HER SAFE PLACE

Husband

The officer began the interrogation with a direct question: "Do you know who did this to you?" Shivangi's grip on my hand tightened significantly. Her eyes filled with tears, and she nodded slowly. Seeing her distress, I gently patted her head in an attempt to soothe her.

The officer continued, trying to gather more details: "Is it someone you know?" Shivangi nodded again, her emotions clearly overwhelming her.

He then asked, "Is the person in the room right now?" Shivangi, still tearful and visibly distressed, nodded once more.

The officer looked around the room, taking in the scene, before turning his gaze back to me. He then asked Shivangi, "Is the person Rocky?" Shivangi quickly shook her head and said "No," which provided a small sense of relief to me as I continued to comfort her.

The officer pressed on, "Is the person Rudra?" The moment Rudra’s name was mentioned, Shivangi’s tears flowed even more freely. Her distress was palpable.

Before she could respond verbally, Rudra interrupted, his voice filled with agitation, "What are you asking, officer? I am her husband. How could I possibly do this to her? Are you out of your mind?" The officer, visibly frustrated by the interruption, retorted, "We are simply doing our duty. Please do not interfere."

The officer turned back to Shivangi and repeated his question to ensure clarity. Shivangi, gripping my hand tightly, nodded affirmatively. This confirmation ignited a fierce anger within me. The urge to confront Rudra was overwhelming; I wanted to physically confront him and deliver justice myself. However, I knew Shivangi needed my support more than ever, so I restrained myself.

I vowed to make sure Rudra faced severe punishment—a punishment so harsh that he would plead for death, but it would never come.

The officer, determined to act, stood up and grabbed Rudra by the collar. He declared, "You were saying something, mister? Now, you are the main suspect. Arrest him." Just then, Shivangi’s father intervened, saying, "Stop."

The room fell silent as everyone turned to him, puzzled by his unexpected intervention. I had anticipated that her father would take some decisive action against Rudra, but instead, his words shocked everyone. He said, "We don’t want to file any complaint against Rudra. He is my daughter’s husband, and this is a private matter between them. We should not interfere."

I was taken aback by his response. How could he dismiss the gravity of the situation simply because Rudra was her husband? It seemed inconceivable that he would overlook the severity of Rudra’s actions. His reaction suggested a troubling disregard for Shivangi’s well-being, and it left me questioning his role and concern as her father.

The room was filled with a tense silence after Shivangi’s father’s statement. I stared at him in disbelief, struggling to understand his reasoning. How could he choose to protect Rudra despite the clear evidence and Shivangi's own testimony? The injustice of it all was maddening.

The officer, clearly perplexed and frustrated, tried to reason with Shivangi’s father. “Sir, with all due respect, this is a serious matter. Your daughter has identified Rudra as the perpetrator. We have a duty to proceed with the investigation and ensure justice is served.”

Shivangi’s father’s face was set in a firm expression. “I understand, but this is a family issue. We must handle it privately. It’s not something the authorities should get involved in.” His tone was resolute, leaving no room for further argument.

I could see the strain on Shivangi’s face as she struggled with the realization that her own family might be protecting her abuser. Her mother, who had been silent up until now, looked between her husband and Shivangi with a mix of confusion and sorrow.