Behind The Closed Door

“Have you heard about the new couple in the society?” asked an over excited neighbor. “The one that always stays behind closed doors?” chirped another one. They giggled at their knowledge of a young ‘in love’ pair and hurriedly got back to their ‘innocent’ selves.

The news about the fiery romance of the couple had traveled the entire society in just a matter of days. Often they would hear ecstatic shrieks, a mark of their sizzling chemistry; would exchange meaningful glances and go on about their work. The guy could sometimes be seen in the porch, pool or the club of the society but his better half was beyond their vision. Nobody had seen her; maybe she was too pretty to be seen by ‘other’ men!

Knock knock! Giggles; knock knock. “She is alone; her husband is at work, no reason to not open the door now. Hehe” But even after 15 minutes there was no answer, “Something is fishy”, they thought, finally! People began to crowd, giving their understanding of the situation. “Let’s break open the door, maybe she has hurt herself and needs help”, someone suggested and the rest agreed. After a few powerful thrusts, the door gave away and the ‘concerned’ people lunged in.

What met their eyes was beyond belief; the girl lay tied to the bed post with bruises adorning every inch of her fragile body. Everything post that was a blur of untying her, providing first aid and calling the police. Her statement revealed the dark truth of her marriage, the truth behind the ‘fiery chemistry’. What seemed to the world as a sizzling love making session was in reality any girl’s worst nightmare, marital rape! Though divorce saved her from further torture, she still did not have the answer to her question, “Is marriage a license to demand intimacy without consent?”

Years later she has moved on in her life but the horrors of her past still haunt her. “A lot happens behind the closed door that needs to be uncovered” she says every time she breaks open a door to save a ‘happily’ married woman!