Anand Holla / Mid-day

Mumbai, Mar 5: A pregnant woman was beaten up by her brothers on Friday night. They thought that their sister Priti Bodke (18), who is married to a not-so well off auto garage worker was trying to usurp the public toilet that their father had built.

At 12.30 am in the night, Priti and her husband Tanaji Bodke (36) were both thrashed by her brothers.

Inter-caste marriage

“Is baar koi maandavli nahi karneka hai. Isiliye maine abhi Tardeo police station main unke khilaaf complaint diya”, said Tanaji Bodke. He is an auto spare part worker at Tardeo.

Seven months ago, Tanaji Bodke, who is Maharashtrian and Priti Solanki, who is Gujarati, married after a year of courtship. But her parents did not approve as Tanaji was poor and came from a different community.

He said, “Her brothers Amit and Sudhir, always had issues with us. Yesterday, they punched and kicked her in the stomach even though she is three months pregnant.”

Tanaji has been staying in a dingy chawl for three decades. He said, “I earn Rs 2,000 per month. I may remain hungry, but will take care of Priti.”

Drank too much

“I feel bad that I drank beer tonight with her brothers. Since I was drunk, I couldn’t stop them when they hit Priti. They pushed me and but I couldn’t get up. I could only watch as my wife held her stomach and writhed on the floor, after they kicked her”, said Tanaji.

He added, “Both came and began abusing my wife, since she warned me not to mix up with them. ‘Dekh kaisa tereko gaali de rahi hi yeh!’ incited Amit. But I raised my hand only after they continued assaulting my wife”.

We love each other

The Tardeo public toilet belonging to Priti’s father, Narayan Solanki, caused the relations between Priti’s brothers and Tanaji to sour. “I don’t care about that stupid toilet. We live happily, even if we have little money. Mereko kucch nahi padi hai us toilet ki.”