16th April 1995

It was a full moon night, with a clear sky. It was a great day for a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary. They just had a romantic dinner at a restaurant and went for a night walk. The couple was enjoying their quality time. When they passed by the garbage bins, there were a lot of stray dogs barking at each other, fighting to eat something that was wrapped in a bundle of clothes.

Although the lady was afraid, she asked the man to check what was in that bundle. The man went to shoo away the dogs that were engaged in a fierce battle amongst. When he walked closer towards the bundled clothes, he saw a fair dough like baby hand. He was frightened, still he carried the baby to check, whether it was alive or dead.

The baby was in swaddling clothes wrapped like a mummy, it left just a little space allowing it to breathe. The baby had extremely delicate skin that revealed the rosiness of a newborn. But its temperature was unnatural, it was quite high.

The couple were also parents. Their love for children didn't allow them to leave that child on the verge of death. The couple could not believe how can parent treat their own children like unwanted things and leave them to be dogs' feast.

They took the child to the nearest hospital. The Doctor currently on duty looked at the child and requested that the couple carry out a few tests on the child. They admitted the child to the ICU as it had high fever and had been left hungry for a long time. The night was like an eternity for both the couple and the child.

At break of the dawn, the couple who had just dozed off, were woken up by the cries of the baby. The lady went to console the baby while the man called the doctor to check upon the baby.

The baby was healthy and the results for all tests conducted earlier were normal. The doctor discharged the child. Before leaving, the doctor advised the couple on how to take good care of their child and not to neglect the baby. The couple told, it was not theirs and explained the incident how they found baby in a garbage bin. Doctor asked them to file a FIR in the police station to locate parents of the child, this was also a preventive measure against any future allegations of child kidnapping or trafficking against the couple.

The couple first went to their house to freshen up. Later they went to the police station as the doctor advised, they recounted the whole story to the police officer. The police officer asked some basic questions such as birthmark of baby or did it has any belongings on her. After recording the statements of couple, police officer took their address as well as phone numbers. Police officer gave the couple choice either send the child to an orphanage or take care of it till they find its parents.

The couple choose to send the child to orphanage with a heavy heart. However, they wanted to select the orphanage carefully so that the baby will not suffer in the future. The police officer had recommended them some government and private orphanages.

At last after a lot of consideration, they decided the orphanage named 'Eternal Sunshine Orphanage'. The couple and their family had created a special bond with the baby in such a short time, so to bid farewell they had a small photoshoot with the baby.

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17th April 1995

At Eternal Sunshine Orphanage

The couple went to leave the baby in the orphanage in the morning.

When they entered through the gate, they came across toddlers of age groups 2–4 years old playing with a ball in the garden. The garden was not huge; it had one slide, a pair of swings, and a few other outdoor toys for children to play with. The couple went to the orphanage administration office to register the baby. There they met with a warden named Mrs. Joshi. She looked 40 years old. She had some wrinkles near her eyes and a kind face.

Mr. and Mrs. Mishra, the couple introduced themselves to Mrs. Joshi and told her about the episode of meeting the baby. Mrs. Joshi was an experienced but very sentimental person, hearing about it, she had tears in her eyes.

She asked another warden, Mrs. Gupta, to take the couple for a tour of the orphanage, while she fulfilled some formalities for the registration of the baby. Before that, Mrs. Joshi asked Mr. and Mrs. Mishra whether they would like to name the baby. The couple looked at each other and smiled. ''Anika'' both said at the same time. Mrs. Mishra explained, if it was up to us, we would like to name her Anika means fearless and warrior, and it's one of the names of Goddess Durga. The baby, Anika, sweetly smiled as if she understood all this.

After the tour, it was time for parting. Mr. and Mrs. Mishra were sad. Mrs. Mishra was barely able to control her tears. Anika also started bawling. Mr. and Mrs. Mishra promised to come every month to meet her. They reluctantly left.

The first chapter of Anika's life started.

On the first day, all the children from age of 2 to 18 years old came to welcome baby Anika. They organized a feast and cooked 'kheer' for dessert. In the orphanage, the elder children were assigned the duty to feed younger ones. All children were siblings and united they were family to each other. The environment was blissful and filled with laughter and incoherent words from children.

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17 June 1998

Today Anika turned 3 years, the orphanage prepared her favorite sweet 'Jalebis' for all children. Mr. and Mrs. Mishra had also sent a gift along with the letter. They shifted to a different city due to Mr. Mishra's job, a year and a half earlier.

Anika has a lively and bubbly personality, which makes people like her more. She is a chatterbox.

Her small, fair, and tender face, which looked like a peeled egg. She has a pair of black eyes like a pair of gems that broke out from their shells, one can see stars in her eyes. This year, she will start going to school with other kids.

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3 May 2007

Today is Anika's result for class 7. She is an average student. But because of her personality, she is well-liked by her peers and teachers. She has a lot of friends, but there is always one special friend in our life, Anika has two such friends, one is Purvi Ahuja and another is Mahi Singh. These three are classmates from class 1.

Anika got 'B+' grade as result. She and her friends went to celebrate their small success. Their celebration was to eat street food and gossip. Then they went shopping for school essentials.

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June 2007

At night, Orphanage

Anika's school was going to restart. She was packing her bag pack.

After few days

The school was going well. However, Anika was feeling unusual about one of her classmates, Niti's behavior. She had started behaving weirdly for the last few days. She would be afraid of every boy in class and also avoid even looking at them, the same case with male teachers. Anika was confused, as Niti was cheerful and friendly with everyone. Earlier, she would never avoid anyone. Nowadays, she was sitting quietly alone in a corner and would not mingle with anyone.

After observing Niti, Anika noticed that she had been going somewhere alone during lunch break and would return only after the teacher had started the class, except this, she never leaves her seat.

That day, a teacher asked Anika to collect assignments from the students. When it was Niti's turn, Anika noticed that she had a few handprints on her cheeks and her lower lip had a cut, even her hair was messy and blocking her eyesight. After this realization, Anika would always notice a new injury on Niti every day.

One day, Anika decided to ask Niti about these injuries and the reason for the change in her behavior. However, every time she approached Niti, she avoided Anika like a plague. Anika was dead set to find answers to all her questions. Later she followed Niti during lunch break.

While following her, Anika noted that another classmate, Kartik was also following her. Kartik and Niti were not aware of Anika following them. They reached the end of the corridor, and Anika thought, 'Why would Niti come here, there are no classrooms, only a haunted room that no one visits, even the staff rarely come to clean it?'

Niti entered the only room in the corridor. Kartik waited a while at the door, observed the surrounding, and noticed Anika. He ran hurriedly towards her.

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In school corridor

Kartik noticed Anika peeping from another end of the corridor. He rushed towards her. Anika saw his face was flushed. Was it because of his sprint, or was it because of anger? It was unknown to her. If it was later, then what was the reason?

While these thoughts occupied Anika, Kartik dragged her. His behavior shocked Anika. She asked, "Why are you dragging me and where are taking me?" She tried to shake off his grip from her hand, but to no avail, she couldn't free her hand. Kartik suddenly stopped and stared at Anika. He said, ''You have no right to question this. You were beating an innocent soul every day. What has she ever done to you, that you hate her to this extent?"

Anika yanked her hand and said, "What are you talking about? Whom did I beat?" She stared at him with equal anger and vigilance. "I doubt you are the culprit. When I caught you red-handed going into the storeroom after Niti, you thought to push all the blame on me. Great!!"

They looked at each other suspiciously, if the other person was speaking the truth.

Immediately both realized they had left Niti alone in that storeroom. They muttered, "Niti" and sprinted towards the storeroom, but before they could reach there, a teacher intercepted and sent them to the classroom.

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Same day, after school

When Anika was leaving the school, Kartik stopped her at school gate. He seriously asked, ''Did you really not bully Niti?'' Anika said, ''I am equally concerned about her. She is like another person, she has changed into a complete different person. I was following her to know the reason for this." "So we are on same page." Kartik said.

"Yes, I think we should again follow her during lunch break." Kartik agreed.

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Next day, during lunch break

Anika and Kartik agreed to follow Niti to the storeroom. They hide plus waited to catch the predator. But no one showed up. Feeling defeated, they returned to the classroom.

Today the last period was sports period. They both decided to talk with Niti.

Sports Period

Niti was by herself in a corner, not participating in any activity. Kartik and Anika came to sit alongside her. She has got additional injuries, which made them both worried. "Niti, if you had encountered any sort of problem, don't hesitate to let us know", Anika said. "We promise to try our best to help you overcome it," Kartik said.

"I do not need any help," Niti said, frowning. Anika encouraged her to reveal the reason for her personality shift and assured her that they would not tell anybody else. Anika advised her to be brave enough to speak up for herself. Niti remained unaffected by Anika's presence.

At the same time, two assistant teachers passed the ground. Niti started shivering when she saw them. Anika consoled her, and she told they are with her. Anika began to suspect that one of the assistant teachers is responsible for Niti's current condition.

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Eternal Sunshine Orphanage

Mrs. Joshi was briefed on Niti's entire situation, and Anika expressed her concerns about assistant teachers. Mrs. Joshi suggested notifying any teachers or Niti's parents. She chastised Anika for being reckless and nosy. She also complimented her on her concern for her pals.

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Next day in the school

Anika went to speak with Niti before any lesson began. Anika inquired as to why the assistant instructor was beating her and why she had not reported. Niti burst into tears. Niti detailed her scenario from start to finish. Anika became outraged upon hearing this. She devised a strategy in which she would wait for the Assistant Teacher and Niti in the storeroom before the lunch break began. When he arrives, they will both teach him a lesson for abusing Niti.

In lunch break

Anika had excused herself earlier during the session and gone to hide in the storeroom. She waited for Niti and the Assistant Teacher. The Assistant Teacher was the first to arrive, and he inspected the entire room. He started scanning the room. Anika was terrified by this. Niti arrived at this precise moment. Anika exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Here comes my toy," the assistant teacher said. Niti walked in gently. "What game should we play today?" asked Assistant Teacher. "Every day, I am becoming addicted to play with you. Why don't you be my personal toy? It'll be a lot of fun." Both Niti and Anika shuddered. Niti took a look at where Anika was hiding. "Ohh! First and foremost, let's get you out of these hideous clothes," stated the Assistant Teacher.

Niti began to undress and kept looking towards the cabinet, where Anika was hiding. The assistant teacher was intently staring at Niti, he caught her stealing glances at cabinets. He gestured her to keep quiet, and strode towards the cabinets.

While Anika was shocked that the assistant teacher had not only assaulted but also sexually harassed Niti, a mocking voice from above Anika asked, "Why don't you join her?"

The assistant teacher began to touch Anika. "Aren't you here to play with me? Because it's your first day, I'll only focus on you." Niti is off today. Are you content? Now come on, let's play. The only requirement is that you remove all of your clothes."

Anika was still. Assistant Teacher made a bold move and began stripping off her clothes. Anika fought back with everything she had, but she couldn't stop the assistant teacher. "B*tch! B*tch!" he slapped Anika. How dare you to obstruct my advances? You're just a toy for me to enjoy. Now is the time to observe and learn."

He approached Niti, who had loosened some shirt buttons. Anika looked down as he touched Niti's waist and drew her into his arms, disgusted. When the assistant teacher spotted Anika's action, he yelled out again, "I said observe and learn, so keep your eyes on me and not on the ground. Look up, lass."

He started undressing Niti, who was now as  dead as a doll. Then he kissed her passionately. Niti was standing naked in the room in less than a minute. "It's your turn now, baby." And walked in direction of Anika. He was wearing a smirk. Anika was afraid, and her face become white as paper. Anika was tugged towards him by her hair. "Let's see what you've learned." He took a step back and remarked, "I am sure you will look just as beautiful ***** as Niti does. So do it, baby." After a few seconds of waiting and seeing no response from Anika, he slapped her again. Then strangled her and growled, "Don't make me take off all your clothes or you'll be ***** for the rest of the day."

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