personal narrative

Renluka Maharaj

Personal Narrative

Two friends who haven’t seen each other in a while have gotten together for dinner at the woman’s apartment (Vimla).  Her friend Raj is happy to see her.     

Vimla:  Thank you so much for taking the time away from work to meet me for                     dinner

Raj:  It was great to finally have some time alone and catch up with you, how is your            dad?

Vimla: He is doing great but we are not getting along these days, especially because he has been beating up on mom again.

Raj: I am sorry to hear that, I thought those days were over.

Vimla: I guess not, it just keeps resurfacing every now and again and until then we are all walking around on eggshells.

Raj: Well perhaps if your Mom would stop working like he wants her too and stay home and take care of the house and kids, things would be different.  He only wants what’s best for her.  My mom stays at home and my dad is the sole breadwinner I don't see anything wrong with that.

Vimla:  I am surprised to hear you say that; I thought you were a little more progressive than that.  You were born in the United States! 

Raj: That doesn't mean I don't believe in the old ways of having a family and relationship!

Vimla: Well I can see that, how disappointing. 

Raj: I am just a simple man with simple wants and desires that's all.  I think everyone has a role to fill and it’s easier to know where the boundaries are.

Vimla: Okay, but how does it feel then that you are alone here with me in my apartment and we are not married.

Raj: I like it its fine because its what I want. 

Vimla: What does that mean?  Does it mean that no matter what as long as you get what you want its okay, isn’t that hypocritical?

Raj gets up and walks over to Vimla touching her hair and face, running his fingers along her neck and toward her breasts.  She begins to feel uncomfortable and tells him to stop.

Vimla: Please stop Raj I don't feel comfortable right now, I know we are long time friends but that doesn't give you the right to come over and touch me in appropriately.

Raj: Well, its like I said, its what I want.

At that moment, he grabs her by the hair and pushes her face in toward his crotch, he holds her fast and hard and she cant breathe, and she starts to fight.

Vimla: I want you to stop; please you’re hurting me, let go, LET GO, LET GO!

Raj: I wont until you do as I say, you're a slut! You invite me over to your place alone and don't expect me to think there isn’t more you are looking for!

Vimla: Please Raj Please don't hurt me I wont tell anyone if you just walk away and leave now.  I wont tell your parents or my parents, I wont tell your friends.  I just want you to stop and leave.

Raj: I don't care whom you tell, I am the man here and I am sure whatever I do will be okay with everyone we know.  You are supposed to be a nice, Hindu girl and you invite a man up to your apartment, off course you want to be Fucked! 

Vimla: I need you to stop, don't touch me there! (She picks up a vase and hits him over the head with it, he falls momentarily but gets back up and hits her very hard in the face)

Raj: I’ll show you how to fight! (He hits her over and over again; throwing her to the floor and kicking her until she cant breathe)

There continues to be a very violent confrontation between Raj and Vimla but she knows this abuse, she has been there many times before and now she will stand up for herself and do something about it…

Going through life knowing that your family, culture and society get to dictate who you are is infuriating.  I grew up being told I couldn't wear pants, only boys did that; I couldn't ride a bike, or go swimming because I was not allowed to wear a bathing suit; God forbid I show my skinny little legs to anyone on the beach, it would mean I was inviting them to Fuck ME! 

So, off course I asked one of my sisters to sew me a pair of pants and she did, I wore them and paraded them in front of my house, until my mom came home, saw what I was wearing, beat the shit out of me and cut them up into little pieces.  NO one came to my rescue because I was asking for it. 

Vimla is asking for it because she was also wearing the pants!