change that either. There will be many who think that what Suresh did to her was not so bad. They will want to punish Parvati. I know it is hard for you to understand, but for us things are not always easy.”
Grace looked down at her lap. I hoped I had not hurt her feelings.
“I have something to show you,” she said, a strange hesitancy in her voice.
She crossed her leg and hiked her dress up over her thigh. At first I saw only a mess of cuts and wondered what kind of accident could have left such wounds. I sat down next to her for a closer look. Only then did I realize the cuts formed words. It seemed impossible. I waited for an explanation.
“It’s an acrostic,” she said.
“What?”
“A kind of poem. We did them in middle school. You see, in one direction it forms the word slut and in the other, the first letter …”
Her words trailed off. She must have seen the look on my face. She had carved words into her own flesh. I thought of the many scars I’d seen on the girls and women in my community—I’d never seen anything like this.
“I am not understanding,” I said. “What is hag?”
“It’s like a witch.”
“And term?”
“I was going to write terminal, like dead. I changed my mind.”
“Why did you do this, Grace?”
“I was ashamed. I felt so alone.”
“But this …”
“It was stupid. It only made things worse. Now I have this to be ashamed of as well.”
“Do your parents know?”
“How can I disappoint them again?”
I wasn’t sure how to put my thoughts into words. I felt as if I were watching her standing on a bridge, looking over the side. She was safe for the moment but that could change in an instant; the desire to jump could become too strong.
“You must tell your parents,” I said.
“I know.” She sighed heavily.
We heard quick footsteps in the hallway and VJ rushed in through the open doorway.
“Where’s Parvati?” he demanded urgently. “The police are here!”
Grace
I told VJ about Parvati’s disappearance on our way downstairs. He led the way into a large living room with seating for at least thirty people. I wondered if the cops felt as intimidated as I did. There were three of them seated on one side of the room. Across an expanse of Persian silk carpet sat VJ’s dad and a stunning woman who must have been his mom. VJ’s parents stood up when we entered and greeted us warmly. VJ sat next to them and Noor and I took seats nearby.
“As I was saying,” VJ’s mother said firmly, “you cannot question these children until their parents arrive.”
My heart jumped out of my chest. Had she called my parents already? I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk to them.
“At this time we only need to speak to the girl Parvati,” said the oldest policeman. “Are you Parvati?” he asked Noor.
“No, she’s not,” said VJ. “We don’t know where Parvati is.”
“When did you last see her?”
VJ hesitated.
“She left many hours ago,” said Noor.
“Do you know Suresh Asari?” The officer’s tone became considerably less polite when he addressed Noor.
“Yes, he is the boy who raped my fourteen-year-old friend and made her do sex work.”
The officer was momentarily thrown off balance by Noor’s directness. “Do you have proof of this?” he demanded flatly.
“Why? Will you charge him?” Her face gave nothing away.
“You were seen at the encampment under the Grant Road Bridge tonight.”
Noor eyed him calmly.
“Suresh Asari was found murdered shortly after you left.”
“This has gone far enough,” said VJ’s dad. “If you have further questions, you may speak to my lawyer.”
“That’s fine, Mr. Patel, but you have no rights over this girl. We’re taking her with us.”
“This child is a victim,” snapped VJ’s dad. “You aren’t taking her anywhere without me.”
“The only victim here is a murdered boy under a bridge.”
“She’s just told you that the child you’re looking for was raped and trafficked!” VJ’s mom exploded.
“We have only her word, and what does she know of these things?”
“I grew up in a house where minor girls do sex work,” snapped Noor.
“And where would that be?” The officer leaned toward Noor, while one of his younger colleagues flipped open a notebook and prepared to write.
Noor was slow to answer. She looked from the officers to me and back again.
“What will you do if I tell you?”
“We will raid the establishment.” He seemed to think this answer would please her. It didn’t. Her face was wreathed