What does not kill you makes you stronger

My life has been a series of ups and downs for the last year. Any sense of relief or even a breather has not lasted long enough to enjoy it.

A few days after I regained entrance to my own room, I received a letter from the Foreigners Registration Office asking me to lave India in 15 days. At first I was shocked, and then I realized that Bala was behind this. The head of the Foreigners Registration Office told me that they had done an “intelligence” investigation that revealed that I was “conducting activities contrary to the spirit of my visa”. The intelligence investigation was in fact a letter sent to the police by Bala.

I met with the officer in charge and he had no problems letting me know that Bala was behind the new developments. He felt sorry for me, he had no doubts that I have been cheated by Bala, but I had to go out of the country. He told me that I was welcome to come back and continue with the case after 2 months.

Bala’s intention has always been to have me deported out of the country. To this day Bala takes no responsibility for any of his actions, in fact he is surprised that people are support me. He has no local support, no friends in the community.

On August 2, 2010 I left for Italy. I was tired and disheartened, and I weighted 48 kilos!

Fortunately, in Italy I recovered weight, and my good spirit. I had a wonderful time with my friends and family. Everyone was shocked to hear my story and everyone gave me lots of love and advices. Most of them told me to give up, pack up and come back to civilization.

On October 20, 3 days before a scheduled hearing at the Varkala court I came back to India.

I had kept in touch with my neighbors and friends here. They gave me news of what was going on at Asthamay and what Bala said. It has been particularly hurtful to know that Bala and been conducting a campaign against. His means are the usual: intimidation of my witnesses, spreading rumors about me and just making my friends and neighbors feel that mine is a lost cause.

Bala said to my neighbors that I was very sick in Italy, I had cancer and could not come back. He told them I had lost all my money, I had no job and I was destitute. He said to them that I would be arrested as soon as I returned, if I indeed could return.

I did come back and I was not arrested. On the contrary, I was feeling great, in good health, I had put on a few kilos and I was relaxed.

But Bala is toxic and when I am exposed to him, I suffer the consequences of contamination.

So the Court hearings have restarted, and Bala’s tantrums as well.

When I returned to Asthamay it was obvious that for my safety I could not live there. Bala and his family again blocked the door to the house and prevented me from taking my belongings to my room.  This was clearly in breach of the protection order I had been granted to me by the court. No chance of getting the local police to enforce it. The local expression is that Bala has influence with the police. This is a euphemism that means that Bala is generous with the local police. It is evident that I could not count on anyone to protect me, my neighbors are far enough away and Bala has scared everyone.

So I rented an apartment, away from Asthamay, where can I feel safe and in peace. At least that is what I thought.

My living room

My bedroom

But Bala found it and came here to harass me. He sent the police to check on me, trying to find reasons to create trouble for me. Bala always told me that he can have any foreigner deported, thanks to his influence, at the affordable price of 20 thousand Rupees, about 500 USD. Convenient, isn’t it?

I am not scared, not of him, not of influence with the police. Anything can happen in this country, including justice.

Next, a view from the Court...