I have an elder sister and a younger sister. My parents keep talking about how they have to bear the burden of three girls in the family. My elder sister was married off very early. I had no interest in studies and was severely punished at school one day. I discontinued studies and joined my mother to go for work. The issue of my marriage was brought up daily at home and I resisted it, but finally had to agree when I was 15 years old.
‘I live with my in-laws, do all the work at home and also work as a casual labourer. I had a normal delivery and went to my mother’s house to deliver. My son is one year old. I am back in my mother’s house and full term pregnant again.
My husband is keen to let me continue with further studies. But how can I? He is a casual labourer. He drinks when out with friends and beats me when he comes home drunk — on any issue — say, when I ask him about anything he does, money or drinking or if I did not cook properly. Even if we do not go out together, we visit the temple during festivals and sometimes, my mother’s house.
Narrative provided by M Venkatarangaiya Foundation in their report ‘…and they never lived happily ever after. The battle for justice goes on: Voices of married girls in Telangana’
