Early December 2025, social workers Bharti and Sheena travelled to Ahmedabad to meet Reenu, a 30 year old Bangladeshi survivor who was living with her two children in a small house in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Her case had been referred to us by our partner NGO from Bangladesh.
During their conversation with Reenu, she shared her heart breaking story with Bharti and Sheena.
Reenu belonged to a middle-class family. Her father sold his ancestral land to build a small simple home. In 2000, when Reenu was 12 years old, her father married her to a man named Zaid.
As the years passed, Zaid and Reenu enjoyed a good marriage. They initially lived in Bangladesh but Zaid’s uncle who lived in India wanted them to move to India. Without informing her parents, Zaid and Reenu illegally crossed the border and entered India.
While they lived in India, Zaid worked with his uncle at the construction site and provided for Reenu. As the years passed, Reenu conceived but Zaid wanted her to abort as he felt his wife wouldn’t be strong enough to carry the fetus full term. The couple visited the doctor who advised against it, warning of future infertility, so they let the pregnancy continue. A few months later Reenu delivered a girl, Sumi. A year later, Reenu bore another child – Tanish. After her second delivery they returned to Bangladesh.
As the years passed, Zaid and Reenu shared a happy and financially stable life. Zaid showered his wife with jewellery and gifts and also arranged for private transportation so Reenu could visit her parents frequently.
One day Reenu started complaining of severe breast pain. Zaid took her to a reputed doctor in Bangladesh. Reenu’s treatment went well and her pain stopped. Life went on as usual and Reenu was happy.
Aman, who lived in the same village, started pursuing Reenu. Being a married man himself, he started to spread rumours that Reenu and him were having an affair. An angry Zaid divorced Reenu and took custody of their daughter Sumi. After her divorce, she went back to her parents house with her son Tanish.
Aman continued to pursue Reenu. Believing that Aman really loved her, Reenu relented and married him. What Reenu did not know was that Aman was more interested in her family’s wealth. The couple had a son Siddique together.
Years passed and life went on for Aman, Reenu and her sons till one day, Reenu’s pain in her breasts returned with a vengeance. This time the earlier treatment and medications were of no help.
Aman told Reenu that they’d visit a doctor in India to investigate the pain…
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