Supported by HAQ: Centre for Child Rights 

Written and Edited by: Tamanna 

Story from the Field by: Farzana  

Ninth grade had turned out to be much harder than middle school and Shikha* felt quite the need for additional help with tuitions. She took her worries to her protective and helpful older sister, Suneina*. Luckily, Kishore* had his own coaching centre! Kishore was a trusted friend of their father (a priest). In fact, he was much like their father’s disciple, rather, like the son he had never had. Kishore visited their home frequently and participated in family matters, so who better to help Shikha in her studies! 

In September, 2014, thirteen year old Shikha began her tuitions and initially, the classes were not bad at all. And then, Kishore began to ask Shikha to stay on after class. During these after class hours, he would force her to watch pornographic films and eventually submit to sexual assault and rape. He filmed the abuse and blackmailed her with the videos, threatening to reveal them if she complained to anyone. The films held the power to reveal her vulnerability to the world, Shikha felt cornered, trapped in threat and fear, silenced with shame. She knew how blindly her father trusted Kishore, she knew her father would believe Kishore over her. Helpless, alone, frightened, Shikha could see no escape, no one in sight to confide in, no choice but to remain silent and endure. And so she did, and Kishore sexually abused her for three years. 

Until one day: Shikha felt so devastated that she revealed all to the only one who felt safest – Suneina, her older sister. Suneina and her fiancé immediately informed the authorities and an FIR was filed in December, 2018 and Shikha was produced before Child Welfare Committee which appointed HAQ as her support centre. Affirming Shikha’s worst fears, her father refused to believe her and he offered no support to his two daughters, financial or otherwise, through the process of Shikha’s recovery and justice. Suneina worked as a freelance writer to earn for herself and her younger sister, drawing strength from her supportive fiancé. 

Shikha and Farzana (her counselor at HAQ) began what was to be a winding, complex journey. For the first two months Shikha refused to attend counseling or share any of her experiences, but with regular and consistent follow-ups Farzana gradually won the child’s willingness. Farzana recalls, “When Shikha came for the first counseling session, she was drowned in shame. She was also filled with feelings of guilt for not disclosing the matter for about 3 years. There were visible signs of helplessness as the act was videographed. The child also felt that she was being a burden on her elder sister as there was no support from the other members of the family. In the second session, the child spoke about other aspects of life but not at all about the incident.”  

Expanding her strategy, Farzana scheduled a series of sessions with Suneina, Shikha’s elder sister, to gain a broader perspective. Suneina shared Shikha’s experiences in detail and shed immense light on the environment within their home and family. She revealed that they had had an older brother who had been under treatment for Schizophrenia and hallucinations; he would often harm himself and wander away on his own until one time in 2011 when he went away and never returned. Upon the disappearance of their brother, their mother’s mental health also rapidly deteriorated and she went under treatment; she would often leave the house in search of her son and one night in October, 2016, she too went and never came back. Their father remarried in the hope that they will be taken care of by the step-mother but, Suneina confided, that their step mother was far from affectionate and often abused them. 

Gradually, Shikha began to express her thoughts and emotions. She was very apprehensive about her future and feared that all her life’s decisions would be deeply impacted by the violence committed on her. She wanted to focus on her career and accomplish her dreams but struggled with concentration and focus. Shikha was diagnosed with Selective Mutism and Moderate PTSD, and was to be treated via regular Reality Orientation and Developmental Counseling Therapy. The treatment strategy was focused on aiding Shikha in connecting with her own potential, capabilities and uniqueness, and expanding her psychological capacities to identify anchoring and safe elements in her environment. Farzana ensured that Shikha was not pressurized to share her traumas and provided the space and time to become ready at her own pace, and the patience bore results. Over time, Shikha began to show signs of recovery – she began to smile again and make eye contact which revealed that her confidence and esteem were rebuilding. In one session she happily shared that she had participated in a singing competition and won the second prize. As Shikha recovered, she became mentally prepared to pursue her justice legally and the case was taken up by HAQ’s lawyer, Tara Narula.  

Shikha came out with flying colours in her 12th boards with a score of 85%. She is now able to narrativise her story and discuss her day-to-day concerns, including family dynamics and friendships, with Farzana. Shikha is now a career-driven young woman who is applying to the best of universities in Delhi for further studies and aspires to become an IAS officer some day.  

Despite all, Shikha has worked hard to rebuild her confidence and faith and achieve her goals. She continues to remain in touch with Farzana, and they share a bond of trust. We trust that Shikha will continue to reclaim her voice and her life. 

 * All names have been changed