19-year-old Pratyusha in the hospital
From her hospital bed, Pratyusha watched with keen interest as TV channels on Thursday reported the arrest of her father, a telecom employee, who had been absconding for the last one week.
Asked if she wanted to meet him, the 19-year-old said calmly, "Never."
The 19-year-old was rescued last Wednesday from her father's home in Hyderabad; she had over a 100 injuries including cuts, burns and bruises all over her body. She was also found to have respiratory distress and internal infections.
Pratyusha has alleged that her stepmother tortured her for many months, made her drink toilet cleaning liquid, shaved her head and told neighbours that she was mentally challenged. Her father, said Pratyusha, witnessed this without protest.
The police said the motive appears to have been a takeover of property that the teen would inherit. They have registered a case of attempt to murder and other sections of the Indian Penal Code against Pratyusha's father and stepmother.
"I don't want any property. I don't want anything to do with my father or the family. I want to study and stand on my own feet. That is my dream," Pratyusha said.
She has had a stream of visitors and said she is overwhelmed at the care and attention she has received. "Two brothers came from Bangalore and gave me this teddy bear, wishing me a quick recovery," she said, cuddling the toy, and added, "So many strangers have become family now."
Dr Vijay Vemuri, chief operating officer at Aware Global Hospitals, said Pratyusha could hardly walk or talk when she was brought there and is amazed at her fast recovery. "She was nutritionally deprived with an Hb count of hardly five, as against a healthy 12," he said.
Child rights activist Achyuta Rao, who rescued Pratyusha, is talking to government officials and NGOs to ensure Pratyusha gets all the help she needs to recover and make a fresh start.
The High Court has said Pratyusha should not be discharged from hospital till further orders. She's suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and needs long term care.