The big, flat screen flickered into life.
As the cup-shaped thing probed into the depths of her body, she watched the whirls of black and grey solidify on the screen. Her eyes traced the outline of a tiny form, resting in its crib, curled up under blankets of muscle and fluid.
Not a girl, God, don't let it be a girl. Please.
'It's a girl,” the doctor said quietly.
She shifted her gaze to her husband, with one last futile plea for mercy. But his pitch-black eyes said it all: the death sentence for her child had just been signed.
As the cup-shaped thing probed into the depths of her body, she watched the whirls of black and grey solidify on the screen. Her eyes traced the outline of a tiny form, resting in its crib, curled up under blankets of muscle and fluid.
Not a girl, God, don't let it be a girl. Please.
'It's a girl,” the doctor said quietly.
She shifted her gaze to her husband, with one last futile plea for mercy. But his pitch-black eyes said it all: the death sentence for her child had just been signed.
The A-Z Challenge introduced me to a lot of lovely people, including Natasha at Coffee Rings Everywhere. I was inspired by her beautiful drabbles - stories told in exactly 100 words - to write this one.
A note to non-Indian readers: prenatal sex determination is illegal in India in order to prevent sex-selective abortion, which has its roots in the strong influence of patriarchy in our social framework.
#AtoZChallenge2013 #CatchingUp
Girls are always the most blessed ones in a family. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I agree with that, but then I might be biased...
DeleteThank you :)
Wowa. What a coincidence! I picked up girl child infanticide as a topic for my poem with the letter G! Btw this is just awesome. Doesn't look like only a hundred words.
ReplyDeleteSania at Embracing Dawn
I know, right? Soul sisters ;)
DeleteThanks, Sania. Glad you like it.
Excellent post. I've never tried to hit a specific word count.
ReplyDeleteDropping in from A to Z Challenge. It's my first year participating.
Brett Minor
Transformed Nonconformist
Thank you, and it's my first year too!
DeleteWow. This is dark. It's good, but dark.
ReplyDeleteUm... thanks, I guess? :D
DeleteGreat story. Very sad. I've done a 100 word story and really enjoyed it. Hmm. I might have to give that a try again. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. And do try, I'd love to read it. :)
DeleteThis story made me feel so sad! I wanted so much my baby girl! Anyway you're idea for the AtoZ challenge is so nice, I'm going to come back to visit!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! Hope you enjoy my future posts as well :)
DeleteSad! I wish we could understand the beauty of a birth...the miracle and stay away from prejudices. Nice work, here!
ReplyDeletekajalkapur.blogspot.in (Rainbow Hues)
Indeed, Kajal. Thanks for chipping in.
DeleteThis is beautifully written and infinitely sad. Many Eastern societies are guilty of this - stuck in their misogynistic patriarchal traditions. But when there are twice as many men as women, few can have children, and society pays the price for its stupidity.
ReplyDeleteThanks for standing up for what's right. :-)
Wonderfully put, Lexa. Thank you for the R&R.
DeleteSo sad, girls are the bestest thing in the EVER!
ReplyDeleteThe Warrior Muse said you needed some love, so I popped on by ~
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
Girls do rock :D
DeleteWe would have loved to have had a girl.
ReplyDeleteWe love our sons, but the daughter we never had will haunt me forever.
--
Tim Brannan
The Other Side and The Witch
Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
The Freedom of Nonbelief
I know this won't make any difference, but... I'm sorry. I really am.
Deletevery well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules! :)
DeleteVery dark and sad, but very well written. That would be so horrible.
ReplyDeleteFrom A to Z, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
Thank you, Kristen. It's indeed horrible and I wish this brutal discrimination against girls would stop.
DeleteMany blessings on your daughter..
ReplyDeleteOuch! Sad and powerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by and reviewing. Glad you find this powerful.
DeleteBut but but the father's the one who determines a baby's gender! No fair!
ReplyDeleteGrover
Inane Ramblings
Normally, I would have retorted sarcastically "when is life ever fair?" but this is not the occasion. The selective abortion of female foetuses is NOT at all fair.
Delete