Different Hues Of Violence

It began with snide remarks

"Why is it taking so long to come?

Two-door fridge your father had

Promised would be delivered in a month?"

That was when she entered as a new bride.

She offered to pay from her income

"What income! Your salary belongs to us. 

It goes into the family funds"

She was stumped! An educated girl

Made to surrender to her in-laws' demands.

Husband never blinked even once.

After a tiring day at work,

She was summoned to help out in the kitchen

Denied her time with her children

Grandparents exercised complete control over them. 

Her role defined as a housekeeper,

Her womb rented  to birth sons,

The progeny of Sharma's

No...they never raised their hands.

Never committed any physical violence

But an emotional abuse they never knew

Could have such far-reaching consequences

When the day she threw in the towel

And walked away with her grown children

Abuse whether physical or mental 

When crosses threshold of tolerance

Is bound to boomerang on the face

And then it becomes too late to mend

Broken bridges. 

The irony is that even today,

These abuses are still rampant.