Sujata was quietly mopping the floor.
Her hand was aching. There was a deep black-and-blue bruise around her ankle and small cuts on her fingers — injuries she had received in return for eating food before her husband.
It was already 1 at night. She felt extremely sleepy. She took out the casseroles and carefully served food for Anil. After that, she ate one roti and a little sabzi. Very little was left anyway — her mother-in-law and father-in-law loved that vegetable and had eaten more.
She put the food aside and went to sleep.
Suddenly, there was a loud thud.
Startled, she rushed out of the bedroom. On the floor, all the food was scattered. The tablecloth lay crumpled. Anil had pulled it down. He was too drunk to listen to anything.
Without saying a word, Sujata went towards the kitchen to get the mop. Before she could reach, Anil grabbed her and started beating her.
“You ehsaan-faramosh woman,” he shouted.
“I work day and night, and you have the courage to eat before your husband?”
Her mother-in-law came out.
“It’s okay, Anil,” she said calmly. “Forgive her this time. From next time, she will eat leftovers from your plate. She promises.”
Sujata dropped her head.
No one will help me, she thought.
Not even my parents. They always say silence is the key to a happy marriage. If I speak, I will destroy it.
As she mopped the floor again, she made a decision.
She would remain silent — even if they tried to kill her.
I cannot let my parents down.
Right?