'True' is 'False'

"Your parents insulted my family in public. So many people who knew me and my family were laughing at us."1

"No, Soumya you got it all wrong. They wanted to explain your relatives and family that we were in a festive Hindu Ceremony and they (your family and relatives) were drinking liquor and creating scene in public....that's why my Mother and Father lost their temper and said all that stuff...in the process they pushed some of your drunk relatives..but even then I think it was not offensive."2

"Wow! but you know what, I think it was offensive. What about the Interview Call of my sister from the M.N.C. where your father is a Deputy Director...we made her fill the form of that company. We told all our friends and relatives that she is selected in that company as an accountant...as my Father in Law is on a very high post in that company but she was not selected....how embarrassing it was..."3

"But, Papa said that there were more qualified and eligible people for the vacancies and he...."4

"Ya, I know that he is Honesty-Is-The-Fucking-Best-Policy-Man, that too in India. My Parents are waiting for me outside and I am going but before that I have a surprise for you..."5

"What? We can talk, separation and divorce are not the right options."6

"Ha Ha...Oh, my poor Husband. Don't you think it's too simple...Now I have a Kitchen Knife with Sasu Maa ji's (Mother In Law) fingerprints on them...then I have my Bottle of acid of my Post Graduation Course...you used it when our sink got choked...so, here's your fingerprints...we will manage Sasur ji's (Father In Law) too."7

"What the hell are you talking about?"8

"See...Holding this knife with my saree i cut myself...here on my elbow..aah!!...On my leg...ouch!!..then few drops of acid on my legs...aaaaaiiiii Mummy!!!...it hurts much more than I thought....not to worry and don't call the Doctor because I already called the Police...and please don't dare to repeat your foolish questions, now I am official..amm...authorized Dowry victim...By the way, one more random thing which I always wanted to tell you...our neighbor's teenager son...yes, that talented Cricket player, Sumit gives me the services of his 7 Incher almost daily which is 2 Inch more than yours..."9

"What...wait..we can talk..it's not over, No...Please...don't put false allegation of Dowry on me...please think about my career, my life, my family's reputation."10

"Let me finish, Raman Darling. It's not you only...my In-Laws are also criminals under Anti Dowry Act...as you three not only attacked and abused me but also injured my family....they are bleeding outside...after the struggle...Indian Police comes late...you have to wait for few more minutes...and as 'Indian Railways' always announce 'Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted...Ting Tong!' Now you and your parents go to the City's Central Jail under Indian Penal Code 498A, which states that 'Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.' Ask details about this act from the Police when they arrive...now, it's time for you and your family to face humiliation." 11

"No..it's not IPC 498A for me, you Bitch...it's IPC 302."12

"What?"13

"Oh, My darling, you watch so many Bollywood Hindi Movies..you know what it means...IPC 302 says Whoever commits murder shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine."14


Raman grabbed the knife from her and stabbed Soumya till death. Then he killed her parents who were "injured" and "bleeding" in the garden waiting for the Police Party. 15

At last, after few more minutes, Police Jeep Siren breaks the monotonous silence. 16


Author notes

1) - MNC - Multi National Company.

2) - Section 498A of Indian Penal Code - Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation-For the purpose of this section, "cruelty" means-

(a) Any willful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health whether mental or physical) of the woman; or

(b) Harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her meet such demand.]

3) - Plus there is IPC Section 304B and if death of a married woman does "not occur under normal circumstances", within seven years of her marriage. Whoever commits dowry death is required to be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life. Many times a suicide or accident turn into "Dowry Death", thanks to many families who thinks there was nothing wrong with their daughters, sisters.


4) - Section 302 of Indian Penal Code - Whoever commits murder shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.

5) - There are thousands of registered N.G.O (Non Governmental Organization)for the upliftment of females in India plus Government Departments and of course a full fledged "Mahila Aayog" a semi ministry for women. They have to do something...they do...they frame stats, surveys, etc and publish them everywhere to negative-generalize "all" men and glorify "all" women. In the process they suppress the reports of false accusation of crime against women. Men involved in crime against women in even 10 years is less then 2% of the total more than 520 Millions Indian men and in 10 years millions are added to the adult population.

6) - About the Misuse of Anti-Dowry Act.

Your wife/daughter-in-law who's demands are not met can make a written false complaint of dowry harassment to a nearby police station. The husband, his old parents and relatives are immediately arrested without sufficient investigation and put behind bars on a non-bailable terms. Even if the complaint is false, you shall be presumed guilty until you prove that you are innocent.

498a can only be invoked by wife/daughter-in-law or her relative. Most cases where Sec 498A is invoked turn out to be false (as repeatedly accepted by High Courts and Supreme Court in India) as they are mere blackmail attempts by the wife (or her close relatives) when faced with a strained marriage. In most cases 498a complaint is followed by the demand of huge amount of money (extortion) to settle the case out of the court. This section is non-bailable(you have to appear in court and get bail from the judge), non-compoundable (complaint can't be withdrawn) and cognizable (register and investigate the complaint, although in practice most of the time arrest happens before investigation).

There have been countless instances where, without any investigation, the police has arrested elderly parents, unmarried sisters, pregnant sister-in-laws and even 3 year old children. In these cases unsuspecting family of husband has to go through a lot of mental torture and harassment by the corrupt Indian legal system. A typical case goes on for years (5-7 years is typical) and the conviction rate is about 2% only. Some accused parents, sisters and even husbands have committed suicide after time in jail.


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Comments

1 - 7 of 7
  • I Write naked gold member
    1 day ago
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    I thought this was really good. The ending suprised me a bit. Great job and thank you for entering the contest

  • Odyne
    February 20

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    the story didnt capture me at the beginning as much as i thought it would. i found myself getting quite bored by the first paragraph.

    i got confused as the writing itself has no start of finish it seems to be a single scene of violence which normally i would love. but in this case i do not feel i can without insulting or betraying my values and many others. normally this doesn't matter but it is a sensitive subject being discusted here and i didnt expect it in my contest

    it is informative and your grammar is well placed.

    i commend you for writing such a peice and wish you well in my contest

    beginning: 1, language: 1, plot: 1, ending: 1, dialog: 1, characters: 1.

  • Nazaa
    February 14

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    sad writeup. world is strange. your author notes are equal to your story i can understand that you do not want to hurt anyone. thanks for entering.

    offbeat meter - 18/20


  • CarlyConfetti gold member
    February 12

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    Well, no offense, but I didn't really understand what was going on. I am aware of all of the codes and laws in your AN, but I am a dumb 15 year old, so I didn't understand that either. After reading the laws however, I had to go back and read the story a second time and I still didn't really understand. I apologize for my own stupidity, but even if the wife or whomever, pretended he stabbed her and whatever, he would have gone to jail for a lot less time than after he killed her. So didn't he kind of just screw himself from that?


    • Trendster
      February 13
      Edit | Reply
      See there are many other factors like,

      *) - You are black listed by society and companies. A criminal never gets a job in government or private companies.

      *) - One important thing which varies from one part of the world to another is reputation of a person or family in society....such things matter a lot and are extreme in India. Search "Honour Killing" on any search engine.

      *) - Plus it's also about trust and love.

      *) - There are many instances when a person is killed on very small disputes.

      Main thing is wife Soumya did wrong and the anger, disbelief, broken trust, condition of old parents and that they are also going to jail, dark future, etc all combined simultaneously which made husband Raman to kill Soumya….a momentary rage. Though, I am not justifying it.

      One more thing in almost all the cases the climax is simple Police arrests Husband and relatives, they get 3 years jail and/or wife and police get "settlement."

      Yes, this is an Anti-feminist topic so I expect all kinds of reviews.

      Thanks for the Honest review.


  • XxAden.The.EmoxX
    February 12

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    I liked this, a lot. Great job. Good Luck. Thanks for entering!


  • lesbian-in-love
    February 12

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    Interesting piece that you have written and entered into my contest. I really enjoyed reading this. It was very well written. Thanks so much for entering and good luck in the contest.

1 - 7 of 7