Let It Go

By Varshitha Chemindla

Theirs was an arranged marriage.

But she had loved him before-he was her cousin.

Not sure if he ever loved her back.

He was just like other men,

To whom getting drunk and hitting their wife is a way of proving manliness -

A part of "Protecting culture."

She never turned against him.

She thought - it's only her husband who's hitting her.

Even when he killed their unborn child.

She still held on.

Because he was her husband.

She believed she was in a movie-

where her soft presence and quiet indulgence in his life 

Would transform his malicious heart into an upright man.

But this wasn't the worse.

The so-called " respected elders" said :

  " Let it go. He only hits you when he's angry.

    If not his wife, who else would he hit ?

    Adjust. It happens in every household.

    Don't drag the family's disgrace to the street."

Everyone defended him.

She adjusted.

Years passed.

He didn't change.

And she gave up - 

Not in the way you'd think.

She looked at him and said:

"Hang me from the ceiling and kill me .

What's the point of living with a man like you?"

By Varshitha Chemindla