On November 25, a brave 19-year-old girl caught her neighbour in the act of raping his three-year-old daughter, and rescued the child. Since then, the only family known to Asha (name changed to protect privacy) as she inches towards a recovery, are doctors who have been treating her, cops stationed to watch over her, and a caretaker appointed by the NGO that is in charge of her care and protection. Her father, thankfully, is in jail. Her mother has nothing to do with her, having remarried years ago.

Asha’s ordeal began last month, when the teenager spotted her being raped by her father, and tried to stop him. Threatened by him, she retreated out of fear for her own safety, but returned resiliently to the crime scene and found the bleeding child. The teenager then washed and dressed the girl before handing her over to the police. According to her caretaker who works with the NGO Yuva Childlife, the child’s father forced her to drink alcohol, and then covered her eyes with a scarf. Inebriated, the child fell asleep, only to wake up with pain in her genital area. Doctors later confirmed a tear in her vagina.