asked. Maya just hummed without even looking at them. But one of them caught something. Maya wasn't the one to wear a collared kurta with full sleeves. She was even trying to cover herself completely, wrapping the stall around her neck.

As they walked back to their room after attending lectures, her friends were busy teasing about their special 1st anniversary as her husband posted their pictures on Instagram, but Jiya knew clearly what had happened with her. Not just an anniversary celebration, but Kabir's other side.

It wasn't even 2 days since that incident happened when Kabir reached her college again. “ I'm downstairs. Come soon…” He informed and hung up the call.

“ Please don't go…” Jiya tried to stop her.

“ I can't help, Jiya. He's paying my college fees.”

“ Then will you sacrifice yourself for the damn fees, Maya? Please try to understand this. It's dangerous…” Jiya scolded and pleaded.

“ Jiya, please… Right now, no one else except him is capable of paying my college fees, and you know how important it is for me to become a doctor. It was my mother’s last wish.”

“ I'm scared, Maya.” Jiya shared her feelings. She was worried to the point that she had nightmares of Maya’s death.

“ Don't worry. I'll be back soon. And please, will you stay awake for me? I don't want Aliya to know this. " Maya requested, looking at her other roommate sleeping.

" You think I'll get sleep knowing the consequences that might happen tonight? " Jiya replied and hugged her for long minutes before sending her to the parking lot.

These events became a regular habit in Maya's life. Kabir would reach her college to pick her up, spend the night with her and leave her drained, and then drop her back at college. 10-12 times a month, the same events happened. Sometimes 7-8 times when he was busy with his business work, and sometimes 13-14 times to

compensate for the lost days when he was away.

“ Just few more days then I’ll set myself free…Just for this degree, Maya…” That was Maya’s thoughts. She made an escape plan after her graduation. Settling in a land no one knows about her.

But one night, Kabir crossed the line.

*****

Sam, the quiet, handsome guy of Maya's batch, was standing on the balcony of his hostel floor. Only he knew about his secret feelings for Maya. When he heard she got married, he was upset. He wanted to show her how she means a lot to him. And he could give more than the world.

While smoking on the balcony, he scrolled through the pictures of her and her husband in highlights of her Instagram. She never posted on Instagram.

That's when he heard a car honk in the middle of the night. Crushing his cigarette on the floor, he opened the camera of his phone and zoomed in to see who that person was. He saw someone walking out of the car, stumbling. The car drove out. As the person walked closer to the hostel, the camera in Sam’s hand showed a clear picture of his crush, Maya.

“ Maya? At this time of the night..? ” He was confused, and that's when the camera zoomed over the red marks on her face.

“ Ohh no!!”

He ran downstairs and caught her at the right moment, preventing her from falling.

“ Maya ”

“ Maya ”

He tapped her cheeks, trying to wake her up. She lay unconscious in his arms. He pulled out his phone and called Jiya.

“ Yeah, Sam… what's so important that you disturb me at this time…” Jiya picked up the call during her anxious walk in the room.

“ Maya…” He said…

“ What happened to Maya? ” Jiya asked, worrying.

“ Bring her clothes and first aid…” His words were enough to tell Jiya, her nightmare had come true.

Jiya couldn't believe her eyes seeing Maya's state. She was the only one who had seen the bruises under Maya’s sleeves, heard the choked sobs in the hostel bathroom, witnessed the broken Maya return every time from Kabir’s house. And today, she saw the severe state of her dearest friend.

With the help of Sam, Jiya made Maya lie on the bed of the OPD, and she started doing first aid before changing her clothes. Sam was asked to stay out of this, but he wanted to know the whole story. While Maya lay unconscious with an IV inserted into her palm, Jiya narrated the story of Kabir's wildness and Maya's sacrifice.

“ But why? There are some scholarship that provides help to such students…” Sam couldn’t understand how Maya agreed to this.

“ She tried, but every time her form was rejected with one excuse or another…” “ Arghh, I wish I could beat him badly..” Sam said in aggression.

“ I know you like her… but I don't think she will agree.”

“ I don't care..as long as she is safe and healthy…” Jiya saw Sam’s eyes filled with love and care as he caressed Maya’s hair. Jiya looked at Maya and said in her mind,

‘ Maya, you deserve a man who respects you and loves you like he does. Not the one who destroys you… ’

Soon, the professors and head of the college got to know about the devastating state of their brilliant student. Maya has been unconscious for 2 days since that incident.

Her pulse was faint. There were healing wounds on her back and limbs.

For the first time, the faculty organised a meeting to understand why Maya’s scholarship was not accepted. Anger erupted as one of her professors said,

“ We need to call the police. ”

“ No…”

The eyes turned to Maya. She gained consciousness. With fear in her eyes.

“ Maya…” Jiya and Aliya stood near her. “ No…” Maya pleaded.

The professor said, “ We need to complain, Maya. It's the protocol. I waited for you to regain consciousness. ” “ No, Mam…” Maya turned her head to let her tears flow.

Maya was afraid.

She had nowhere to go.

All she worried about was her degree.

*****

A week later, she was discharged. Bandaged. Silent. Her eyes avoided everyone’s. Embarrassed. Jiya brought her new clothes to change which felt refreshing to Maya. As she waited for the paperwork, the nurse handed a folded file to the Professor who was on round.

“ Your latest blood report... It's what we expected from your weakness, vomiting, and pain. Maya, you’re… pregnant. ” The Professor revealed.

Maya blinked, once, twice. Everything inside her shattered. She wasn't expecting this soon.

Tears started flowing. Maya took a step, followed by another, and started running from one door to another, passing the corridors filled with patients and nurses. Some professors saw her and tried to stop, but she kept running. Running from herself.

“ This isn’t what my life was supposed to be…All I wanted was to fulfill my mother’s wish.” Maya took a deep breath, gasping for air while crying out loud.

She ran from the hospital to the college building, pushed open a classroom door, and collapsed on the floor. She sobbed like a child. She cursed God, cursed herself, cursed the future.

“ Why me? Why me? ” Her cry echoed.

“ I don't deserve this. Maa, why did you go away from me so soon? Look what has happened to your doll. Your doll is not beautiful anymore. I’m covered in wounds and scars. They hurt, Maa. Each telling a different story. ” Maya wiped her tears and continued,

“ Is this the empowerment we talk about every Women’s Day? Living in a modern world with the same old mindset. Only women are told to follow those old rules. Why? ” Maya screamed at the end. Jiya reached the room but stood outside to give Maya a space and let her emotions out.

“ I was the only one to reach medical college from our city, yet I’m not being respected by my father and my husband. The doctor that everyone praises and thanks for saving lives is filled with marks of dominance. ” Maya cried while rubbing her wounds. Not all wounds bleed. Those scars reminded her of the past incidents, making her scream out loud. She cried while mumbling,

“ Girls are told to study, become doctors, scientists... but inside their own homes, they’re told: straighten your hair, don’t wear jeans, don't speak up. Every educated woman is forced into silence. That's not empowerment. Even if women are empowered, these men don't know how to live with them…” Maya wiped her tears, rubbed her eyes while groaning in pain.

“ Look at my situation, I can't even go to the police to complain about Kabir. I know he has his contacts in the force. He could turn the case against me. I’d be labelled greedy, manipulative... just another 'failed woman.' We live in the 21st century, but our homes are still stuck in the past. I was a simple girl. I just wanted to be a doctor so I could heal people. But here, I am surviving my condition…" Maya started coughing while crying out loud when a hand passed her a bottle of water.

“ Drink it, my child. ” Kamala, Chemistry Lab Assistant, said. Maya was scared and read her badge for her name.

Kamala sat in front of Maya, on the floor. She wiped her tears with the handkerchief.

“ I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was here…” Maya apologised trembling while gasping for air, looking at Kamala. She was thin, dressed in an old uniform, probably in her forties. Her hair was tied in a loose bun.

“ This is where I sleep. ” Kamala replied.

“ You… sleep here? ” Maya asked, confused after drinking sips of water. Kamala nodded.

“ Yeah, I clean the labs, arrange the specimens. No family. No home. Just this classroom. You can say this room is my home. ”

Maya stared at her.

“ I heard you crying,” Kamala said softly. “ Is everything okay? ”

And for the first time, Maya told someone everything. From her father’s betrayal to the bruises, the pregnancy. All of it. Kamala listened without interruption.

When Maya finished, Kamala said,

“ You know, years ago… I had everything… I had a family… My parents, my relatives, my in-laws, everyone. We had enough to fulfill every wish of ours. ”

She walked to the window, voice calm, and continued,

“ All of a sudden, something happened to my family. My parents died during COVID, my husband died in a truck accident, my in-laws couldn't bear it, and they died one day after another. My sibling drowned in a waterfall picnic they had planned to visit. Even I was pregnant when all this happened, but I lost my twins. That was my 3rd miscarriage. Doctors told me I couldn't carry anymore. ”

Kamala looked at Maya, who was in tears.

“ People blamed me, calling me unlucky. Said I was cursed, as I brought death to the whole family. Because all this happened in 6 years of our marriage. ”

Maya passed the handkerchief to Kamala as tears collected in her eyes.

“ I stayed at home until I had to sell the house to pay the loans I took for hospital fees to save my family. ”

Maya gasped, “ Then? ”

Kamala looked at her and continued,

“ Then, I was visiting my doctor, who transferred here. She helped me with the job. I had a master’s degree in Chemistry and I was appointed as an Assistant Professor. But I couldn’t teach. My voice would shake. That's when I agreed to become a lab assistant. I started enjoying coming to work. All those reactions, the colorful experiments, those were the reasons I’m living right now. The chemistry taught me that hardships will come, like the atoms and molecules go through in a reaction, and so does the beautiful output we see as the color changes. ”

“ Wow ” Maya was so immersed in Kamala’s story, she forgot hers.

“ I even wrote a book on this. ‘Philosophy of Chemical Reaction’. Some appreciated me and my work, and some still blame me. Scolding me for enjoying life. Calling me a murderer. But all the respect I get here is enough. This peace and respect, I love that. I love my work. This is a beautiful output of my life. Yours will come too. ” Kamala stood up as the kettle whistled. The tea was ready.

Maya’s eyes filled again. “ I… I can’t do this. I’m not strong enough.”

Kamala sat beside her after passing her a cup of tea. Taking a sip from her cup, Kamala said, “ You know what my mother used to say…”

“ She said something like ‘A pregnant woman is a fighter. No one can win against a mother.’ ” Maya placed her hand over her womb. Her hands were trembling as she said,

“ I’m a mother now. ”

“ Yes, you are.”

“ But I didn’t ask for this child… I didn’t ask for any of this life…” Maya grieved.

Kamala held her hand and said,

“ And yet, life asked you to live. That child is your second chance, Maya. A second chance for yourself. For a better you and a better future. ”

“ But..”

“ And now it's time for you to fight. For yourself. ” Kamala motivated her.

“ But how? Kabir is the only one paying for college and hostel, and my other…” “ I’ll pay…” Kamala said in between.

“ But why…”

“ I’ll be helping myself indirectly. I’m seeing my younger self in you, Maya. Helping you will make me feel I helped myself. ”

After drinking tea, Kamala and Maya stood up with a motivating aura. Maya was about to walk out when she hugged Kamala.

“ Thank you, Maa. ” Kamala kissed Maya’s forehead.

“ I wish the best for you. ” Kamala smiled, feeling a warmth of love.

Maya walked out and saw Jiya standing against the wall.

“ She is right, Maya. It's your second chance for yourself. ” Jiya said and hugged Maya.

*****

Maya didn’t wait for the next call.

She, along with Jiya, Sam, and the support of two professors, built a case. The police were involved secretly. The next time her husband called her back, Sam accompanied her quietly, watching from the alley across the road near the college campus.

Maya was seated in a cabin with both of the Professors. They were ready to confront Kabir. Soon, the door of the cabin opened, and Kabir angrily reached for Maya.

“ What did you do? You file a case against me… After everything I did for you. ” Sam and a few interns grabbed Kabir, preventing him from beating Maya. Maya didn’t flinch and said,

“ This is the last time you’ll hurt me. ”

“ Hurt you? ” Kabir laughed.

“ When did I hurt you? ” Kabir asked, and Maya showed him all the healed wounds and scars on her hands and neck.

“ All these marks are a nuisance… It happens between a married couple… ” Kabir replied casually.

“ Mr. Kabir, you will be arrested for marital rape and domestic abuse. ” One of the professors said. “ And who are you to say that? ” Kabir grabbed his collar, scaring Maya.

Kabir grabbed Maya’s arm and pulled her out of the hospital. On their way to the parking lot, Sam grabbed Maya’s arm to free Kabir’s grip, as Maya couldn't free herself after two slaps in front of her colleagues.

Angrily, Kabir smashed Sam’s face, who fell to the ground. He turned to Maya, grabbing her cheeks. He asked, “ Who is he? Are you having an affair with him? ”

And that was enough for Maya. She slapped Kabir.

“ Maya!! ” Kabir shouted.

“ This education has ruined you. ”

“ Yeah, what education? Your education? That you couldn't even come to meet the wife you beat and abused? You didn’t even call to know if I was okay? Didn't even visit me in the hospital? I think mine is way better… ” Maya replied.

“ You better sit in the car or I’ll hit you with one…” Kabir said loudly. Maya stood still. Sam stood up beside Maya, holding her hands. She looked at Sam.

Before Kabir could react, the police burst in.

Sam grabbed Kabir’s arm as he was trying to run away.

He was arrested, followed by Maya’s father. Both of them were kneeling near the parking lot of the college. Kabir took a chance and grabbed the gun of the Police officer to shoot Maya when Sam covered Maya as a shield. Maya’s father jerked Kabir, making him fall on the ground.

“ You cannot do this to my daughter. ” Baba said. “ She’s my wife. ” Kabir shouted.

“You lost the right to call me your wife the day you raised your hand on me.” Maya said loudly.

His grip tightened on the gun. “You think the world will listen to you? You’re nothing without me.” Kabir aimed at Maya while lying on the ground.

Maya took a step forward with confidence,

“ I was nothing with you. Now I have everything — my truth, my courage, and people who believe me. I don't need the world. I just need myself. ” She held her womb softly.

Kabir was shocked to learn about Maya’s pregnancy. Sam ran to get the gun from Kabir as the police officers took them away.

Her father cried for forgiveness.

“ You gave me away like a burden. Never even cared if I was okay? You neglected my wounds when I first complained to you. Today, I give you away to justice. ” Maya replied to her father’s pleadings.

Jiya came running toward her, eyes wet, and gave her a comforting hug.

They walked to their room. Maya looked out the window, watching the sunrise, marking her new beginning. “ This is my second chance. No more silence. No more fear. Just… healing.” Maya whispered to herself.

*****

Every day brought a refreshing vibe to Maya. She felt positive energy around her. The months passed. She attended her lectures where Professors discussed rare cases. Some students still whispered about the events that happened that day whenever Maya passed by them with a visible baby bump. But most of them stood beside her.

The bond between Kamala and Maya grew strong. When Maya called her ‘Maa’, Kamala called her daughter. They decided to stay together as a family in a tiny rented 2 BHK flat. Kamala adopted Maya legally.

She said, “Let me give you the family I never had.”

Jiya and Sam took care of her with food, notes, and sometimes silence. Aliya always made her laugh with her silly jokes.

“ You don’t have to save the world, just save yourself first. ” Sam once said, handing her a glass of warm milk. Years passed.

Maya finished MBBS. She specialized in gynecology.

Kamala grew older, her wrinkles deeper, but her laughter louder. Maya’s daughter, Ira, grew up surrounded by strength, stories, and books.

One winter morning, Maya stood before a mirror in a cozy 3BHK flat—her first home. Her daughter’s laughter echoed down the hall.

“ Maa! You’re going to cry again, aren’t you? ” Maya turned.

“ Not this time…” She smiled, watching her daughter dressed beautifully for the annual function.

Maya kissed Ira’s forehead as they walked out, rushing to reach the school auditorium. Kamala was waiting for her granddaughter at the entrance.

“ Why are you both late? I arrived on time even after attending the meeting at the college. ” Kamala scolded.

The function started, and soon, Ira walked up to the stage, wearing a badge that read: Best Young Writer – Theme: Women Empowerment.

She held her prize and cleared her throat before saying,

“My story is about a woman who didn’t give up on herself and survived. Even when the world betrayed her. Even when she thought she was nothing and dead. She chose to give herself a second chance. And because she did… I exist.”

“ She is a doctor, a fighter, and my mother. Maa, this is for you…” Ira said, looking at her mother. Her strength. The crowd applauded as a proud mother walked to the stage and hugged her daughter.

“ A second chance is not always about love, relationships, or something given by others.

Sometimes it's the one we give ourselves for a fresh start, to heal and to grow. ”

~ IShK’s mother

The end.