Courage and Sacrifice

When my husband was posted in a small town I met a brave young woman. Her name was Mita. Myself and Mita hit it off very well from the first time we met. Mita was the wife of a washerman more familiar as Dhobi in Indian households. Mita had not yet left school when she was married off to Bechu, a Dhobi by profession. 

Mita wanted to study. But her parents when successfully accumulated the dowry money which Bechu's parents demanded did not wait further. Keeping an adolescent girl in the house is 'risky' and a loss. The earlier they are successfully 'disposed' off the 'burden' on the family will lighten. This is how Mita explained to me. Such is the travails of a customary Indian home and the bane of being a daughter. 'A girl child is nothing but a commodity,' sadly said Mita to me with a sigh. 

Mita was very intelligent and a smart woman. Had she been empowered with a college degree she could have done very well in life I presumed. But this was not to be. 

Earlier Bechu came to our house once or twice a week to collect dirty clothes and linen. The washed and pressed clothes would be brought by Mita. As their financial position was tough the quality of nutrition their family got was not adequate. So Bechu could not sustain with his job for long. Mita had to take over in order to earn a living and manage her family expenses. Now she had a son also to look after. Mita being sharp and intelligent had ensured not to have more than one child so that she could give the child proper education amidst their growing expenses. 

Our family stayed in the town for more than five years and we moved to another town upon my husband's promotion and transfer. Within this period Mita almost became a family member. So when we left our parting was very tearful and sad. 

From my new location, I tried to keep in touch but due to our busy lives we soon nearly forgot each other. 

In the meantime my son also grew up and took up an administrative job in the government department. Coincidentally his first posting was in the same town as ours where I first met Mita. 

This brought me close to Mita again. In the intervening period much water had flown. Mita's life had changed. Despite not wanting to have more than one child but to her husband's persistence she had to go ahead and gave birth to a daughter this time. Bechu was not happy with a daughter so he forcibly married once again in the hope of having a son. Mita bore all this stoically. Everyone told her to complain against Bechu to the Police. But she didn't want to hurt her husband like most Indian housewives. Within this period she had to face tragedy also. Her son was infected with dengue and unfortunately he couldn't be saved. Her husband was terribly angry with her sa

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ying she was the cause of all their misfortune. He now began with a new vice this time. He started drinking and he used to pay for it by stealing the money earned by Mita. Then when he failed to get the money he used to beat her. His beatings became so aggressive and rough that Mita had her features display the effects of the physical abuse. But she still bore all this stoically. Even she was not spared of slander from Bechu's second wife. 

Her neighbours and other well wishers were getting fed up with the violence on Mita. Police came many a time but couldn't act as there was no complaints. 

Whatever happened to her, Mita would not complain about her husband against whom there were scores of cases of domestic violence. She epitomised the ideal Indian wife. Even Bechu's second wife found opportunities to publicly humiliate Mira. The public did not support these antics but couldn't do anything as Mira would prevent them. 

Mita, not to be cowed down from her domestic tragedies entered public life and got elected as a councillor of her ward. Before seeking votes from her ward members she came to me to seek my blessings first. I embraced her and treated her by putting a sweetmeat in her mouth made by me. 

With her popularity on rise after being elected as people's representatives her husband and his second wives jealousy turned into aggression. They were more jealous as this second marriage did not result in any child. So there anger vented on Mira's daughter. 

Due to her increasing public engagements Mira could not devote time on her daughter's education and life's needs. So she put her in hostel in a different town where she was assured that her daughter would be properly looked after and continue with her education. But still Mita couldn't save her daughter from being kidnapped. Her daughter was locked up in a room and was not given food and water for two days. 

My son now a local administrator of the government had the resources to trace Mita's daughter Savitri's whereabouts. Luckily with his forces Savitri was found and through her the criminals involved in her abduction were tracked. Through them the lead stopped with Bechu and his second wife. A Police case was registered against them and from then onwards they had to give regular attendance at the court. How much Mita may try to protect her husband from ignominy could not be successful. 

Within the next six months when Savitri completed her college, I asked Mita for her daughter's hand in marriage to my son Rohit. My son very obedient and dutiful towards me and didn't object. 

I felt good and satisfied to have rewarded Mita for her courage and sacrifice. Mita was very thankful and grateful and remained her usual humble self.