Sonul’s Story
Sonul (name changed to protect identity), 28 years old, is a divorcée and runs a grocery shop in the Churachandpur Bazar. The narrative of Sonul contests the notion of the natal home as a safe abode for women. After separating from her husband she came back to her natal place and started a grocery store business, against her family’s wishes. To maintain the shop, she took loans from a local private bank and the manager came to her shop daily, to collect the interest. Soon this acquaintance turned into friendship and they began an intimate relationship. However, Sonul found that that the man was married, a former drug addict and a person living with HIV/ AIDS. On finding this out she ended the relationship. Fearing the consequences she did not share this with her family, friends or the police. To cope with the trauma, she started using Smasmo Proxibontablet (commonly known as ‘SP tablet’ in local parlance), a painkiller. She has been in a rehab centre since August 2016.
Sonul said that she agreed to her marriage proposal only because of her mother’s insistence, otherwise she would have continued with her studies to become a teacher. Her husband was the son of her mother’s best friend. Financial difficulties, drug issues, marital discord and sexual violence are routine experiences in Sonul’s life.