Thoughts in utter silence

Wives of men charged with molestation defend their men so strongly and staunchly, blaming the media of conducting a trial of sorts or the victim herself of some motive.

The current case hogging the headlines is that ofu00a0 SPS Rathore, the former Haryana District General of Police and the former president of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association, who got an enhanced jail sentence for molesting teenager and tennis player Ruchika Girhotra.

(Ruchika eventually committed suicide). Rathore's wife Abha, a lawyer herself, has been a visible and vocal support for her husband. Besides, filing a review petition on Wednesday, Abha also alleged that the appellate court had passed the order under pressure from the media.

As the television cars have rolled away, does the public facade slip, do uncomfortable thoughts dance a little, when all alone?

While defending her husband is her job as a lawyer, one wonders if whether in her heart, Abha really thinks her husband is innocent? Doesn't she ever think about the 14-year-old girl who was molested and then took her life because of the harassment caused to her family? Or, does she truly believe that she has married a man who was incapable of committing the crime he is charged with?

Some time ago, when actor Shiney Ahuja was accused of raping his maid, Shiney's wife, Anupama too, stated vociferously that, she is standing by her husband. At a tearful press conference, she stated that, 'It is a frame-up' (one presumes she meant the actor has been framed) and kept repeating like a wound-up toy, 'He is my man'.

Yet, when journalists have gone home to file their reports as the deadline looms, when the court building is just a silent sentinel against the injustice of the world, its shape silhouetted against the setting sun, and the television press cars have rolled away leaving behind puffs of dust does that public facade slip a little? Do uncomfortable thoughts and doubts do a little dance in the mind, when all alone?u00a0u00a0

Like a candle that flickers a little, when a wind blows through the room, does their stoicism start wavering when the world is not watching or listening?

Do they sometimes introspect as women, not wives? Would they ruminate on the evidence, the arguments and cross-examinations in court that day? Put themselves in place of the victims, maybe?

Then, as another day dawns, the mask is slipped on again, creases of doubts ironedu00a0 and they are ready to defend the men against the 'trial by media' and 'frame-ups'.

Hemal Ashar is an Assistant Editor, MiD DAY