Nikitha- The Women of Strength.

women of hope.

"I live with my parents and my brothers. They are very supportive. I have a daughter who is now 2 years old. It is obvious that every mother wants to take care of her own baby even if she doesn't get support from her husband. I too wish the same, even though my husband is in prison and my in-laws ignore me. Sometimes my neighbors show sympathy to me and seem to understand my situation. Sometimes they look at me and my scars and they judge me negatively.

My life was happy in the beginning but it did not stay that way. My husband started quarreling about the issue of dowries, and blame for the birth of a girl child. After some period, my in-laws also started putting mental pressure on me. The situation stopped me to sit for the exam of 12th year exam. I was not able to achieve my goals. Then my husband crossed the limit by trying to burn me alive.

That night I had prepared a special dinner, fed our daughter and put her to sleep. I was waiting for my husband so that we could eat together, but he came home late and was drunk. I was sad and could not ask him to eat with me. I ate and was about to go to sleep when he asked me to bring kerosene. I was confused and could not imagine why he was asking for that. He told me to smell it, but I refused and suddenly he poured it on me. He said he loved its smell. I was still. I tried to leave, but the door was locked. Then, he ignited a fire and watched with enjoyment as I burned. I screamed and pleaded for him to rescue me. Finally a neighbor came to the house. I was unconscious, my husband was not there and my daughter was lying on the bed crying. I was taken to the hospital where I stayed there for a month, but I did not show any progress. I was referred to another hospital. During that time, my husband was arrested and was put in prison.

I was physically fine but mentally I could not accept my condition. I was very distressed. Even though I was with my daughter and staying with all of my family members, I was not happy. Whenever I looked in the mirror, I remembered the incident. I cried a lot. I think I did not laugh for several months. For me, my decision to file a case against my husband for divorce seemed to be wrong. My case was publicized in the newspapers. I was very much concerned about the negative reactions of my neighbors. I did not dare to wear nice clothes when I went outside because neighbors start whispering that I was having an affair with somebody new. This situation discouraged me a lot.

At that time, I could not imagine that I could ever have my current life, that I could develop self-esteem. I could not imagine that I could become full of confidence, motivation, and determination. This would not have been possible without the support of family members, counselors and supportive friends."

"Instead of feeling threatened and knocking each other down......

Lets start supporting & Building each other up....."

Disgraceful Act

Story of Anjaili-

I cried in pain when Sameer slapped me after an argument. These were the moments I always dreaded. He was very angry but that didn't justify his act. I was shocked, angry, afraid and sad at the same time. I decided to just go away from there, go far far away from him. Decided to leave him forever this time.

I started walking aimlessly with tears in my eyes. There were so many things in my mind at the same time. All those incidents were flashing in front of my eyes when he had hit me since the first time I had asked him a simple question "Sameer, had you been to the bar??"

Didn't I have the right to ask my husband about his wherabouts? May be he didn't want to give me those rights, I felt.

I was still walking and suddenly saw Maria standing there for her client. It was late in the night and she was standing there on the street waiting for someone to pick her for their pleasure for the night. She had been my first friend after marriage but we were not on talking terms for the only reason that she was a prostitute now. The day when she told me that she was leaving her husband and would earn her living in this profession, I bid good bye to her. I didn't want a friend who was a prostitute just because she could not handle her husband's demeanor.

Today I realized why Maria was so firm. I decided to apologize to her for not being around in her tough times. Suddenly I saw Sameer walking towards Maria. Before I could actually accept the fact that it was my husband, I could hear him negotiating on the money that he will pay to Maria for the night.

"What do I do now? Where do I go? Should I go and ask Sameer the reason for what he was doing or should I just go away somewhere? If I go away, where should I go? What should I do to keep myself and my little child inside me alive? Should I also be a keep to other men. No how can I be so disgraceful. How can I spoil some other woman's life.". All these thoughts were firing in my mind.

Suddenly I calmed down and now there was nothing in my head because I knew what was I supposed to do.

22/06/2011 NEWS INDIA

A sweeper's dead body found near a gutter in Mumbai

Her husband says "The only reason for my wife committing suicide could be that she was pregnant with someone else's child. Whatever it is, I will always miss her. I have already forgiven her disgraceful act."