1 chapter 1. KERRY

A girl in her teens- innocent and naive not economically very sound started working at a doctor's clinic, her name was Kerry. No wonder she was sincere at work as every day she would do all the needful, clean the clinic and leave.

As time went by, Kerry was everyone's favourite, ofcourse she grew up into a very attractive woman. Her beauty apparently posed a sign of danger for her well being.

....because Kerry had skipped her periods and realized that she was pregnant with the clinic's doctor.

The news broke out like a wild fire among the neighbourhood and not many had a very good reaction. A few even reached the clinic with sticks and machete to sound a protest. However the villian had already fled from the spot. Castigated by society, Kerry took a new direction and started to live a life on her own.

The once jolly, full of life Kerry had lost her charm... Nevertheless this woman she was becoming had a fire to survive, to give birth to a human being so she started working as a daily labour.

She worked for five months in a row but her deteriorating health gave up and a very kind family appointed her as a house help.

Fighting for life helpless Kerry saved enough and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She named her Nirmali(god's blessing).

Kerry's whirlwind did not end here as she had to manage money for the upbringing of her little child. She worked day and night and sometimes went door to door for economic assistance to run the family. In this way 5 years passed and the ailing mother somehow managed to give admission to her daughter in a local school.

It was a new chapter of Kerry's life. To meet Nirnali's expenses Kerry took up some extra work. Seasons changed, years went by and Nirmali came out with flying colours in her board exams.

She took up admission at the Nurses training institution and successful attained a degree. The doors of abundance opened after she got a job in Tezpur civil hospital.

All was well with duo and the family only after this day when the coward doctor showed up infront of Kerry. He wanted to take responsibility of Nirmali.

The world of the mother now in her mid forties came to a standstill getting a glimpse of him. She suddenly went to her past- the years of grief, sorrow, tears and stood the test of time all by herself. This time Kerry was wise and took a test. although she had nothing to question but kept a condition if he would accept her as his lawfully wedded wife she is ready to accept his proposal.

As expected the doctor was gone....

All the years of despair was not enough for Kerry after her own daughter started avoiding her(she was ashamed of her mother).

That day also came when Nirmali got married and abandoned Kerry. This time the strong woman could not take it she cried her heart out not because her only child abandoned her but she was missing her presence.

Few years later when Kerry was bed ridden, she took a step or two with the help of a stick(the stick was larger than life for Kerry). It used to make a peculiar sound ferociously shouting- look demons i survived

On a bright Sunday morning when the birds were cirping and the blue sky was clear, Kerry heaved a sign of relief and closed her eyes.

She had left some Rs 300 notes under her pillow for her last rites and she became a story.

This is some 24 years back and her struggle has set an example for the others to follow.