Blogchatter A2Z: Female Infanticide

Rajouri, a girl of age nineteen, married to a man, Sarat, age twenty-one, in the neighboring village. After marriage, Rajouri had to leave her parent's home and live with her husband and his family as per tradition. Since they lived in a small village, they did not go on honeymoon and continued their life from where they were before marriage, i.e., Rajouri handling his husband's household and Sarat working in the field.

Sarat and Rajouri were living their life sufficiently with Sarat's earnings. After a few months of marriage, Sarat's parents insisted they plan a baby. Rajouri was not ready for it. Sarat did not wish to plan either, as his earnings would not be enough. He told his parents that he needed to find another job along with fieldwork to have enough to bring a new life to their world.

Rajouri did not utter a word. She waited for this conversation to end and discussed it separately with Sarat. Once Sarat came to his room, Rajouri held him by hand and took him to sit with her on the bed. Sarat got worried about seeing her eyes fill and asked her what happened to her. Controlling her tears from falling, Rajouri told him that she was not ready to bear a child in her womb at this young age. He caressed her and told her his decision, and she felt a little better after hearing the same response from his side about the thought of having a baby.

But their happiness did not last for longer, as Sarat's parents called Rajouri's parents to convince her to have a baby as they were getting old and wished to see their grandchild. Rajouri's mother took her to her room and talked with her secretly. Their discussion hid within the confines of Rajouri and Sarat's bedroom.

Rajouri came out following her mother with her head down and sadness on her. Her mother informed her in-laws, and Rajouri assured her to discuss having a baby with Sarat tonight, and soon she would bear a baby. After having lunch, Rajouri's parents returned to their place, and her mother-in-law caressed her hair and assured her of taking care of her when she would get pregnant.

Sarat returned home with happy news and a sweet box for the family. He informed me that he got a job in an office as a receptionist, and they were paying handsomely. His mother hugged her and blessed him with success. His father told him that he felt proud of him. But happiness in Rajouri's face did not appear. Sarat decided to ask her about the trouble after dinner.

Since Rajouri did not know about the news, she could not prepare a lavish dinner, so to add a pinch of celebration, she made bread halwa for everyone, which was Sarat's favorite sweet dish. He felt elated by her gesture and thanked her. After dinner, they went to their room, and Sarat asked why Rajouri seemed low. With a heavy heart, she told him about the afternoon's incident when her parents visited.

Sarat, in surprise, asked her about her decision. She spontaneously responded that they had to do it for their parents. He accepted and conveyed to her that maybe it was our fate. Within a month, Rajouri informed Sarat about her missed menstruation cycle. They decided to see a doctor before dropping the news to the family. 

They went to the village hospital and met with a gynecologist. She prescribed some tests to confirm. After diagnosis and examinations, they waited for the reports outside the doctor's cabin when a nurse announced Rajouri's name. They went inside the doctor's cabin, and the doctor confirmed the happy news. They saw each other with love and hugged each other. The gynecologist also informed Sarat to take additional care of Rajouri for the first three months, to which he nodded. 

From the hospital, they went straight to their home, and Sarat called for her parents and told them about the news. He also informed her mother about what the doctor emphasized about Rajouri's care. Her parents started dancing and called Rajouri's parents to share the news.

Rajouri and Sarat were happy seeing their parents smile. It was the reason they took this decision. For the first three months, Rajouri ensured to be cautious and eat well. Further, she started involving in household chores to be active. Every evening after work, Sarat would take her for a walk as the doctor told them that the more she would move, the more it would be good for her and her baby's health.

Nine months passed on a fly, and the time for Rajouri's delivery neared. One night, she felt labor pain, and they rushed to the hospital. Both Sarat and Rajouri's parents joined them in the hospital for the baby. After three hours, the doctor handed Sarat a cute baby girl. He took the baby to his parents and in-laws. Sarat's parents and in-laws stepped back when they heard it was a girl. Sarat felt surprised by their reaction.

They went home, leaving Sarat with her newborn child and Rajouri in a hospital room. But Sarat ignored them, for he held his happiness in his hands. He went to Rajouri and handed her the baby. In unison, they said, "Asha." Rajouri asked Sarat about their parents, but Sarat lied, telling her they went home to prepare to welcome their baby. 

The doctor discharged Rajouri in the morning. Sarat drove Rajouri and her baby home, hoping his parents would welcome them. When they reached home, they found Sarat and Rajouri's parents sitting in the drawing room. Rajouri was unaware of what happened last night in the hospital, so she went to her mother. As she tried to hand Asha to her mother, she pushed her away such that she was about to fall from her hand if Sarat did not support her.

Rajouri yelled at her mother, but her mother-in-law suppressed her by saying that she gave birth to a liability and Rajouri was responsible for their anger. Her daughter did not deserve their love. They wished for a boy grandchild and not a girl. Her eyes filled with tears, and she saw Sarat realizing he had hidden something. He felt sad for Rajouri and Asha but could not say anything before their parents.

The parents told them to disown Asha, or they will disown them. Rajouri and Sarat, in surprise, saw each other and came forward simultaneously, informing their parents that they would not let them harm their daughter. After a long verbal quarrel, Sarat and Rajouri decided to move out of the house with their daughter and start a new life.

When they were stepping out, their parents warned them that Asha would become their reason for sadness one day, but they did not listen and continued moving out with their luggage and beloved daughter.

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