Endurer – A Rape Story

“You’re going to be a real woman”, and she laughed out “what is real” and hug her Mom, when she was in this world!

Intense & absoluteness, are what defines “Endurer – A Rape Story”. Would you imagine, I finished reading “Endurer” in flat 5 hours, such was the desperation, to know the real plot getting unfolded with every turn. Kapil Raj’s “Endurer”, hits the soul really hard, unnerves you at the hidden cruelty and makes you feel the pain of Rape survivors. Rape, its aftermath, protests, real justice and law amendments, have been in the nip of the air from quite some years. And this work of fiction, agonises you and brings alive the fleshy tales running at smallest places of the world in front of your eyes.

The Plot of Endurer, a Book by Kapil Raj :

Youth and college days are the most swashbuckling phase of anyones life. Even, we enjoyed the “gained freedom” in our college days. Now being a mom, I could read the story from the mind of a Youth and from the eyes of a Mom, and this sent chills in my spine, as a woman and as a mom.

Live, she had said and that’s what Palak was trying to do, unaware that her broken heart would be shattered to pieces that soon!

The plot goes as , Palak, who is a beautiful college going girl, wants to enjoy every moment of her life. It’s her Birthday and everyone in the college gets crazy to host a Night out at their Friend’s flat. But the start goes wary, when bragging Uday had a fight with Rohin as their cars rammed in. That was the start, an incidence which left ample scars in Uday’s flushed mind. But they party hard along with Rohin, a quite decent man. Uber-cool, yet sophisticated and affluent Jahan was slowly taking over Palak’s heart beat. Hanging with the bunch of friends (Tanya, Ankita, Uday, Jahan, Rohin, Arav), unplanned trips, night outs, drugs, parties, all became an important part of their lives. Already heartbroken by the loss of her Moo (Maa), and no-worthy father, Palak goes crazy over her new college life.

It is quite a resemblance with today’s youngsters, who love to experiment everything in their life. Fear of unknown, is what they never know.

She never assumed that her presence at a Rave Party in Delhi, would go berserk. Rave Parties are Illegal, but these youngsters plan to have their last party before their examinations, being hosted by few “influential youngsters“. That night collapsed Palak, as she woke up only to find that her body has been played with, by monsters. Struggling from the hallucinations, all she knows was that she was sodomized and was raped by the person, whom she had started to admire. Worst, she gets to know that her video tape is in circulation and beasts are enjoying watching those clips and forwarding them more.

Should it be reported to police or they should keep mum about all what had happened? Should a doctor be consulted? What if Palak bear the societal backlash?

Her studious Room-mate, Sam, becomes her pillar of strength and to bring her out of her bearings, Sam allows Rohin to take her far away from Delhi, at his haveli in Nawalgarh.

Wanting her Moo to be with her, her cries, screams, tears find solace in Sethani’s love and care. Her mind and heart continuously switched between her flashbacks, and stories of Meethi and Sethani. Supported by Sethani (Rohin’s mom), she stood up as a rock to know the real culprits behind her rape and bring out their faces to the world. Meanwhile, Life was not easy for Rohin. He couldn’t believe he committed such a crime and went on with the help of his dear friend “Moon”, to figure out what could have happened.

The thrill begins when Palak gets a faint memory of the presence of a known face when the ghastly crime was being committed. It takes twisty, unprecedented moves, which even you as a reader would have not expected. The world she had believed in had harshly stabbed in her back. She gains that courage to put across her voice on the social media, discloses the names of her real offenders.

My take on the Book :

As a woman, this story asks you that why is the victim blamed for the Rape?There have been numerous times, when we have failed to support a woman, due to the societal pressures. Who gave men the right to play with women, just for some moments of fun, lust and desires? The world is self-serving and loves playing with emotions of the weaker ones.

It’s a heart rending story, you’ll get goosebumps, you’ll be forced to feel the pain and suffering and virtually witness many small fleshy tales. Let me tell you, this book, will leave you with a blank face, but with a mind, unable to rest even for a nanosecond!

Will she be able to take the revenge of crime committed against her by the so called “Influentials of society”? Why did her own friends plotted against her? Did Rohin (who loved her) actually raped her? Was it a gang rape and who filmed the video? Her own friends or strangers and why?

To get all these answers, pick this book penned down by Kapil Raj, a first time author, and give it a read. Every turning page holds a mystery, which keeps on filling your heart with varied emotions, all in a go!

Kapil Raj, says,

 “Though we have started to understand and acknowledge the pain and offer help when we read any new rape case, the problem lies in the treatment of the victims. Our judgments are still based out of deep-rooted social coding. “ 

Isn’t that true, its time to stop blaming Police and victims, It’s time to blame our pre-conceived notions and take the corrective action!

Do read out this book, share with me your thoughts on it and womanhood.

Much Love,

Jhilmil