Amongst the Believers by Kochery C Shibu

Author:Kochery C Shibu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Kochery C Shibu
Published: 2024-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

–06–

Rekha

Amongst the Believers, the dance drama was a runaway success with the audience. By now it was well known that Rekha herself had been abducted by a terrorist and had to live in fear for a long period, before she was rescued. The flamenco and Kathak jugalbandi and the story telling of the life of a woman in captivity had evoked critical appeal. The media was divided in their opinion. Part of the media believed that the dance drama was patronising a terrorist. It ran the risk of eulogising the terrorist and attracting even more women to them. Was this a justification for a jihadist? Kidnap a woman and treat her well and so become less of a terrorist? Sections of the media believed that an artist had the liberty to express an experience. Here was a Kathak artist who had lived part of her life in captivity and expressing that life in the form of a dance drama. It was not to justify a terrorist or demonise him? It is a slice of life, and to be seen as such. Reporter from the BBC wanted to know about Khusru and insisted on a one-to-one video interview with Rekha.

“Doctor Rekha, were you abducted from the Amarnath Yatra?” The reporter asked.

“Yes, we were attacked during the yatra, and I had fallen down from the road to a valley and was unconscious. I was rescued and carried away.” Rekha replied.

“So, you were rescued, and not kidnapped?” The reporter asked.

“They attacked the Amarnath pilgrims, it was due to attack that I fell down and got unconscious. Yes, I was rescued, because if I was left there in the snow, possibly I may have died or lost a limb or two due to frostbite. I was kidnapped and carried against my will when I was unconscious.” Rekha replied.

“You were unconscious, so it could not have been against your will.” The reporter replied.

“Well, I should have been handed over to the nearest police station, or hospital for medical care, that was not the case, so…” Rekha trailed off.

“You are a doctor and Kathak dancer. You have travelled the world far and wide. This terrorist was a young kid. Could he really scare you like that?” The reporter questioned.

“Well, he was a strapping six-footer and carried me on his shoulders through the night and he carried a gun.” Rekha replied.

“So, he raped you at gun point and kept you a sex slave?” The reporter had a grin as he asked the question.

There was silence for some time as Rekha thought on how to reply. Rajiv Menon had cautioned her to be as close to the truth as possible with journalists.

“I have not been under the threat of a gun before this. It does things to your mind and brings in the fear of death, which when I look back defies explanation. May be, it is us, the educated ones who are more scared. Yes, the gun with your captor speaks a language of fear, which seems to live with you every second.

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