Sick, twisted, psycho, animals, monsters or I don’t know what should you be called, but you cannot be a human. When you raped that class 10^th school girl, twisted and broke her legs, bruised and scratched her body and left numerous biting marks on her; there could not be an ounce of humanity left in you, then how can you be a human? How can one person do this to another person? How can your ears didn’t bleed when she was crying and screaming in pain begging you to stop this monstrous act? How did you manage to strangulate a 16-year-old defenseless girl without any remorse? How are you still breathing this air which is mixed with her screams? How are you still alive?

On July 5, 2017, a class 10^th student from Shimla, was on her way to her home while returning from school, when she was raped and murdered. She was not found, but her body was, after 2 days of search in a nearby forest.

This is not the first time and this won’t be the last when this kind of barbaric act has taken place against a girl. It just keeps on getting more and more barbaric, and still, we all see this news with disgust and then forget about them till next rape happens.

It is not only the rape victim who suffers. Every time a girl is raped, its consequences are suffered by each and every woman in this world.

When you raped her; you raped every other girl’s freedom, hopes, and dreams too.

You proved a point to those parents and guardians who do not send their daughters to school. Yes, it is not safe to go out. Girls should not go to school. They should not study. They should stay indoors, away from these outside beasts. You gave power to that patriarchy culture which has always tried to keep women inside, and you crushed every little girl’s dream of becoming big one day.

A girl somewhere is stopped to pursue further education as only basic education is sufficient for her to get married. Why would she need to study more? She should not go out more than what is needed? She should just finish her basic education and then wait at home till her marriage is finalized. She should stay at home. Home is safer. Outside we have Rapists.

A girl somewhere is stopped from taking her dream job as she is not allowed to travel far, or live in another city. She can work as long as; her work area is near to her home. She should not take a job in another city. Home is safer. Outside we have Rapists.

A girl somewhere is denied going out with her friends for a movie or an outing. Girls are not supposed to have fun. She can be allowed to go out if she is back before 8 in the evening. Before 8 is safer. After 8 there are Rapists.

She can go out and have fun, but make sure there are no boys in her group. Friends who are girls are safer. Friends who are boys are Rapists.

A girl somewhere is married at an early age. As soon as she becomes a problem of other person and not our liability, that would be better. She can have all her dreams fulfilled once she gets married, and if her husband, and his parents, and his relatives, all agree, only then. If she is married, she is safe. If unmarried, she will find Rapists.

A girl, a woman, a child, an elderly lady; it does not matter what age you are; if you are a female; you will face the consequences of every rape; of every brutality done against women. There is no way out. We all will suffer. We all will feel shame. We all will live in fear. We all will feel helpless and hopeless. There is no way out.

The only way is to go through all this and still dream. Let these Rapists crush all our hopes and muffle our screams, but still shout the loudest we can; still, have hopes in our heart. Despite all, rise. Despite all, we have to Rise. Rise.

Rise, my girl!

Rise!!

Rise, because there is nothing scarier for these monsters than to see us Rise.