Radha Badi Badi Tole, Jay Prithvi NP 10, Chainpur, Bajhang

“I do not know how to tell you if my husband is at home or he is away. If I tell you he is home, he is always away drinking. And if I tell you he is away, he comes in at night without notice asking for food and to sleep. He drinks 24 hours. I do not know where he goes. When he returns he has nothing but bitterness in him. He starts calling me hurtful names. I work all day to collect enough money for my three children but he never feels sorry for me, never realizes that I am his wife and that I need him with my side. Sometimes, I do not get any work so I have to go out in search of grains. Recently, I made a fire to cook and when I went inside to fetch rice, the sack was empty. There are those days too. I have no financial support from my husband. If I run across him in the market, he starts a scene right there. In public, in front of all the people, he starts cursing me and saying how bad of a wife I am. My eldest son used to be my support. He worked as a plumber and brought home money. And we could all eat. But he was tired of living with an alcoholic father and a situation so desperate that he felt he had to leave. Now he is in India and sometimes calls but that is not enough for a mother.”

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