Seethalakshmi S for Times of India

Bangalore, Dec 23: Gowramma, the 63-year-old mother, sits quietly remembering the first steps that her little one took. That was a sunny morning in the 70s.

Thirty years later, on a wintry night, all she has for memories are a few pens, a computer and memorable photographs of her daughter.

Nearly 2,000 km away from Bangalore, the scene may not be very different at Sabrina Lall's (Jessica Lall's sister) house.

Except that Sabrina got justice,while Gowramma is still waiting for it. One year after BPO employee Pratibha Srikanth Murthy was brutally murdered, the family has knocked at everyone's door for justice to bring the culprit to book.

"We wrote to President Kalam, who was good enough to reply and told us it was a state matter. The case is being argued and trial is yet to begin. But my sister is inconsolable," Pratibha's uncle S Sreenivas said.

Pratibha's murder on Dec. 13, 2005 sent shockwaves across the country. It was a murder that made companies change their policies towards safety of working women, a crime that made police debate about night shifts for women employees and NGOs demanding nothing less than capital punishment for Shivakumar, the taxi driver charged with murdering Pratibha.

After all that noise and outrage, there has been silence. Not just in Pratibha's home in JP Nagar but all around us too.

"She refuses to talk to anyone. She does not go out except for an occasional visit to temples. She does not come to my house as she fears she will spread her agony," Sreenivas says about Pratibha's mother.

Understandable for a woman who lost her husband, barely two years after marriage and the only child, thirty years later.

Tragedy struck the family in 1977 when Pratibha was barely 15 days old. "On the cradle ceremony day, Pratibha's father died in a stove burst.

For my sister, Pratibha was the only consolation and a reason to live. Her world revolved around Pratibha. For 30 years, she lived for her.

But tragedy struck us again in 2005," he adds. In the midst of darkness around the family, a ray of hope came last week — the conviction of Manu Sharma who shot model Jessica Lall.

"After seven long years, they got justice. Somewhere it has raised hope for us. Pratibha's mother is also closely watching Jessica's case."

Justice in Jessica Lall case prevailed through an effective judiciary, a relentless media campaign and a very responsive public.

Pratibha's family now lives on hope. But the hope is not without its concern. "The matter is heard in court. In Jessica's case, the crime took place in full public view and there were witnesses. But I've faith. Our girl has been wronged. There is evidence to prove it. I hope justice is done for Pratibha too," the mother told TOI.

At her JP Nagar home, Gowramma has built a wall around herself. She will perhaps come out of her shell, only if her daughter's killer is punished.