Megha's Story

It was Sukanya's birthday, and Megha dressed for the party. She looked at her reflection in the mirror as she sighed. "one more boring party, but I can't skip this one!'  

Sukanya was her best friend, and she was to get married in a few months. They had met at work and had developed a friendship. When Sukanya invited her to the party, she said, "I know you don't like parties and skip them. But please don't skip mine." After a pause, she continued and said, "this could be my last birthday in this city."  

Megha was a slender young woman who was about 25 years old. Sukanya was her best friend, and she was to get married in a few months and move to another city.  

Megha never liked parties. The primary reason was that she was single, while all her friends had partners, and she would have to sit and watch them as they danced. But this was a party she couldn't miss, for she did not want to disappoint Sukanya.

Megha looked great that day in her black dress. As she reached the venue, Sukanya rushed to her, saying. "My my, someone is looking so pretty!" Megha was embarrassed she did not know how to respond. 

Sukanya's fiance Sahil and his parents had surprised her by driving down to be with her on her birthday, and Sukanya was on top of the world. Megha greeted them and moved quickly toward Sukanya's mother, who greeted her with a hug as Megha occupied the empty chair next to her. 

Megha and Rekha's mother, Sukanya, were engrossed in conversation when Sukanya came to them and gushed. "Hey Megha, there's someone I want you to meet." She pulled Megha up from her seat and almost dragged her along to where the young crowd was partying. "You must meet Ulas. He is Sahil's friend, and he just joined the party."

Megha was confused but couldn't say no to her best friend. "Megha, this is Ulas, and he resides in our city," Ulas held out his hand, and Megha shook hands with him. Sukanya knew her friend well. It would only take a minute for Megha to escape from there, and the DJ played catchy music. Seizing the opportunity, Sukanya grabbed Megha and Sahil grabbed Ulas as they dragged them to the dance floor. 

"C'mon, let's dance!" Suknaya shouted out over the din of the music, and Megha had no other way but to dance with Ulas." They danced together for a while and then took a break. Ulas seemed nice, and Megha began to enjoy his company. They spent the rest of the evening in each other's company, and before they parted that night, they exchanged phone numbers.

The following morning Megha woke up a little later than usual. It was Sunday, and she didn't have to report for work. She lazed around for some time. "I must sleep some more." she thought, but much as she tried, she couldn't sleep, and Megha began thinking of the previous evening as she smiled. "It is good that I met Ulas. I enjoyed the party, and that's a first."

She was still smiling as she rose from her bed. Megha was a small-town girl who stayed far away from home in a working women's hostel. She supported her parents with her income. She secretly planned never to marry for her dad was an alcoholic and an abuser who didn't need a reason to abuse her mother or her physically and verbally. "But Ulas is different," she thought.

She walked a few steps away from her bed towards the washroom when her phone buzzed. She walked back to the bed and picked up her phone, and her heart skipped a beat as she looked at her phone. The message was from Ulas.

With bated breath, Megha clicked on the message, and this is what it said, "Megha, thanks for the evening. I can't remember when I last laughed as much as I did with you. I can't wait to see you again. Can we meet tonight?"

Soon Megha and Ulas started seeing each other every weekend. The friendship grew between the two, and they were quickly married. 

The first few months were great, and they were so good together. But three months after the wedding, Ulas's mother came to stay with them. Megha was a few months pregnant then and would often have vomiting bouts. She felt weak. "I will lie down for a while," she thought as she lay down. But as she lay down, she fell into a deep sleep and slept for a few hours.

She woke up to hear Ulas calling her. She opened her eyes to see him rushing into the bedroom, and he seemed angry. "why are you sleeping!" he snarled. "My mom is hungry. Did you cook lunch?" He slapped her hard before Megha could retort. That was the first time he had beaten her, and Megha was shocked. She could only stare at him. But that made him angrier, and Ulas started punching her. Megha's face began to swell. She was shocked and afraid and did not know what to do.

That's when Ulas reentered the bedroom. Megha froze, thinking, " will he hit me again!" But the man who entered seemed to be another person. "Megha, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have." he began. "But you deserved it too. How could you keep my mom hungry for so long?" He continued blabbering for a long time. He spoke as if she deserved his beating. "Don't ever make me do that again," he said.

When Megha heard that, she couldn't keep quiet anymore. But her life with an abusive dad had taught her that if she said something now, he could start beating her again, so she kept quiet. He went out of the bedroom, returned with an ice pack, and nursed her wounds all the time, saying, "don't let me do this to you again."  

Megha thought to herself, "I promise you. You will never lay a finger on me again." She waited for Ulas to leave for work the next day. She quickly packed her belongings and made arrangements to leave. She was an independent woman who could take care of herself. "if I stay here, he will abuse me again and again, but I will not be his punching bag," Megha promised herself as she left her husband's home for good.

My thoughts

I wonder if Megha's decision was a hasty one, and she should have spoken it over with Ulas, perhaps giving him a second chance. Most women do that, hoping their husbands will change. But do they? 

Liked this story? Read another one- 'There is More to Life than Just being a Housewife'.