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P. 32
Harassment for Dowry –
I got married in the year 2010 to a very educated and well-settled family of opticians in Delhi. The guy
and his family always portrayed themselves as very open-minded but they have been trying to gain an
upper hand in all matters, be it money, jewellery, gifts, venues. They knew that I belong to a middle-
class family but they always demanded and expected over-the-top gifts and celebrations.
Just a week before my wedding, they demanded Rs 50,000 from my parents and gold items for their
family. When my father opposed this, they argued that it’s all for the sake of the family reputation and
once the wedding is done, I will never be asked for anything.
My husband started demanding expensive gifts from my parents within two months of the wedding. He
and his family used to embarrass me by calling me overweight and saying that I look pathetic. They used
to abuse my parents as well. Soon, he asked me to stop going to my parents’ home or have any
connections with them.
When my grandmother died, I visited my maternal home. Soon after her death, my husband asked my
parents to sell off their home and buy him a car and a flat. When they didn’t comply, he along with his
parents dragged me out of his house on the second floor of a building and threw me outside my parents’
home.
That was the last day I ever saw my marital home. I waited for three days but there was no response
from my in-laws and then, because of my parents’ strength, I went to a women’s cell and filed a case
against all of them.
-Renu
--
One of my friends was married to a guy who is working in a top IT company and earning Rs eight lakhs
per annum. He took 70 lakhs and a car as dowry from her parents and yet, killed her six months after
they got married. He bribed the police so no action was taken against him. Now he is happily leading his
life without any guilt or punishment.
-Maithili
--
My sister is undergoing torture by her so-called educated husband. He takes away her salary and gives
the money to his family and uses it for himself. She is eight months pregnant and even now, he makes
her work at home and at the office. When his mother comes over, she also beats and tortures my
pregnant sister. He doesn’t even earn Rs 15,000 per month but his expenses along with the chit fund
expenses of his father should be taken care of by my sister. She did it for the past three years but it is
getting too much.
My sister’s family members have clearly told her that they need Rs 40 lakhs to Rs 1 crore as dowry now
or else, they will get a divorce and get their son married to another girl whose family is ready to buy all
the amenities for him and give gold and crores in cash. My sister’s husband kicked her when she was
five months pregnant because she forgot to get money from the ATM. She was in pain for weeks
together. She never told all this to us until now. I feel so angry and want the world to know about this
person and his family.
-Vrinda
29
I got married in the year 2010 to a very educated and well-settled family of opticians in Delhi. The guy
and his family always portrayed themselves as very open-minded but they have been trying to gain an
upper hand in all matters, be it money, jewellery, gifts, venues. They knew that I belong to a middle-
class family but they always demanded and expected over-the-top gifts and celebrations.
Just a week before my wedding, they demanded Rs 50,000 from my parents and gold items for their
family. When my father opposed this, they argued that it’s all for the sake of the family reputation and
once the wedding is done, I will never be asked for anything.
My husband started demanding expensive gifts from my parents within two months of the wedding. He
and his family used to embarrass me by calling me overweight and saying that I look pathetic. They used
to abuse my parents as well. Soon, he asked me to stop going to my parents’ home or have any
connections with them.
When my grandmother died, I visited my maternal home. Soon after her death, my husband asked my
parents to sell off their home and buy him a car and a flat. When they didn’t comply, he along with his
parents dragged me out of his house on the second floor of a building and threw me outside my parents’
home.
That was the last day I ever saw my marital home. I waited for three days but there was no response
from my in-laws and then, because of my parents’ strength, I went to a women’s cell and filed a case
against all of them.
-Renu
--
One of my friends was married to a guy who is working in a top IT company and earning Rs eight lakhs
per annum. He took 70 lakhs and a car as dowry from her parents and yet, killed her six months after
they got married. He bribed the police so no action was taken against him. Now he is happily leading his
life without any guilt or punishment.
-Maithili
--
My sister is undergoing torture by her so-called educated husband. He takes away her salary and gives
the money to his family and uses it for himself. She is eight months pregnant and even now, he makes
her work at home and at the office. When his mother comes over, she also beats and tortures my
pregnant sister. He doesn’t even earn Rs 15,000 per month but his expenses along with the chit fund
expenses of his father should be taken care of by my sister. She did it for the past three years but it is
getting too much.
My sister’s family members have clearly told her that they need Rs 40 lakhs to Rs 1 crore as dowry now
or else, they will get a divorce and get their son married to another girl whose family is ready to buy all
the amenities for him and give gold and crores in cash. My sister’s husband kicked her when she was
five months pregnant because she forgot to get money from the ATM. She was in pain for weeks
together. She never told all this to us until now. I feel so angry and want the world to know about this
person and his family.
-Vrinda
29
