When people picked my dadi to place her on the floor, the sheet on why she lay tore. The caretaker came to me and said, ‘Just because you touched her, one of the men carrying her lost his balance.’

My MIL must be pleased with the image her family is presenting in the minds of her relatives - her fair DIL, and her grandson standing by her side. I, the wheatish DIL with two daughters, don't count.

Control over women is rationalised by making examples of those who dare to break away. This moral policing is effective for maintaining the status-quo patriarchy.

Story: My daughter Kamini said in a don’t-try-with-me tone, ‘Now we create my matrimonial profile. I helped you, you help me with it mom!’

Qala was a victim of a dysfunctional society's where only a male child is valued, and love is not unconditional but based on living up to the demands of parents