Short Story: Men In the Dark by Aiswarya Madhu

In this poignant short story, Aiswarya Madhu captures the life of a woman and the struggles that come along with it, in the name of survival.

She was worried! She looked upon the setting sun, grabbed her clothes from the balcony, and locked herself in the small house. She clasped her knees and rested her head on the knees filling darkness inside her. Her mother locked every door and window. The fading sunlight squeezed life on their faces. 

“No one will help us. They think we are immoral. They think you do wrong things Amma (Mother) because you come home late every day. Last day when I was back home from school, those men sitting in the tea shop were laughing at me”.

Her mother embraced her and took her into the warmth of her love. But the woman was burning inside. The lights blinked all of a sudden…It was gone. Darkness spread all around. The young girl tightened her fists and sobbed. Some giggles burst out. Some lustful hands knocked on the door and windows. 

“This is not new! Things like this have been happening ever since that man left us. I didn’t feel remorseful. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. But people in the teashop are looking for vacancies. They peep into every window and door. They grow old peeping!”