Case 2 - Shattered Dreams !

She was evidently struggling for words as I sat across her, waiting patiently for her to start speaking. She was probably trying to recollect all that she had rehearsed on her way here, finding the right words. In the interim, the tear-stained face was doing all the talking. I mechanically handed over a glass of water to calm her. With trembling hands, she took hold of the glass taking sips while the brain was still working on how to express. 

Realizing she had undergone tremendous mental trauma, I tried to make her comfortable by explaining that we have come across worst experiences. So, she need not hesitate and encouraged her to speak her heart out. She finally got a grip of herself and then the saga unfolded. 

It was a love marriage and she was no more than 25. She had met him through a common friend at a party. It was an instant connect and she was blinded by his sheer persona. She had been smitten by his charm and found him to be extremely caring and attentive towards her. He was studying in the US and had come down for a vacation. He was to return in a fortnight to complete his education following which he would be taking up a job. 

Mobile numbers were exchanged and lo and behold !!!.... from the very next day, they had started dating. Now, that was too soon I said to myself. Perhaps it is the generation leap I have yet to come to terms with I thought. A fortnight later he left for US and their communication was only through whatsapp chats and video calls. He graduated and got a job. The romantic exchange of words continued over audio video phone calls.

Within a year of knowing each other he had proposed to her, and she jumped at the thought of marrying the one who had swept her off her feet.  As she lovingly (still) showed me his photograph I realized what had got her attracted to him. Yes,  he was all of good looks, good looks and good looks!!! 

One look at her face and she was still admiring him with a forlorn look in her eyes. She had still not come to terms that it was all over between them. 

I had to bring her back to the present and the story unfolded.... With the consent of both sides of the family they had got married in the fanciest weddings ever. It was a destination wedding; and the families had generously arranged the most lavish weddings with the mehendi, cocktail party, wedding,  reception, et al. The middle-class strata could probably run their monthly expenses out of the cost of their one wedding card. Such was the grandeur!

She left with him for US, looking forward to a romantic married life with the man of her dreams. However, within a few days of marriage, all her dreams were shattered. Within a couple of days,  she noticed that he was spending a lot of time with his friends drinking, leaving her alone at home. She was scared being alone in a massive house as it was her first time staying all alone in a foreign country. 

He continued with the lifestyle he had lived prior to their marriage. She observed that he would often answer calls secretly and speak only after going away from her. She had ignored this behavior in the initial days but as this became a routine, it had raised alarm bells. Was there another woman in his life was the first thought that came to her mind. 

He was clearly hiding something from her. He would spend exceptionally long hours in the washroom and would not even reply when she would knock on the door out of concern. Once when he did not get out of the wash room for long, she had got frantic and started banging on the washroom door. She saw that he was furious as he opened the door.

Still, she gathered courage and asked him the reason for the long hours in the washroom. But he in turn got extremely violent and slapped her hard across her face.  She was stunned with the sudden blow. Not expecting him to react in this manner. She knew he was hiding something in the bathroom and tried to peep but he caught hold of her arm and literally dragged her away. His anger was uncontrollable as he kicked her in her stomach with his knee. She was left with black and blue marks on her arms, immense pain in her stomach and her cheek which was stinging with the hard blow.

The following night she thought she could win him over and pacify him with love. She tried to get intimate with him and attempted to make him understand that they were now married, and he should be spending time with her. This was it!!! He was not used to being told what to do. He wanted to live life his way. Thereafter the nightmare began as he shoved her roughly on the bed and demanded unnatural sex. When she refused, he once again slapped her across her face, pinned her arms and forced himself on her. There was no love in that act, it was an animal act!!! She was shaken, petrified of the man she loved.

Then came the revelation as he rolled out the joint from a pouch which was well hidden and smoked up. She sat there weeping inconsolably with the unbearable pain from his inhuman behavior. He then jabbed the butt of his cigarette on her thighs before he went for her once again. She was being sexually assaulted! He was an Animal !!! 

She was clearly terror stricken as she recalled this incident. The tears were now unashamedly flowing down the cheeks. She had started dreading when he would return home at night as this had become a regular practice for him. There was no love in his actions as every night he would come home in an intoxicated state and force himself on her. The act was so painful that she had bruises all over her private parts. If she would try to talk or discuss this with him, he would get furious, and she would have to face the aftermath every night. He had warned her not to tell this to anyone and this torture continued for almost a fortnight before she could gather guts and convey her condition to her parents. 

They were only in the 2nd month of marriage and hence she had been avoiding sharing this with her family members with the hope that he would change. But then the mental, physical and sexual torture was too much to bear. He was not only an alcoholic but also a drug addict and she could not bear to live with such a man under the same roof. The good looks did not matter now. All she could see was the demon within. Her dream of a happy married life had already been shattered. With the help of her parents she had returned to India, trying to find a way out of this abusive relationship.