Judge……………"court cannot permit you to take
custody of your daughter, till age of eighteen she will stay with her mother.
You are allowed to visit your daughter”.
I.…………………“Sir, My wife is a liar! She talks like an opportunist. She is an ego
manic. She takes me for granted. She
even use my daughter to emotionally black mail me and use her sex as weapon”!
Maya’s lawyer…..
“My lord, this is nothing but character assassination”!
I.…………………. "Sir, I got married eight years ago I
know my wife inside out, more than anyone else in this world. Sir, in my case my marriage is made as meat
business.”
Maya’s lawyer: “I object your honor!” Her husband is
comparing marriage to meat business”.
Judge…………….."Objection over ruled ".
I... ………………..“Living with my wife is like living with
an enemy. First Get married, have
children, find fault with husband, fight over silly things with mother in law
then file divorce and get legal maintenance amount (alimony) and live the way
she and her family wants. Some people
had developed this as an art. In my
case, I had a decent job when I got married to her. My company had to close down due to the
financial loss. At the age of forty
-eight I am unable to get a good job. Nobody wants to employ an old person like
me for more than Rs.2500 p.m. with my align mother I am just Surviving in this
world. I will not be able to give my
daughter a decent education. Therefore I humbly request you to permit me to put
my daughter for adoption. Somebody will
be able to give her decent education and secured life. I am willing to sign divorce paper so that my
wife can live her life the way she wants.
My wife is also from poor family; even she is not in a position to bring
up my daughter. I once again humbly
request you to permit me to put my daughter for adoption for the welfare and
better future of my daughter. I have
nothing more to say. (I broke down).
After studying the case judge pronounces his verdict.
Judge.………….. “Considering the welfare and better
future of your daughter I came to the conclusion. Since neither you nor your
wife is interested in living together and due to poverty neither of you can
raise your child so I hereby permit you to take temporary custody of your
daughter and allow you to put her for adoption."
Maya’s lawyer:"Her husband had pledged Rs25, 000
worth of gold ornaments in the bank. I
want her husband to return her ornaments at the earliest".
Judge asked me to return her gold
ornaments at the earliest. I had hand overRs.26, 000 and an authorization
letter permitting my wife to collect her gold ornaments. I then gave our
marriage Certificate to the judge. The
judge issued a letter authorizing me to take temporary custody of my daughter
and for Subsequent adoption.
My wife came to me.
She removed her wedding chain (mangalsutra) with Tears running down on her
Cheeks. I took it with my right hand and
returned mangalsutra back into her hand and closed her hand. I gently and gave
a pat on her hand. Our only daughter
stood as a silent spectator. I lifted my daughter in my arms…. ”Come on Sony;
let’s go to papa’s home”. I carried my daughter in one hand and in other hand I
had the custody documents of my daughter. Her brother came begging for my
daughter. I showed him court documents. “No!
Maya will learn her lesson in hard ways.
My daughter’s future means everything to me. Take care of your sister”. I waved for an auto. Someone clicked.
On the other side of the verandah, wife’s ego
does not permit her to beg for her daughter.
She was pleading with her parents asking not to allow me to take her
Ammini away. I carried my
daughter into an auto. My daughter asked for her Mummy and started crying. Fighting my tears back I held my daughter
close to my heart. Auto took U-turn in the court premises from the corner of my
eye I saw my wife stretching her arms at me and begged for her daughter. “My daughter...Ammineeeee...” she then
fainted .I shut my eyes tightly.
At home Maya took Sony’s doll and wept
inconsolably and started cursing herself.
Later when judge
went to his house he called on his wife. “Viji...I had committed a sin. An
unpardonable sin, I had separated daughter from her mother. A poor family case came up for divorce. Neither the husband nor his wife could raise
the child. I had to order for child for
adoption." He then went to the pooja room and asks lord Murugan for forgiveness.
“O lord! Forgive me for the sin I had committed. Whoever adopts the child must give her plenty
of love and affection…" His voice choked with emotions.
After we had food at the restaurant I took Sony for shopping. I
purchased dresses and toys for my daughter. In the evening we boarded train for
Chennai. “Sony you know, we are going to
papa’s home. Your nana will be waiting
for you. Do you still remember mammy, mamma, Navin Anna, Raga and Sudha Kutty?
Next day morning
we reached Chennai. At home my mother was waiting for us. Now and then my daughter asked for her mummy
and started crying. She had a small
circle of friends of her age. All my
neighbors welcomed her with open heart.
They all missed her for more than two years. I made sure she was not missing her mother
nor feeling lonely. Therefore, I took
couple of days off from work. I was
always with my daughter. At times she felt sad. She cried only when she thought
about her mother. Poor soul! I played
only her favorite pogo channel on TV.
She spend time watching TV and playing with her little friends.
