My friend salma…..  Born to a muslim family was married off at the age of 16 to a man twice her age. Then began the saga of domestic vilolence. Her husband was well off but never took care of her or gave her a single penny. She started working as a teacher , steno….did all kinds of jobs but continued her studies. Had to take up multiple jobs to ensure that she could contribute 50% of rent , food and other house hold expenses. Her daughter was the sole ray of hope.  They lived as a joint family and every male member of the family would misbehave with her and when she resisted would beat her brutally…. Every day was a torture. Last couple of years she refused to sleep with him, b’cos she conceived for a second time and was beaten up with a cane chair to abort the child !!! And 14 years of married life came to an end when one day the man passed away due to liver disorder. But that was only the beginning of Reel 2. Till now if Inlaws were the issue , now her family started abusing her cos a Muslim widow less than 30yrs , pretty girl with a decent job was too much for them to handle. They want her to remarry … maybe another devil… in the name of society ……no one is worried whether she commits suicide or someone pours kerosene on her..  but living a single with self respect is a NO..NO

Does the story ring a bell …If you are subject to physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation, and threats of violence..seek help ….contact support groups , legal aid cells; If you are in Delhi contact:

Legal Aid Services

1.     Delhi Legal Aid Cell

Toll Free Number: 12525

Head Office:

Delhi Legal Services Authority
Room No.1, Patiala House Courts
New Delhi-110001.

Tel.:23383014

Branch Office:

Room No. 54 to 57
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Place , Gole Market
New Delhi .

Tel.: 23341111

Protection officers for Domestic Violence

North Delhi
Tel No.: 25934502, 23652304
Fax: 23655002

North West Delhi
Tel No.: 27933961, 27410018

 West Delhi
Tel.: 25547952
Fax: 25534583

South Delhi
Tel.: 29819812
Fax: 29810892

Central Delhi

Tel.: 23071093
Fax: 23071094

East Delhi
Tel.: 22450147, 22450151
Fax: 22450151