The serene atmosphere of the hospital was shattered by the piercing wail of an ambulance siren. The doors swung open, revealing a young Ukrainian woman, her face a mask of pain and fear. The doctors swarmed around her, their movements a blur of white coats and stethoscopes.
Mahima, her heart pounding in her chest, assessed the patient. The woman was in shock, her body trembling uncontrollably. Despite the trauma she had endured, Mahima was determined to stabilize her. "Let's get her to the ER," she ordered, her voice firm.
As the woman was wheeled away, Kalyani joined Mahima. "She was a virgin," Kalyani whispered, her voice filled with horror. "Her hymen is broken, but it seems to be from only one man. And from the looks of it, he was a soldier."
Mahima's blood ran cold. "How can you be so sure?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kalyani explained, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and sadness. "I can tell from the traces of semen. There seems to be no struggle. It's almost like she willingly spread her legs for him."
Mahima's mind raced. "If there was no struggle, then why is she beaten and battered like this?" she asked, her voice rising.
Kalyani rubbed her pregnant belly, her eyes filled with tears. "It seems like the beating happened after the act. It's like he was punishing her for something."
Mahima's heart ached for the young woman. "How old do you think she is?" she asked, her voice filled with compassion.
Kalyani sighed. "I'd say she's about 21. And this was probably her first time."
Mahima nodded, her mind reeling. "The positions he took her from, according to the handprints on her body, were missionary position, doggy, and presumably cowgirl position," Kalyani continued. "She's a blonde with reddish hair."
Mahima's eyes narrowed. She pulled out the woman's file and began to examine it. A wave of anger washed over her as she read the details of the woman's ordeal. How could a soldier do such a thing to an innocent woman?
As she continued to read, Mahima realized that this was not an isolated incident. There were countless other women who had suffered similar fates. The war in Ukraine had created a breeding ground for violence and exploitation.
A lump formed in Mahima's throat. She knew she had to do something. She had to help these women, to give them a voice. But how?
As she sat there, lost in thought, Mahima made a vow. She would not rest until justice was served. She would fight for these women, no matter the cost.
Onju burst into the office, her face pale. "Doctor Kalyani, she's awake, but she has internal bleeding and swelling on her vagina."
Kalyani sprang to her feet. "Let's go." She turned to Mahima. "Please contact Hoseok and ask where the girl was picked up."
As Kalyani rushed to the ER, Mahima pulled out her laptop and began to research. She went through the details of the case, her mind racing.
Just then, Doctor Soyeon entered the office, placing a stack of photos on the table. "CCTV footage caught the act," she said, her voice filled with disgust. "They were enjoying themselves during sex."
Mahima took the photos and examined them. The images were graphic, showing the soldier and the woman engaged in passionate sex. Mahima's stomach churned. She recognized the soldier's coat. He was a colonel.
"They make love like lovers," Soyeon said, her voice filled with confusion. "She doesn't seem scared at all."
Mahima looked at the photos again. The woman was lying on her back, her breasts exposed, while the soldier's face was buried in her core. "I can't understand," Mahima said, her voice filled with frustration. "She's lying on the hospital bed, brutalized, but it doesn't seem like he did it. We need to run this man's number and identify him."
Soyeon nodded. "I'll get on it right away."
As Mahima watched Soyeon leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The woman's behavior didn't make sense. Why was she enjoying herself with the soldier if she had been raped and beaten?
A thought occurred to Mahima. Perhaps the woman was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological condition where victims develop a positive emotional attachment to their captors. It was a theory that had been proposed before, but Mahima had never given it much credence.
Now, as she looked at the photos, she couldn't help but wonder if it was possible. If the woman had developed feelings for her attacker, it could explain why she didn't seem to be in pain or fear.
But that still didn't explain the brutality of the attack. If the woman had consented to the sex, why had she been beaten?
Mahima's mind raced as she tried to piece together the puzzle. She knew that finding the answers would be crucial in bringing justice to the woman. But it would also be a dangerous game. The man who had attacked her was a powerful figure. And he would stop at nothing to protect himself.