Sunil R P Sethi
Aishwarya was the youngest daughter after her two brothers and was the princess of the house and Apple of the eyes of her father who was serving as Colonel in the army . Whatever she said was mostly honoured by her parents and brothers . By the time she entered Engineering college her both elder brothers were married and eldest brother Vinod who was Inspector in police was blessed with a son . Sending Aishwarya to hostel in different city was a difficult decision for the family but her career was more important and so she came to Delhi to study Engineering course in one of top colleges of the country .
As her hostel was near the college and was at a walking distance, she never needed a vehicle except when she had to go to market . There was an autorickshaw Stand outside her hostel so she and her roommate Kavita fixed with one autorickshaw driver Anik to carry them to market whenever they had to go out . Anik was a young person with good looks and attractive mannerism and knew art of speaking sweetly , and he used his skills in abundance . He had studied only up to higher secondary but with his communication skills he could make friend easily .
With passing of time Aishwarya became very comfortable with Anik and before she could restrain or control herself, she was head over heels in love with Anik who had sown seeds of love in her impressionable mind with uncanny skills . She understood the meaning of such relationship and what effect it would bring to her life and family but she was really helpless or so she thought . Anik made his moves with skill of a chess player and bringing physicality to relation was a part of his strategy to leave no choice for Aishwarya . Once she took that step it became impossible for her to retract .
When Aishwarya told her family about decision to marry Anik , Col. Mehta fell down on floor and had to be lifted and taken to doctor . What followed was a very long battle between former princess and the wronged family . Words of her father never left ringing in her ears for rest of her life ” You will be the reason for the death of your father physically though you have already killed him with your decision ” . To equal effect were words of her mother ” You will never live in peace after bringing disrepute to your family ” . It was only later on she realised how correct her parents were .
She did marry Anik in court and then in Arya Samaj . Her brothers tried to stop marriage by threatening Anik but failed because of the stand taken by Aishwarya . Love is blind after all . She went to her matrimonial house and soon realised that actual life is entirely different from love talks of persons in courtship . For few months initially only Anik was good to her and then he too started showing his true colours . She had in the meanwhile joined a Govt job and Anik also got himself registered as Class C contactor and was taking small contracts with Municipality . The problem started with Anik forcing her to leave job but she plainly refused as that was her only solace as there was no person with whom she could share her grief . Anik had forcibly stopped her from talking to even her friends and had taken her mobile too .
Within one year of marriage Anik started forcing her to conceive but she was not prepared as she was not sure about her own future . She had already started repenting on not listening to better advice of her family but Anik the master player knew that once she becomes mother all her options would be closed, the same method he used before marriage . So he became very good to her and made her agree for child which would cement their relations . She again got befooled and so she became mother . Sanjeev came as bundle of joy in her life. The only good thing which had happened to her in long time . She forgot all her problems with Sanjeev with her .
With passing of time the tortures of Anik became more intense and by now he had started not only abusing her but beating also. He told her that he had been insulted by her father and brother and thus was revanging for that. Hearing such insulting words after such long period of marriage came as a shock . When she could no more tolerate she decided to walk out and told Anik that she was leaving him and would take Sanjeev with her.
Before she could move out, her mother in law took Sanjeev forcibly to their native village and didn’t even allow Aishwarya to meet him for more than two months . She left matrimonial home and shifted to a hostel totally broken . One night she thought of committing suicide by jumping in Yamuna and in fact went to bridge but left the idea at the last moment and decided to fight for her son . Being ashamed of what she had done to her family she had no courage to go to them for help and neither she felt any right over them but her guilt was killing her and unless her family pardoned her it was difficult to live in peace . She picked her mobile and sent message to her father ” I got punishment for not listening to you . Sorry for being reason of all troubles in your life . In next life I would like to again your daughter and live life according to you”.
Next day afternoon she was weeping and crying on the shoulder of her mother with her father holding her hands and her brothers and their wives standing along in her hostel room . She had not lost everything . Her family was still there . Umbilical cord was not broken . Her father said the kind words ” You continue to be our princess . We suffered more than you with you not around . ”
She came back home and after six months started fight for getting her son back . It was very exhausting effort and after a long drawn court litigation she finally got custody of her son back . The day Sanjeev came to her parental home all eyes were wet with the scene of mother meeting son after nine months and rest of family meeting Sanjeev for first time . Through tears she washed away all her sorrows and tortuous memories . She had now a reason to live , her bundle of joy and she had strength to fight , the strength of her family standing with her .
She saw her son growing and inculcated good principles and morality in him so that he can treat everyone with love and care and that he should have respect for human feelings , to live in peace and mutual respect . She wondered how many girls would get a second chance the way she did.
(The author is Senior Advocate)
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