Neelam, a 50 year old entrepreneur was single again after 25 years of marriage. She was fed up of the constant quarrels she had with her husband over the years. She finally decided to call off the relationship. Her daughter Sapna had married 6 months ago. Soon after her marriage, she took a break and tried to get involved with her favorite hobbies. Although she was enjoying her freedom, she felt a void within her. She was always submissive by nature but her husband was completely opposite to the kind of man she wanted to be with all her life. At this ripening age, she often thought she had made a huge mistake by taking so long to get out of her marriage.
Like any doting daughter Sapna used to call her mom once or twice a day. Today, when Sapna called in the morning, she informed Neelam that she would be coming home for couple of days. Neelam was obviously elated and prepared her favorite dishes. She eagerly waited for her daughter to come home after 6 months. They both had dinner together and then had a long chat. While they spoke, Neelam noticed that Sapna was constantly getting calls but she kept disconnecting them.
Neelam :- "Beta why don't you just answer the call and inform you are busy? May be it's an important call?"
Sapna:- "Ah no mom it's probably some credit card or loan related spam call. Mom, you know I don't answer calls from unknown numbers right?"
Just then, the phone buzzed again and Sapna saw a message on her screen. She was talking, and reading the message. As soon as she finished reading it, she just went mum for couple of seconds. The look on her face had changed. Neelam understood there was something wrong. Sapna realized she was talking about something, but fumbled for words.
Sapna :- "Uh, um where was I mom? I am sorry, I think I should just switch the damn phone off", she said and switched it off.
Neelam :- "Sapna is everything fine beta? I mean, you just went into a zone all of a sudden after those calls. They were not spam calls, were they? Beta, why don't you tell me what's wrong? May be I can help?"
Sapna used to share everything with her mom but this thing that was worrying her was related to her husband Sachin. She wanted to discuss things with someone and even approached her friends but didn't have the guts to do so. She kept fidgeting with her fingers thinking, "Should I tell mom about it? I don't think she will understand. But then she's the only one I can talk to" (Sapna was in two minds, but she knew her mom would help her out. The only problem was she felt ashamed on discussing this thing with her)
Sapna was staring at the floor and lost in her thoughts when Neelam shook her shoulder. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong beta? I am sure I would be able to help you". Sapna looked at her and nodded
She then grabbed Neelam's hand and wiped her moist eyes with the other hand. (Seeing her mom get nervous about it, she finally decided to break the ice).
Sapna sniffled as she spoke. "Mom I am not having a settled relationship with Sachin. He's too weird at times. I mean, he's very good in bed, but comes across as a very dominant man. He verbally abuses me and wants me to do stuff that I can't do. Leave alone doing it, I can't even discuss that with you. He was very caring before marriage, but I am not sure what's got into him after marriage. He's just not the same guy I dated before marriage".
Neelam squeezed Sapna's hand and pulled her closer. "Beta every couple goes through difficult times. Won't you let your mumma know what's bothering you? I mean, what's so weird about his behavior?"
Sapna got all the more nervous discussing this with her mom, but now that she had already spoken about it, she took a deep breath and continued, "Mom, I don't know if this is what it is, but I feel Sachin becomes very dominant in his behavior. I mean even when it's normal stuff, he speaks as if he is the man in charge and wants me to.... wants me to submit. Last night he made me go on my fours and made me crawl. I don't think he loves me anymore".
After hearing those words from her daughter, Neelam's heart skipped a beat.