Renuka stopped to catch her breath. Her face was flushed and her eyes flashed in anger and concern. Sonia could not only sense her fury but could also relate with an indignant resentment of her own.
These things happened in certain parts of India. Dowry deaths reared their ugly head occasionally, like a disease, gripping the society with tentacles which spread deep into the psyche. A young girl getting into an arranged marriage, with absolutely no inkling of the nightmare that was to come. First the claim that there was no harm in the girl’s parents helping their daughter in setting up her own house. Only the “setting up” included not bare necessities but unreasonable demands which ran into hundreds of thousands of rupees, which the majority of the parents couldn’t afford. Greedy in-laws only needed an excuse to fleece their daughters-in-law. But to keep their daughter happy, the bride’s parents senselessly run up heavy debts to meet such demands. Then, when their son is ready for marriage, they look out for a match who will refund all the money they had invested in their daughter’s marriage. It was a vicious cycle which could only be broken by courageous and self-respecting youngsters. Which indeed had been broken in the majority of cases! Unfortunately, Vidya did not seem to fall in that category.
The tragedy of the whole business seemed to be Vidya, with her misplaced sense of loyalty. Sonia experienced a burning need to do something drastic but knew that there was very little in her power.
“What do you want me to do?” she asked. “As far as I can see, this is really a case of harassment. And for the Police. Why don’t you ask Vidya to lodge a complaint against her in-laws?”
“And bear further wrath of her in-laws? I’m sure Vidya would rather suffer than drag the family name through the mud,” Renuka stated emphatically.
Sonia shrugged. “I don’t see how I can help.”
Renuka leaned forward eagerly. “Yes, you can. You can talk to her in-laws and Parmeet. You can explain to them how illegal this whole business is!”
“You think they don’t know? You think they are unaware of the consequences? I think not. I think they are a pompous lot, too sure of the power they hold over Vidya. Such people are the worst of the lot. They feel they can get away with anything!”
“Exactly!”
“But we can’t fight Vidya’s fight for her,” Sonia argued. “She has to break through their cockiness, to stand up for her rights and show them her mettle.”
“Which she won’t. And even if she does, she won’t stand a chance if the three of them gang up against her and bundle her into the kitchen or the bathroom and set fire to her! Because that is what could happen!” Renuka looked panicky.
Sonia placed a soothing hand on her arm. “Don’t. Don’t think of the worst. Things may not be as bad as they seem. Besides, if Vidya sensed any danger, she surely wouldn’t continue to live there, would she?”
“No, I guess not. I mean, I hope not,” Renuka replied reluctantly.
There was a little pause, as Sonia’s mind dwelled on what she had just heard.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” she said at length. “I will talk to Vidya’s in-laws and to her husband. But I don’t guarantee any results. If simple talk could change people and their attitudes overnight, this world would be a wonderful place to live in!”
“Oh, thank you! If I didn’t feel so desperate, I wouldn’t be here. You realise that, don’t you?”
Sonia nodded. Renuka’s love for Vidya and her sense of responsibility for her friend was refreshing.
“But first I must talk to Vidya. I must meet with her and unearth what’s really running through her mind,” Sonia insisted.
“All right.” Renuka agreed instantly. “I’m going to Mumbai for some urgent work tomorrow, which is a Sunday but the day after I’ll talk to Vidya and we’ll set up a time. I’ll call you up first thing on Monday.” She rose and held out her hand. “Thank you, Miss Samarth. Just opening my heart to you has relieved me of a great burden!”
Sonia shook her hand, feeling an odd affinity for this woman who was going out of her way to help a friend. “I’ll wait for your call.”
As Renuka exited, Jatin glanced at his Boss.
“No case?” he queried.
Sonia shook her head. “Thankfully, no! I’d hate to see Vidya or anyone a victim of dowry. This is a social responsibility! Sometimes there are more important things in life than theft and murder!”
“Right, Boss,” Jatin murmured in agreement. “Should we go home?”
The Sunday morning sun bathed the park in gold.
He saw her walk towards him and his heartbeat quickened. What luck that she had actually agreed to see him! Was she at last beginning to see light? But as she approached, the grim expression on her face snubbed all hope. No, this was certainly not a patch-up visit.
He waited till she was
