dowry death: story of smoke & ashes

Death due to dowry: she was reduced to smoke and ashes!

This story is a token of remembrance for my friend Sonu who is no more to see what I am writing about her . Sonu grew up with me, playing games at the park in the same community where I lived-- good old Alok Park. She was quick liked wearing western clothes, danced with me in functions on festivals and participated in other events with me and other friends. At that time we both never realized about where would we be after growing up. We used to study in different schools and the schools were good & well known in the town where we lived Modinagar. Post college I went to a far off place from her. Then again, I got married but she didn’t attend my wedding, so I was surprised.

Later within a week after my marriage I called her up. Her mother spoke in broken voice that Sonu had died. I was shell-shocked at this!! When asked about the episode from her brother he told it was a case of dowry death. He told me how she was ordered to eat the her husband’s fecal matter as many people believe this was a kind of practice that made men successful. She was beaten by all at home but she kept saying she would eat if she was given saccharine to mix in it. Childbirth was difficult too for her to bear with all that she was told to eat, work throughout the day, but as the baby was born she was happy and relaxed. She resumed daily activities as everyone was cool. But it was lull before the storm. One day they had a fight and the guy threw petrol on her and burned her and locked the kitchen. Reason: more dowry, her brother was a week late in bringing the required money to save his sister. The most emotional part was when Ashu her brother reached her house and after giving money asked where his sister was. He was shown her ashes in a box. He was told to leave, but he wouldn’t leave without the baby. After taking the case to the police, the child was given to Sonu’s parents and brother. Dowry deaths are so common in India that anybody can become a victim.

Had there been love between the two there won’t have been a death like this. If you love somebody, you won’t even think of killing her.

Loving a painful thrill

To be loved is painful still

But oh! It is the worst of pain

To love and not to be loved again!