A mother mourned in the silence of an intensive care unit at a government hospital. The storm within her was evident on her face, wrinkled with the memories of the trauma of a daughter brutalized by rapists and condemned to a slow and painful death.
Her attendant in this hour of grief was a 23-year-old woman, who had been to school with Nirbhaya, remembered by the neighborhood as "bright, intelligent and focused on achieving her dreams".
Just before the cremation, the mother lost consciousness. Her admission in an ICU led to concern being raised over her condition but sources said it was a precautionary measure. Doctors said she was on her way to recovery but the scars will take time to heal.
The mother had been with the victim all through her agonizing journey of 13 days. She was suffering from recurrent bouts off fainting. Besides being affected by stress, she appeared to have not eaten properly for the past two weeks. The hospital discharged her at 6.30pm.
Neighbours said the mother, despite the financial odds, had focused on her children's education and Nirbhaya, a top scorer both in school and college, had given the family hope. She was a mentor to her two brothers - the younger in Class Xth and the elder a student of engineering - a pillar of support to her father and life of the family. She knew she had to claw her way up and she was willing to wait. She would never fail to smile and was a A neighbour who has known the role model for the kids in the neigh- family for over 15 years said his bourhood. daughter and Nirbhaya went to school together. Nirbhaya was the intelligent one and took up science at the plus two level. She was ambitious and determined to make a mark. To supplement the family income - her father is a loader at the airport and had sold off his land to fund her education - she gave tuitions to children in the area.
She went on to complete a professional course in physiotherapy from a Dehradun institute. "She had returned to Delhi just a little over a month ago and was waiting for her final results. She was hoping to get a good job in a government hospital after her internship. Bahut saral ladki thi. Padhne ka shauk tha (She was very simple and enjoyed her studies a lot)," a close family friend said.
Now that family members and neighbours are piecing together her life, one can understand the origin of her zest for life. Studying hard, she took pleasure in small things, waiting for her moment. That's why while slowly inching towards death, she never gave up.
In a neighborhood marked by poverty and illiteracy, education of children is seen as a route to a better life. That Nirbhaya's intelligence is remembered by most as her striking characteristic is no wonder. She was a simple girl who pursued her aspirations quietly.
Hence, she has become a symbol of the simple dreams, many struggles and aspirations of lakhs of young women trying to rise above the odds. The brutal assault that ended her life has given a voice to all Indian women.
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