After her parents passed away, Ishani went to live with her older sister and husband. She was happy to work as a day laborer to earn some extra rupees for the household but she was soon abused as a parentless, young girl with no one around to protect her. To escape this, she stayed at home to help around the house. “At first, I was relieved to know I’d never have to go back there ever again. But I didn’t know that staying home to help out would be even worse.”
“He came every afternoon. My brother-in-law, I mean – the one I mentioned before. He came for lunch. But he came for me, too. Even though I knew there was no use, I tried to stop him. I kicked and screamed, but he is big and strong, and he took advantage of me over and over.”
Unable to tell her sister, under threat that her brother-in-law would demand a divorce leaving them with nothing, she ran away. She was found by Child Services and brought to New Horizons House. “I was one of the first girls to get here, and now I don’t have to be scared of anything anymore. I get to focus on my learning and laugh with my new friends.”