CONSEQUENCES
A SIMPLE YES LEADS TO SOMETHING YOU NEVER SAW COMING
Today’s story is related to a girl Payal who was a bright, independent young woman from a small town, known for her kindness and academic excellence.
Being from a middle-class family, she had only one dream to be successful professionally. As she come from a small town, where marriage is considered as the most important part of girl’s life. As she grew up, she always heard her mother asking to learn all household chores and saying “your in-laws will not bear you, if you do not know housework”. She was bright student and completed her Engineering degree from reputed institution. She was working in top organization when this family sent matrimonial match for her. The match was through her close relatives so the parents were excited and happy.
The day came when payal was to meet her soulmate Mohit. She was asked some typical questions but it is part of our societal norms. She said “YES” as she was happy that Mohit wanted a working wife. The wedding was fixed and it was lavish, as her parents gave in to spoken expectations of groom’s side such as electronic items, furniture, gold, and a car.
The day after the wedding ceremonies, Payal discovered that her husband, Mohit, was unemployed. When she questioned him, he casually replied that he would start working in a month. Meanwhile, Payal was expected to quit her current job and relocate to her in-laws’ home in a village. She requested Mohit to consider moving to a metro city where she had a secure and prestigious position, but he showed no intention of supporting her decision. Despite being jobless himself, Mohit insisted that Payal should give up her career. Under constant pressure from her in-laws, Payal eventually resigned. When she expressed her concerns, her mother-in-law brushed them off, remarking dismissively, “In the private sector, there’s no job security anyway, so what if Mohit doesn’t have a job?” Payal was left shocked and speechless by her mother-in-law’s response.
That was when the real ordeal began. Mohit’s mother frequently taunted Payal for not bringing enough "gifts" from her family, while Mohit began pressuring her for money to “expand his business.” These demands and insults became part of her daily life. Mohit barely acknowledged her presence, he wouldn’t speak a single word to her throughout the day. Instead, he spent his time lounging in front of the TV while Payal took on all the household chores: cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and utensils, and maintaining the large village home—an exhausting and relentless task.
There was no affection, no companionship, just silence and servitude. Six months into the marriage, Payal’s parents tried to step in, but were met with hostility. Her mother-in-law dismissed them coldly, saying, “This is our family matter.” Payal didn’t even have a mobile phone of her own; she had to borrow Mohit’s to speak with her parents, fully aware that the call was likely being recorded. She wasn’t allowed to go out, had no friends, and lived in complete emotional isolation. Mohit continued his silence. A full year passed like this—lonely, suffocating, and unchanged.
One afternoon, after preparing lunch for everyone, Payal finally sat down to eat. Just then, her mother-in-law appeared and casually said, “Go meet Mohit, he’s leaving.” Confused, Payal asked, “Where is he going?” Without waiting for an answer, she rushed outside. She saw Mohit getting into the car. When she asked, he replied curtly, “Going to work,” and drove off. She stood silently, watching the car disappear down the road, a hollow stillness settling over her
Payal returned to her in-laws' home with shattered dreams and unanswered questions. She asked in despair - where had Mohit gone? Why had he left her without a word? Her repeated calls were ignored. Days turned into weeks. What started as subtle humiliation turned into blatant insults. Her in-laws constantly criticized her, accusing her of being "too modern" and gradually cutting her off from friends and family.
Instead of supporting his wife, Mohit sided with his parents. He blamed Payal for “disturbing the family’s peace.” When Payal resisted the unfair treatment, she was labeled arrogant and disobedient. As her defiance grew, so did the abuse - it wasn’t just emotional anymore. She was insulted, isolated, and denied even basic necessities. The situation had become unbearable.
Eventually, Payal’s parents returned, this time with relatives, to demand that she be allowed to live with her husband. By then, two painful years had passed. Payal’s mental and physical health had deteriorated. But in her conservative family background, marriage was to be upheld till one’s last breath. With heavy heart and hope for change, Payal agreed to try again and moved in with Mohit.
But Mohit had no intention of changing. He was unhappy with her return and within days, his true colors began to surface. Each evening, he would leave the house by 7 PM and return around 5 AM. Payal slept alone, her husband jobless during the day and absent at night. A habitual drinker and smoker, Mohit picked fights before leaving and demanded food at odd hours. Still denied her independence, Payal’s wish to work was dismissed, with renewed pressure to bring money for Mohit’s so-called “business.”
Mohit grew increasingly violent. There was no affection, no dialogue - only dominance and demands. He insisted on a new dining table and refrigerator, claiming they were for Payal’s comfort and his visiting friends. Her parents provided them. Soon after, he demanded an air conditioner. When Payal resisted, he hit her hard. No one in the family spoke up for her.
Then, disturbing behavior emerged. Payal noticed Mohit frequently watching the wedding video of her aunt, only a few years older than him. It made her uncomfortable. When she questioned him, he remained silent. One day, she found a girl’s T-shirt in their bedroom. Mohit claimed it belonged to his brother, though it was clearly a woman’s. Suspicion grew. One evening, while using Mohit’s phone to speak to her mother, a message popped up: “I was missing you, darling.” Stunned, Payal confronted Mohit. He laughed and walked out, leaving her broken once more. During a routine cleaning, Payal came across a woman’s hair clutcher and several unfamiliar personal belongings in Mohit’s laptop bag, a fragrance not her own, further evidence that confirmed her growing doubts about his infidelity.
The truth was undeniable, Mohit wasn’t just greedy; he was unfaithful. When she told her mother-in-law, she was cruelly dismissed: “You’re imagining things.” With no phone of her own, no voice, and no support, Payal felt completely trapped.
Then came the breaking point. One night at 9 PM, Mohit—heavily drunk—began verbally abusing her and her parents. By 11 PM, he forced her out of the house barefoot. Fortunately, she had his phone and immediately called her brother Mahesh, who lived two hours away. He arrived by 1 AM and insisted she leave with him.
On the way, the bike’s tire punctured in the middle of a deserted road. With no help nearby, they were forced to return. Back at the house, Mohit, still drunk, cursed Mahesh and created chaos the entire night. It was then that Mahesh witnessed firsthand the nightmare his sister lived through. At dawn, while Mohit slept off his intoxication, Payal and Mahesh quietly packed and left. There was nothing left worth saving.
After returning home, they filed for divorce. The legal battle lasted four long years, but justice finally came. During that time, Payal rebuilt her life. With her parents’ unwavering support, she secured a senior administrative role in a top multinational company. The road to recovery was difficult, but she endured.
Her parents stood by her with strength and dignity, and Payal emerged stronger. Years later, Payal remarried a kind man who valued her for who she was. This time, she found the love, respect, and companionship she had always deserved.
As for Mohit, overwhelmed by debt and still unemployed, he died by suicide. Even his parents couldn’t save him. Perhaps if they had raised him to be responsible instead of entitled, things might have been different. But Payal’s story is a testament to resilience—a woman who refused to be broken, and a family who chose love over shame.
Payal’s story is not one of defeat, but of strength. She chose herself. She walked away from abuse, fought the odds, and reclaimed her future. Her parents stood by her side—not bound by outdated norms, but driven by love and justice.
Her journey is a reminder to all: Marriage is not meant to break a woman. And silence is not a virtue when it comes to suffering.
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