I can still see the steam from the wedges of the door.She has been inside the shower for a good half an hour now. Now I am getting worried!! considering the state of mind she had come it would be difficult not to be. I was still shuddering at the thought…what if?? What if I had not chosen that very moment to take a walk in the balcony?? Despite the fact that I stay alone I still adhered by the rules of walking out for a smoke. The hands of the clock had hugged each other long back, and I was not expecting company at this hour. She was probably hesitant to ring the bell at this hour and there she sat huddled, shivering despite the balmy atmosphere. I could only recognize her when she turned her face slightly. I could swear by that profile anywhere. Gowd! What is she doing here anyways?
I think I have known her for eternity but never have I seen her sobbing endlessly like this. Her life cannot be defined as an ideal one, yet I knew that her spirit would still be ramrod straight. My pal , my buddy who was better known as Damini was nowhere near to this woman. So many times I heard that people change after marriage but in her case that has not been true. She had still remained the same, the truth loving daring Damini!!! I knew she was quite well off and the marriage looked comfortable to me.
The element of my thoughts stepped out of the shower. Her skin was red, blotched with marks, as if she has been scrubbing herself for long. She looked calm and distant! She fixed her empty gaze at me and the words fell like rocks on my head “I have been raped”. But how? When? And mostly who??? I tried to hold her hand to make her sit, I was so sure she will fall in a leap there and then. But she winced by my touch!! Gowd!! what has happened to my tomboy friend who just patted and hit me at drop of second. “Who was it?” I dared to ask her. She replied after a pause still not looking at me “My husband”…..what the hell??? I mean what is she implying? Isn’t she married to the guy? ……So???
But by now she is familiar with this expression, the usual one which probably she might have got from so many people, she literally shrieked, “No he has no right to, not even if he is my husband. Not till it happens with my consent. He just cannot force himself over me”. She looked at me and asked directly “Will you do that to your wife if you were married ? Isnt it be an animal behavior to just force yourself? It has been two years since I have been putting up with this, but now I cant”, she was panting as if she has been running for long, her eyes suddenly filled up with tears “Am I not a living breathing human being?? Don’t I have say in certain things? An act which is supposed to be an outcome of love appears more beastly to me now. I can feel the bile rising in my throat just by his presence in the same room.”The revulsion and disgust was clear on her face…
So where from here now?? She told me that her parents could not even relate to the idea. Of course!! Why would they be? She is married to the guy and in accordance to the rules of marriage it was his right to impose himself on her. Actually its only after seeing her state that I realized this facet of crime. In fact I was wondering whether to label it as crime or not…..We`were mocked, looked at as if were aliens and told clearly….”Marital Rape is not a crime!!!”,”Are you not getting over reactive, He is your husband”to the statement which really threw me off balance. One of the better known pillars of the society told us, “Honestly don’t make such a big deal about it, it happens all the time….Chalta hai”….I don’t even know what words of consolation to provide her.In fact looking at her I wonder and shudder equally, has this been happening behind the closed doors of the society for so long that now we have accepted it as the part and parcel? Is there no difference between animals and human?? Nowhere Could I find a definition of marriage which was in accordance to this situation.
