Rescue Priscy by Salome Njung’e

CHAPTER 1

PRISCY’S CHILDHOOD

The red forte rose majestically in the blue sky and could perfectly describe India’s story since the time of the mugal emperor shahjahan (ruled AD 1628-58). The structure was built of polished white marble, covered with a layer of fine pearl dust and richly ornamented with jewels of multiple hues, shapes and Sizes-It was constructed with the sole aim of overawing the visitors to shahjahans fabulous fortress.

This massive building dwarfed every structure around it and many tourists would flock to it wearing luxury brands like Gucci but outside several kilometers was the infamous slum known as lalbagh. This is where priscy, her mother and two young brothers lived. They are one of the 360 million poorest citizens in India living in some of the dilapidated conditions in the world. About 60% of India’s nearly 1.3 billion people live on less than 3 dollars a day and more that 21% or more than 250 million people survive on less than 2 dollars a day but in priscy case these people were richer than her family.

They survived on one dollar every day and the poor people called her family poor. The slum had garbage and filth everywhere. The dumped waste emanates foul odor and at the same time was the breeding ground for flies and mosquitos which carry fatal diseases. The community toilets were in pathetic conditions, plenty had no doors. The toilets were full of filth and human excreta as there was no water supply. The houses were tiny single dwellings that had eight to six people sharing a cramped room. Priscy walked every morning barefoot to go to the surrounding areas to look for a job. Whatever work she found she did it whether it was scrubbing pots, farming or hand washing clothes. She had to do this to support her family. Her mother had a stroke that had paralyzed her legs and so was wheel chair bound. She dropped out of school after her father died and at the tender age of 16 years she had seen it all. Many people were fooled by her small stature but she was a strong girl because of the nine years she had been subjected to harsh domestic labor.

1. She had a hard time of keeping a job because she was a beautiful girl and men always wanted to take advantage of her beauty. Even though she came from a poor family and was poor she had drawn the line of not selling her body. Many Indian girls from poor family married young or sold their bodies to get a few extra rupees to support their families. She navigated the dark maze like alleys that led to their single dwelling. The air was smoky from coal burning stoves as women made curries, pilau for their evening meal. There was no plumbing and young girls fetched water from an outside well. There was a common toilet but men and women birthed out in the open. She saw her mother in her wheel chair and felt joy and despair. She had once been a beautiful and stately woman who had married the man of her dreams…..