A new beginning, free to spread her wings, to soar high.
SHE had been a young girl many years ago, with a focus and determination to succeed in her studies and to achieve her goals. Now, in her mind, she had to search for that young girl, to pick up from where her books had fallen and forced into an unhappy and restricted life.
It was a long drive to Central Guyana and along the way, Aanya began to feel the pulse of freedom within her, a slow beat.

They reached the river lodge just as it began to dusk and as she exited the vehicle, she stared in awe at the beautiful place surrounded by tropical rainforest.
“How are you feeling?” Cassandra asked, noticing her expression.
Aanya smiled a little, “I’m getting there,”
“You will, my friend,” Cassandra reassured her, “Just time and determination.”

She was introduced to three other members of Cassandra’s team, four more of whom would arrive in the morning from Columbia and Costa Rica. Dinner was the local cuisine of different dishes and though Aanya did not eat much, she felt satisfied. Later, she took a refreshing bath and went to bed in a spacious, beautifully decorated room.
“This, I love,” she expressed and added to the fact she was free and now at peace.
But she couldn’t sleep, thinking of her children, wondering how they must be doing in her absence. She felt an aching in her heart, but her conscience warned her, “Don’t cry, they will see you again.”
She sighed deeply, knowing she had to be strong and not overcome by emotions.

“My children will at least live with the comfort that I’m alive,” she consoled herself.
The thought of her husband’s raging anger when he would have discovered she had left, brought a smile of satisfaction on her lips. He would search all her family’s homes and harass everyone but he wouldn’t find her.
“Not this time,” she voiced, “You wouldn’t drag me by my hair and slam me against the wall.”
Her eyes closed in sleep, and for tomorrow, a new day awaited her.
The next morning, after a nice, warm breakfast, she expressed to Cassandra her fear of him possibly finding her there.
“Although it’s a research centre, it is also a resort, so tourists would come and go at all times.”
“This is your chance to pick up the broken pieces of your life,” Cassandra pointed out to her, “This has been your ambition, so stay focused on that and don’t allow fear to set you back.”
She touched Aanya’s hand and smiled with a bit of tease, “In the meanwhile, you can change your outlook.”
She had her long hair cut and coloured for a new, modern look.

Aanya looked at herself in the mirror and exclaimed with a little laugh, “Wow, I can hardly recognise myself.”
“That’s the idea,” Cassandra stated, “There’s still more you can do. Ready to go to work and live your dream?”
“Yup,” Aanya answered with a touch of enthusiasm.
Days, weeks, and months went by, and Aanya developed a new personality with enthusiasm and confidence. She was definitely soaring with a real purpose in life and making an invaluable contribution to the environment.
Cassandra obtained new, temporary documents for her to allow her to travel out of the country. Her first trip in this career as an inspiring environmentalist was to Costa Rica. A new, exciting world was opening up for her as she networked with more environmentalists and passionate earth stewards.

She had lost a lot of time shackled to a marriage she never wanted and now that she was free, she worked to make up for that time, impressing everyone with her passion and zeal.
For that, she won her first award.
It filled her heart with pride, and tears misted in her eyes as she held it in her hands.
“I am so happy for you,” Cassandra congratulated her friend, “You have really come a long way.”

There were still nights, though, when Aanya did not sleep well, thinking of her children and the unfair society that always casts blame on the woman because of a traditional culture that continues to excuse a man’s transgressions. Such a practice was discrimination against abused women whose lives were like an endless battle, no medals won, just death’s chariot passing through the field of bleeding roses.
“I’m sure he would have killed me one day,” she said to herself, “Walking away has given me a chance to survive and, hopefully one day, reunite with my children.”
She knew she had to be strong, mentally and physically, when that day would come to face him because he would exert his power and money to deny her, her motherly rights.
She was not alone, though. She had support from a wide network of people, recognised for their invaluable work in the country.

Three years passed, and one morning, whilst they were having breakfast in a lodge in Nicaragua, surrounded by the scene of nature’s wonder, she asked her friend, “Do you think it’s time I can pay a visit to my children?
Cassandra thought for a moment, then answered, “Not sure how safe that would be for you.”
“Yeah,” Aanya agreed, “Maybe he’s still looking for me.”
After a few moments of thinking, Cassandra suggested, “I can make some inquiries when I go into the city next week for a meeting.”
“That would be great,” Aanya expressed, touching her friend’s hand with thanks.

The next week, Cassandra came back with good and bad news.
“The children are well taken care of by his family and are fine, except they miss you very much and continue to ask when you’re coming back.”
Aanya smiled happily but was a little sad, and she asked, “What’s the bad news?”
“He’s still searching for you and has put up a $10,000,000 reward for any information on you.”
Aanya gasped, stunned on hearing that, finding her voice after a long moment, “He just couldn’t seem to let go.”

“Yeah,” Cassandra sighed, a sad story for many abused women.
“What do I do?” Aanya asked a new fear pulsing through her being.
She knew that, maybe one day, someone would recognise her despite her new outlook.
Ten million dollars was a lot of money for people out there in society.
Cassandra thought for a long time, then said, “What didn’t happen in three years can happen in one day. A team is going up to the Amazon in Guatemala in two weeks’ time. I could probably send you with them but…,” she paused uncertainly.

“But what?”
“There are many dangers in those jungles. People have died there.”
Aanya got up and looked across the river, seeing otters playing and frolicking in the distance. Then, she turned back to her friend and said, “How long am I going to run?”

To be continued…