'I don't think those things happen now a days'. He argued back.
My lips took a curve and I am sure satire spilled from all over my face. A thought crossed my mind.
'I brought her here to bring the matter to you people so that we can get some advice about this', said the tall, dark and handsome old man. The innocent looking girl standing next to him appeared to be the subject of the conversation.
'Lataa ji! It can not be better as you are here too. We were not expecting you. Yet, I considered giving you a call once I was back home. We came to meet Anjali ji', continued the old man.
The woman being addressed, Lata ji, looked at the another woman, named Anjali, in the group of four people. Lata didi, a dog's tail never becomes straight. He still abuses her. He still beats her, replied Anjali, sensing the question in Lata ji's eyes.
Lata ji looked towards the girl. The girl simply folded her sleeves and there were marks all over, as if a mad dog was beaten by a mob. Two salty water drops rolled out of her eyes, and kept rolling till they were exhausted to roll further down her neck. She did not cared to wipe them. Lata ji and Anjali took her to a nearby room and she uncovered the marks concealed by her clothes. The marks on her soul made their way to light through the tears on her expressionless stone face.
What have not I done to nourish this relationship. His mother went to jail. I stood with him. He started drinking even more, I held on. He started beating me even more ruthlessly, I looked at my two kids. He lost his job, I started going to Beauty Parlor to earn for my kids. He will take all I earn, yet I will survive on the money, I will hide from him. All this because of the fact that I did not want to leave him, initially because I loved him and later for the sake of my kids. I do not want my kids growing up in the absence of their father.
'Why you went back to him, when Mausaji took you back?' asked Anjali.
'Anjali didi, I agree Papa took me back. He even enrolled me into dance classes so that I can learn and teach later on, to be independent, though my husband will keep coming back and shout in front of Papa's house. This became a routine. To add to all this, Papa wanted to remarry. As you know, after Mom passed away, there is nobody to take care of him, as we are three sisters and we do not have a brother. Papa always wanted a son and he regrets it even more after mom passed away. So one day he asked me to go back to my husband. Previous evening, my husband visited him and assured him that he will never assault me again. My father knelt to his request.'
'Once I was home, the hell turned into something which the hell itself will be scared of. Now I can not live with that monster. My kids live in fear. I was with him, so that my kids live in the shadow of their father, not a monster. He will be making jokes, one moment and since I will be cooking, I would not be able to pay attention and for that matter, won't be able to laugh. This is enough to wake the monster in him. He will laugh at his own joke and the very next moment he will simply start beating me in front of my kids. He will use anything that is within his reach to break the hell apart on me.' she said all of it without a pause.
Lata ji gave her some money to buy a cheap mobile phone and asked her to report in Women's cell and to be strong this time. 'Bindiya, you are a grown woman with two kids. This is your future and your kids' future. I can support you but I can't lend you, your part of strength. That has to come from within. You have tried enough to save this savage relationship.
Two weeks later Lata ji found herself in the company of Bindiya's maternal grandmother and uncle. They complained about her condition. Bindiya has not taken her decision yet.
Saurabh Tak.
My lips took a curve and I am sure satire spilled from all over my face. A thought crossed my mind.
'I brought her here to bring the matter to you people so that we can get some advice about this', said the tall, dark and handsome old man. The innocent looking girl standing next to him appeared to be the subject of the conversation.
'Lataa ji! It can not be better as you are here too. We were not expecting you. Yet, I considered giving you a call once I was back home. We came to meet Anjali ji', continued the old man.
The woman being addressed, Lata ji, looked at the another woman, named Anjali, in the group of four people. Lata didi, a dog's tail never becomes straight. He still abuses her. He still beats her, replied Anjali, sensing the question in Lata ji's eyes.
Lata ji looked towards the girl. The girl simply folded her sleeves and there were marks all over, as if a mad dog was beaten by a mob. Two salty water drops rolled out of her eyes, and kept rolling till they were exhausted to roll further down her neck. She did not cared to wipe them. Lata ji and Anjali took her to a nearby room and she uncovered the marks concealed by her clothes. The marks on her soul made their way to light through the tears on her expressionless stone face.
What have not I done to nourish this relationship. His mother went to jail. I stood with him. He started drinking even more, I held on. He started beating me even more ruthlessly, I looked at my two kids. He lost his job, I started going to Beauty Parlor to earn for my kids. He will take all I earn, yet I will survive on the money, I will hide from him. All this because of the fact that I did not want to leave him, initially because I loved him and later for the sake of my kids. I do not want my kids growing up in the absence of their father.
'Why you went back to him, when Mausaji took you back?' asked Anjali.
'Anjali didi, I agree Papa took me back. He even enrolled me into dance classes so that I can learn and teach later on, to be independent, though my husband will keep coming back and shout in front of Papa's house. This became a routine. To add to all this, Papa wanted to remarry. As you know, after Mom passed away, there is nobody to take care of him, as we are three sisters and we do not have a brother. Papa always wanted a son and he regrets it even more after mom passed away. So one day he asked me to go back to my husband. Previous evening, my husband visited him and assured him that he will never assault me again. My father knelt to his request.'
'Once I was home, the hell turned into something which the hell itself will be scared of. Now I can not live with that monster. My kids live in fear. I was with him, so that my kids live in the shadow of their father, not a monster. He will be making jokes, one moment and since I will be cooking, I would not be able to pay attention and for that matter, won't be able to laugh. This is enough to wake the monster in him. He will laugh at his own joke and the very next moment he will simply start beating me in front of my kids. He will use anything that is within his reach to break the hell apart on me.' she said all of it without a pause.
Lata ji gave her some money to buy a cheap mobile phone and asked her to report in Women's cell and to be strong this time. 'Bindiya, you are a grown woman with two kids. This is your future and your kids' future. I can support you but I can't lend you, your part of strength. That has to come from within. You have tried enough to save this savage relationship.
Two weeks later Lata ji found herself in the company of Bindiya's maternal grandmother and uncle. They complained about her condition. Bindiya has not taken her decision yet.
Saurabh Tak.
