Original subtitles

Do not go back to that house.

Their lawyer sent a notice.

So we will not do anything...

...without consulting one.

Your daughter didn't call you either.

Not once.

They're setting up their argument.

So, we cannot make a move without a lawyer's advice.

I agree Jaya shouldn't have done that.

It was wrong of her.

But tell me something.

It's common for a couple to have fights.

But a divorce for that?

What do you all want?

They have a 12-year-old daughter.

A perfectly fine marriage.

Who would want to break it off?

You're a woman.

I guess you'd understand better than I would.

No, I don't understand these things.

If it were me, I'd demand a justification.

He misbehaves with everyone.

How dare he bring allegations against anyone else?

What do you want?

This is not a menu card.

It's your life.

So, you have to decide.

Your brother or Mou can't decide for you.

Breaking off a marriage is not easy.

I never do anything without thinking it through.

I don't like a bad investment.

Jaya was becoming a liability.

Publicly in that restaurant...

No, no, no.

She can't be my wife.

Not anymore.

You'll lose money over alimony.

Arjun said he'll take care of it.

Hmm.

Arjun, is something wrong?

Don't worry.

We sent the notice at the perfect time.

And you're sure she won't agree to a mutual divorce, right?

So, the divorce claim is on two grounds.

-I see. -One...

Mental instability.

Two, domestic violence.

Good.

-We have proof in both cases, right?-Absolutely.

She will never agree to a divorce.

But you have to see to it.

I want to end this marriage.

Tell me.

What do you want?

I want my daughter.

Shruti.

In that case...

we will have to deny all their charges.

He has claimed that you are mentally unstable.

So, we'll have to prove you're not.

The next important question is...

Do you want a divorce too?

Are you sure?

My marriage...

My daughter...

Why would I want to end it?

He doesn't either.

He's just angry right now.

Very well.

Your marriage, your decision.

Then we go by Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955.

Restitution of conjugal rights.

This will be our appeal.

What does it mean?

It means you're a married Hindu woman and want to stay with your husband.

Let me get this straight.

You mean to say...

If the divorce can't be prevented

then this will make it easier for her to get alimony?

-Right? -Right.

Jaya.

Are you sure you want to stay with him?

DISGRACED

They won't prove I'm crazy, will they?

Seeking therapy does not make one unfit to take care of their kids.

Besides...

a good lawyer will defend you well.

What if I don't get Shruti back?

Why won't you?

Besides, would she want to live without you?

I shouldn't have said I want to live separately.

You couldn't take it anymore.

How did he hurt you?

With his words...

Don't talk like a dumba**.

Shut the f**k up!

Dramatic b***h!

What's her rate?

Ogling at boys on bikes, huh?

F**king whore!

No one likes publicising personal issues.

But when the personal is dragged to the court...

it doesn't remain personal.

At the restaurant, I wasn't your lawyer.

Right now, I am your hired lawyer.

And you are my client.

So, there's no room for feeling shy.

Even if it hurts, you'll have to speak up in court.

Hope you remember his exact words and the contexts.

I don't want to end my marriage.

Look.

You're not pressing any charges against him.

But there's a clause.

He has accused you of domestic violence.

That incident with your daughter...

They might cash in on it.

Then his verbal abuse will be our evidence against him.

By the way...

Did you manage to talk to your daughter?

She answered my call once.

Said she'll call back.

But hasn't.

Probably wasn't allowed to.

She can't stay without me.

Well, let's hope so.

Let's hope she can't.

Shourjya.

My marriage will survive, right?

Look.

As a friend, I'd say...

it shouldn't survive.

But as your lawyer, I'll try my best.

Tomorrow is your first hearing in court.

Be mentally prepared.

Hmm.

Jaya.

It'll be okay, right?

It's not that easy to take a child away from her mother.

Not that easy.

-You really care for me. -Silly girl!

You've cared for me too.

Always have.

I had to deal with a lot of comments about not being able to bear a child.

The only person who never said a word is you.

How can I forget that?

Here.

Go safely.

Everything will be fine.

Dear...

Save your marriage.

It's your household.

We should leave now.

Come on.

Get going.

You can't keep others happy if you're not happy, Jaya.

You can't offer water to someone if your glass is empty.

(indistinct chatter)

Don't be nervous.

Just answer the questions honestly.

No need to be scared.

Just be steady.

Stay calm.

(indistinct chatter)

What is your name?

-Dola. -Full name.

Dola Shaw.

Okay.

How long have you worked for the Sinhas?

-Seven years. -Seven years... Long time.

What do you think of Jaya?

-Ma'am is very nice. -Oh!

-Recently, she's become forgetful-- -Forgetful?

Absent-minded.

I see.

The house almost caught fire!

Fire?

How?

Happened twice.

First time she turned on the stove but forgot to light it.

Then at the house warming in the new house!

She had put something to cook on the stove.

It was completely charred.

Point to be noted, Your Honour.

Advocate Shourjya Roy.

Any counter questions?

Nothing, Your Honour.

My next witness is...

Partha's mother, Mrs. Indira Sinha.

Why don't you live with your son?

I've never wanted to interfere in my son's marriage.

So, I live by myself in our ancestral house.

You wanted to give some space to your son and daughter-in-law.

-Yes. -Okay.

That means Indira does not interfere in Jaya's married life.

What did you see in your son's new house?

-There was no order in the house. -I see.

Jaya is extremely forgetful.

And she's always gloomy.

She'd come home from office and go straight into her room.

I'm old school.

I feared that kind of behaviour would bring bad luck to the household.

But I didn't say anything.

She got a new house, a new car.

But she was still not happy.

Oh! I see.

Your Honour, she got a new house and car.

A good husband, daughter and a new job.

Despite it all, Jaya was always grumpy.

There's plenty of evidence to show that Jaya is mentally ill.

Before we get into her domestic violence

we can all agree that she is mentally unstable.

I object, Your Honour.

Before anything is proven, how can my client be called unstable?

That is beyond jurisdiction.

Objection sustained.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Wish we had taken a photo of your bruise.

No point thinking about what we don't have.

Still.

A photo would make it easier to prove our point.

I don't want to bring that up in court.

They will even if you don't want to.

Doesn't matter if the bruise is gone.

The other instances...

Your sister-in-law saw him tie your hands.

Hmm.

Next, they'll call Shruti to the witness box.

That is crucial.

Mou.

Hmm?

I'd like to speak to Jaya's psychologist.

Being subjected to...

...verbal abuse for a long time can result in low self-esteem.

Becoming reclusive.

Gloominess.

Inability to articulate yourself.

Victims of verbal abuse have speech trouble and tend to fumble.

So, all the symptoms Jaya is showing?

Exactly.

Jaya can't look you in the eye when she talks.

But she talks a lot when she's looking away.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

You might have to testify as a witness.

Sure, why not.

Shruti. What a lovely name.

For every child, their mother is very special.

I know that.

But what do you think of your mom?

Has your mom ever behaved in a strange way?

Don't be afraid.

Have you ever felt your mom is not normal?

Yes.

Why?

Mom would forget everything.

I see.

She was always...

messy.

Okay.

For instance?

She would forget food on the stove.

She would forget to pack me lunch.

What else?

She once forgot to pick me up from coaching class.

Gosh! Then who brought you home?

My dad.

Oh, good.

Your Honour.

The accused, Jaya Sinha...

has approached the court for restitution of conjugal rights.

She wants to live with her husband and daughter.

That's great.

But she denied being mentally unstable.

But let me say something.

The woman who forgets to pack lunch for her daughter

is clearly not interested in the household.

She doesn't deserve to be a caregiver.

She has completely failed as a mother.

My client has every right to live a healthy life with his daughter.

And it's in the best interests of his daughter.

That's all, Your Honour.

Might be brought up...

You have to...

(indistinct chatter)

How are you?

Won't you talk to me?

Why did you say all that in the witness box?

Maybe I've been forgetful at times.

But you don't think I'm normal?

Are you that angry with me, dear?

That's okay.

But why didn't you call me?

You wouldn't stay mad at me if we spoke.

I have nothing to say to you, Mom.

I'm happy with Dad and Grandma.

Don't you want us all to live together?

Don't you miss me, dear?

No, I don't.

I'm scared to be around you.

You might hurt me again.

You're not normal, after all.

I didn't do that on purpose.

Shruti, I can tolerate everything.

But living without you...

I can't imagine doing that.

Can you afford my education in the same school?

Will you be able to fulfil all my needs?

I do what I can.

But why are you saying all that?

Can't we live together like before...

No. Dad won't live with you.

You're not mentally stable.

One second.

Didn't you hear the way your dad spoke to me?

Aren't I supposed to feel bad?

Come.

I will live with Dad.

Let's go.

What was she saying?

Shruti!

I know this is painful for you.

But when you're at the war front...

you have no choice but to fight.

You have to accept the fact that...

your daughter doesn't want to live with you.

We have to bring up each instance in court now.

Otherwise, I fear, you'll lose everything.

They'll prove their allegations.

So, even if it's painful

it's time to be vocal about it.

Publicly in court?

Why?

Are you feeling ashamed?

They're calling you crazy publicly in court.

They're saying you're not fit to take care of your daughter.

After managing everything at home for 15 years...

you have to publicly grovel to live with your husband.

But you're not ashamed to do that.

Hmm?

Your daughter told the court she does not want to stay with you.

Publicly, in a restaurant full of people

your husband hurled all kinds of abuses at you.

But that wasn't shameful for you.

That man cussed at you day in and day out.

"F**king idiot".

"Dumbf**k".

"Prostitute".

No filter.

But you feel ashamed to bring it up in court?

Women like you need to learn...

what you should feel ashamed about and what not.

Have your tea. You'll feel better.

Please have your tea, Jaya.

We were taught that coyness is a woman's best ornament.

That's what has made people lose their minds.

Sorry.

Did Shruti say that herself?

That she doesn't want to stay with you?

But pressing counter charges...

I'm just asking, Jaya.

Hope you've thought this through.

I mean, would that be right?

I didn't want to do it.

I didn't want to discuss family mattes in the court.

Then why do it?

Tell me.

Let me make one thing very clear.

Beg, grovel, do what it takes...

But save your marriage, Jaya.

I would if my daughter wanted to stay with me.

But she doesn't want to.

None of them want to.

So this time, I choose self-respect, Mom.

I'm not crazy.

I'm not mentally unstable.

If at all that's true, why did I become like that?

Why?

Have you bothered asking, Mom?

Does my husband hit me?

No. He doesn't hit me.

Look.

The bruises from him tying my wrists are gone.

They're gone. See, Mom.

You're put ointment on it. So the marks are gone.

They're gone.

Jaya...

But he has killed me again and again despite not raising his hand on me.

How?

With his words.

With just his words.

So why should I beg him to take me back, Mom?

Why should I beg for his forgiveness?

Jaya...

Churni! You were there. You heard what he said.

Tell Mom. Please.

What kind of a husband calls his wife a prostitute, Mom?

Did Dad ever call you that?

My husband calls me a prostitute.

He says it all the time.

But I put up with it for my marriage.

-For my daughter. -Jaya...

Calm down.

But now, he's calling me crazy in court.

Do I put up with that too? Why?

And why do people go crazy?

Our false sense of shame has made us forget to question this.

Even you didn't, Mom.

Not once did you ask me.

What happened and why?

Every day I thought you'd come to me and ask.

That you'd want to find out what has happened.

Why didn't you, Mom?

-Why didn't you? -Clam down, Jaya.

Calm down.

Hush! It's okay.

Feeling better, Dad?

Yes.

It felt so relaxing.

Took a bath in the bathroom after a long time.

-Jaya... -Hmm?

I've been hearing things.

Are you okay, dear?

I'm fine, Dad.

Hmm.

According to Section 509 of the IPC...

...any act or words that insult a woman is a criminal offence.

A punishable offence, Your Honour.

And according to IPC Section 294

any obscene act or words uttered in a public place is a criminal offence.

In this case, it concerns a married couple.

So, both are acts of matrimonial cruelty.

Day after day

my client has been subjected to verbal and mental abuse

by Mr. Partha Sinha.

Under IPC Sections 509, 294 and 498A...

we would like to file a case against him.