Domestic Violence Against Women: A Sad Truth of Modern World

This is a true story, but I have to change the names to respect a friend’s privacy. I wish this didn’t happen. I wish she knew we all were there. I wish she knew, she was suffering.

Gayatri married Kunal in a ceremony where her father spent to the maximum of his capacity. His love for his daughter was not more important than his hard earned savings. He just nurtured a dream. His only child to be happy. The groom’s side was more than perfect. They welcomed their daughter in-law like a daughter. The warmth showed on the faces. After all she was way more than what they wanted for their son.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. They both were falling in love. He introduced her to all his friends, like a trophy. She was nervous but enjoyed being with his friends. It was a picture perfect life and Gayatri was grateful for it every moment.

Her in-laws gradually boycotted their social life. They reasoned with Kunal that they don’t want Gayatri to get a wrong message. She should understand that now she has to take care of the home. And if she saw her mother in-law having a gala time. She might confuse it with the fact that she can too.

On the face of it everything was normal. Even Gayatri thought it’s normal, as she had no clue how marriages worked. She was expected to cook, which she did. As her mother always taught her that a way to a man’s heart is thrown the stomach. She was expected to sweep the floors and wash the dishes and keep Kunals tiffin in the car. Even the maid noticed a change in everyone. But Gayatri thought it’s all normal and all this is important to make a marriage work.

Kunal stopped taking Gayatri out to meet friends. Friends,who were now more fond of Gayatri than Kunal. She was told that if she gets late at night then she’ll wake up late next morning. Upsetting the routine of the entire household. She asked her mother if this was okay. And her parents reaffirmed that yes, to make your marriage work. Everything the man wants is okay. They didn’t want the society to think ill about their upbringing.

She was a master’s in psychology. And wanted to teach. But managing the house exhausted her. So she decided against it. She changed her mind when she was asked to get money from her parents to fulfill the little demands she had.

In the meantime Gayatri and Kunal started expecting a baby. Gayatri was estatic. And so was Kunal. But working so much during the pregnancy was getting a little tough on her. So she was requested to go to her parents house. She happily did. Finally she could enjoy this phase of her life.

Her daughter was born on a beautiful morning in January. Kunal got sweets for the hospital staff and was overwhelmed with the news. Finally, all was well.

Few days later Kunal announced, now you must give me a son next.

Gayatri couldn’t believe it. Finally she felt something is not normal. The first blow came when Gayatri dropped her phone while holding Yaadvi. Phone she brought from the money her parents gave her. He slapped her. She wanted to say that she didn’t do it purposely. But the shock paralyzed her.

This kind of became a routine. With no one to talk to. Gayatri could never interpret that her life was not perfect. Being hit in front of their daughter. Being locked in the house. Kunal not sleeping in the same room. It was Life for Gayatri.

When Yaadvi turned 3, Gayatri wanted her to join a playway, and to pay the fee, she had to work. And she did exactly the same. For the first time she took the decision for herself.

The last straw was pulled when she came home and found the door locked. Running around the house, on the roads. Looking for someone. For anyone who could tell her where her daughter is, she called her mother in law. ‘Màa, where are you? Where is Yaadvi? She was supposed to be back from school two hours back.’

A voice came from the other side, ‘ We had to go out somewhere, your father in-law and me, so we asked her to wait outside for you.’ and the call dropped. So did Gayatri’s pulse. Wait outside? Outside where? On the road. She wanted to shout. To cry, she wanted her daughter. That’s it.

Now that her daughter was in danger did Gayatri understood that this is not normal.

She banged each door in the neighborhood. And finally she found little Yaadvi sitting in the porch of a house just few houses away from hers.

Tears started rolling as she made up her mind. That this is it.

Explore the entire collection of articles: Real Mom Stories

#domesticviolence #realmomstory