Today, in the early afternoon, the police arrived at the house. There were six officers, five men and one woman. One of them was Deputy Superintendent of Police Amrish Kumar. I noticed his uniform had three stars on the shoulder, a clear sign of his rank. I felt nervous but hopeful when I saw them. I asked if we could speak in private, and the officers kindly agreed. They asked everyone else in the house to wait in another room so I could talk freely.
The officers were patient. They recorded my statement as I explained what had happened. I shared how I am trapped and abused and how, as a 21-year-old woman, I want to leave and live on my own. They listened without interrupting, which made me feel heard for the first time in a while.
After I spoke, my mother, my uncle Nitin, my cousin Nitish, and my sister-in-law Princy came in to talk. They started discussing me, and their words felt heavy with judgment. But DSP Amrish Kumar stepped in. He scolded them for their old-fashioned thinking and made it clear that, as an adult, I have the right to make my own choices. His words gave me strength. He explained that the process to help me leave has begun, but it would take two to three days. The DSP promised to return the next afternoon to continue the procedure. I want to believe him, but part of me worries it might be an empty promise.
One of the officers called my father, who was out of the city. My mother admitted in front of the police that my father has hit me and taken away my computer, laptop, and phone. I asked the officers to file an FIR against my father for this, but they hesitated. Instead, they suggested I give my parents another chance. I was disappointed, they warned everyone in the house not to mistreat me, but they did not take the legal action I wanted.
After DSP Amrish Kumar and most of the officers left, a few stayed behind to note down some details. But the moment they were gone, things changed. My mother started searching my room. She found my personal diary, which had my bank details, PIN, and Aadhar card information. My sister-in-law Princy, Uncle Nitin, and Cousin Nitish helped her take pictures of it. I felt betrayed and helpless watching them invade my privacy.
DSP Amrish Kumar had told my mother that I have the legal right to be free. But then he said something that confused me, he suggested that if I live on my own, the world might “eat me up.” It felt like they were saying the solution is to keep me locked up forever. I am 21 years old, an adult woman, and all I want is the freedom to live my life on my terms.
