In the dim, ethereal glow of their computer screens, two strangers began to
converse in the quiet realm of the late hour.
"Hi," came the initial greeting from one side of the digital
divide.
"Hey," responded the other, their words forming a soft echo in the
virtual space.
A brief pause followed, before Stranger 1 ventured further, "How are
you?"
"I'm fine, what about you?" came the reply, polite and curious.
"I'm good too," Stranger 1 answered, a subtle warmth in their
tone.
There was another short lapse in the exchange as Stranger 2 considered the
next question. "So, what's your name?"
The response was swift, "Name's Nick, what's yours?"
"Nice to meet you, Nick. I'm Rose," Stranger 2 introduced herself,
a hint of familiarity lacing her words.
Yet, as the conversation flowed, Rose's curiosity prompted her to ask,
"What's your age though?"
Nick’s brow furrowed slightly, though his voice remained steady. "Why
do you want to know my age?"
Rose's reply was casual, though not entirely disarming. "Oh, it's
nothing. Just want to make sure with whom I'm talking to."
"I'm 19," Nick shared, his words simple yet inviting. "What
about you?"
Nick's interest was piqued. "Where are you from?"
"From Canada," Rose answered. "And you?"
"London," Nick said, a hint of pride in his voice.
Rose responded with a friendly tone, "Oh, that's cool."
Nick continued the conversation, seeking more understanding. "So, you're here for?"
"Fun!" Rose replied enthusiastically. "What about you?"
Nick's curiosity deepened. "What kind of fun exactly?"
Rose's tone shifted slightly, revealing a more vulnerable side. "You see, I'm depressed, so I talk with people who are emotionally hurt like me or those with interesting stories."
Nick’s concern was palpable. "Why are you depressed?"
Rose hesitated, her next message marked by uncertainty. "I don't know if I should tell you or not."
Nick’s response was gentle and reassuring. "It's alright if you're not comfortable. Then don't tell."
A brief pause followed, marked by the familiar flicker of typing.
"Hey, you there?" Nick prompted, sensing the delay.
The silence that followed was heavy, before Rose's message appeared, laden with gravity. "I got raped."
The words hung in the air, and the conversation paused, thick with unspoken emotions.
"Are you there?" Rose’s message broke through the silence, filled with a quiet desperation.
"Yeah," Nick replied, his voice hesitant. "It's just, I don't know what to say."
Rose’s response was empathetic. "I can understand."
"That's so horrible," Nick said, his voice trembling with compassion.
"It was," Rose confirmed softly.
Nick’s next question was tender, almost whisper-like. "What was your age back then?"
"16," Rose replied, each word carrying the weight of her past.
"An year ago," Nick noted quietly.
"Yes," Rose affirmed.
Nick's voice was filled with a sense of trepidation as he asked, "Do you know the person who did that?"
"Yeah," Rose answered simply.
Nick's final question was barely above a whisper. "Who was it?"
“Some uncle who lives just in front of me,” Rose’s message arrived, each word heavy with unspoken pain.
Nick’s reaction was immediate and visceral. “Man, these people are animals.”
A moment of silence stretched between them, filled with the weight of what
had been shared. Then, with a deep breath, Nick ventured, “Do you wanna talk
about it?”
Rose’s reply was tinged with fear. “Well, the incident was bad, and whenever
I see the man, I feel afraid.”
Nick’s tone softened, his words imbued with sympathy. “I am so sorry about
what happened to you. I understand how you feel, but right now, the only thing
I can do is, offer you comfort.”
“I know,” Rose responded, a hint of relief in her voice. “And I’m glad to
know that you even care about people you don’t know.”
Nick’s concern turned practical. “Did you tell your parents about it?”
Rose’s response was weighed down by shame. “I can’t.”
“It was my fault,” she added quietly, a burden of guilt evident in her
words.
“How was it your fault?” Nick asked, confusion mingling with his concern.
“I should have stopped him somehow,” Rose said, her voice breaking. “I
should have kicked him or done something. But all I did was cry and try to
escape the suffering.”
“It’s not your fault,” Nick reassured her firmly. “It’s him who did it
without your consent.”
Rose’s uncertainty persisted. “I don’t know!”
“It is,” Nick insisted gently. “Don’t blame yourself for something you never
did wrong or intended to do. I’m not saying you should forget what happened,
but I want you to live as normally as you can.”
Nick’s words hung in the air, a fragile attempt to mend the pieces of Rose’s
shattered world.
“Am I boring you?” she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Her subsequent apology was almost immediate. “Sorry!”
Nick’s response was swift and reassuring. “No, you’re not boring me.”
Rose’s relief was palpable. “Okay.”
“But,” Nick continued, his tone more somber, “you did make me feel bad about
what happened to you.”
He took a breath, the gravity of the situation weighing on him. “I was here
for fun, you know, like you.”
Rose’s apology was heartfelt. “Sorry I ruined your joy.”
Nick’s response was gentle. “No need to say that.”
“Can I request for something?” Rose’s voice was tentative, yet hopeful.
“Sure, what is it?” Nick replied, his curiosity piqued.
“Promise me you won’t ever force a girl,” Rose requested, her words laden
with earnestness.
“I promise you, sweetheart,” Nick assured her, his voice firm and sincere.
“Thanks,” Rose said softly.
Nick continued with concern. “Are you feeling better now?”
“I am,” Rose replied, her voice filled with warmth. “You are so sweet. I
wish everyone was as sweet as you are.”
“Thanks,” Nick said, touched by her words. “That’s so nice of you to say.”
“You are amazing,” Rose added.
Nick’s advice came with genuine intent. “Just try to live your life the way
you want to. Don’t confine yourself because of what someone did to you.”
“Yes, I’ll try,” Rose responded, a note of determination in her voice.
Nick’s reassurance was gentle but firm. “Yeah, and once you do that, you’ll
start to move past the thoughts of that disgusting person.”
Rose’s voice was tinged with despair. “I can’t. He still wants me.”
“Really?” Nick asked, his concern deepening.
“Yes,” Rose said, her voice heavy with resignation. “It’s a never-ending
nightmare.”
Nick’s tone was steady, seeking clarification. “He didn’t do anything after
that, right?”
Rose’s reply was somber. “Not after that, but he sends me bad messages and
all the pictures he took.”
Nick’s response was a mix of shock and anger. “He took pictures of you?”
“Yes,” Rose confirmed.
Nick’s reaction was immediate and fierce. “That bastard! Is your face
visible in those pictures?”
Rose’s voice trembled as she revealed the extent of her suffering. “Yes, and
my whole body too.”
Nick’s expression hardened with anger and disbelief. “What about his wife?
Doesn’t she know?”
Rose’s voice was tinged with bitterness. “She knows, but she won’t do
anything about it. She’s jealous of my family.”
Nick’s disbelief turned to frustration. “So she’s okay with her husband
doing this to you?”
Rose’s response was heavy with resignation. “Both of them are monsters. I’m
trapped.”
Nick’s concern deepened, and he spoke with a sense of urgency. “You should
tell your parents about this.”
Rose’s despair was palpable as she spoke, her voice laced with hopelessness.
“I wish it could be that easy. Sometimes, I think it would be better to hang
myself with all these shameful secrets than to tell my parents.”
Nick’s voice softened but carried a firm resolve. “Oh, really? And what good
would that do you?”
He leaned closer, as though trying to bridge the chasm of their virtual
distance. “Even if you don’t tell your parents, don’t ever try to hurt
yourself. It won’t help you or your family. You’ll only cause yourself more
pain.”
Rose’s response was a mixture of resignation and fear. “I don’t know. I’ll
see. But for now, I’m safe in my house. If I leave, I won’t be safe anywhere.
But, it feels like a shame worth killing myself over.”
Nick nodded, his sympathy clear. “Yes, it really is.”
Rose sighed, her voice weary. “Yeah.”
Trying to shift the conversation to something less heavy, Nick asked, “Do
you have a hobby?”
Rose’s tone brightened slightly. “Yes, I paint. It’s the only solace I
have.”
Nick encouraged her gently. “Then paint as much as you can. Keep yourself
busy.”
A small smile touched Rose’s lips. “You know, tomorrow I’ll paint you.”
Nick laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “But you don’t know what I look
like. How will you paint me?”
Rose’s response was thoughtful, her voice taking on a dreamlike quality.
“I’ll imagine you. It will be beautiful. I’ll paint it with the image of your
soul.”
She continued, “And your soul is beautiful.”
Nick’s curiosity was piqued. “What color would you say my soul is?”
Rose’s answer was delicate. “It’s white and light blue, with a fair tone and
a slight pinkish hue.”
Nick was intrigued. “Wow, I can’t even imagine that.”
Rose’s laughter was soft. “You can’t see your own soul, silly. By the way,
what do you think about my soul?”
Nick pondered for a moment before replying. “I think your soul is a pale
pink, like a cherry blossom losing its leaves.”
Rose’s smile widened. “I’ve made you an artist, haha.”
Nick’s voice was filled with quiet pride. “I actually am one.”
Rose’s curiosity was piqued. “Really?”
Nick, his voice tinged with a blend of pride and humility, shared, “Yes, I’m
a writer.”
Rose’s response was a thoughtful one, as though she were musing over
something profound. “Nice. You know, they say when nature couldn’t find a
singer to voice her heart, she produces a philosopher to speak her mind.”
Nick was struck by the depth of her words. “I’m at a loss for words to
express how I feel right now. What you said was truly mesmerizing.”
Rose’s response was a warm, grateful smile. “Thank you.”
Curiosity gleamed in Nick’s eyes as he asked, “So, are you really going to
paint me? I’m eager to see how you imagine me.”
Rose’s voice was filled with resolve. “Of course, that’s my top priority.”
Nick’s face brightened with a genuine smile. “I’m glad to hear that.”
After a moment of consideration, Nick added, “What’s your real name,
though?”
Rose’s reply was cautious. “What do you mean?”
Nick’s tone softened as he clarified. “You know exactly what I mean.”
Rose hesitated before revealing, “Alright, it’s Neha, and I’m from India.”
Nick’s demeanor shifted to one of friendly revelation. “It was nice meeting
you, Neha. I’m Raghav, also from India.”
Neha’s eyes widened with surprise. “What? Why were you faking it?”
Nick shrugged with a hint of defensiveness. “I don’t like to reveal myself
on just any random chat site.”
Neha’s curiosity turned to a playful challenge. “And yet, you reveal
yourself to a stranger.”
Nick’s response was contemplative. “Maybe this stranger is a bit different
from the others I’ve met.”
Neha’s tone was light and teasing. “I see! So, are you a pretty boy?”
Nick chuckled, brushing off the compliment with modesty. “Haha, I suppose
I’m average.”
Neha’s farewell was tinged with affection. “It’s time for me to go. Goodbye.
And no, you aren’t average. You’re the best. I will worship you as long as I
live.”
Nick’s voice grew earnest as he tried to extend their connection. “Hey,
wait. Don’t you want to stay in contact?”
Neha’s response was a soft, wistful sigh. “Trust me, I’m not that lucky…”
And with that, the screen went dark as the connection was lost.
Written By: PRANAV NAGAICH
