Kajal lives in Bhopal. Two years ago she befriended a girl called Nisha. One day Nisha confided in her that her parents were keen to get her married but she did not like the bridegroom. Kajal initially tried to persuade her to marry the man arguing that her parents did not mean her any harm. But seeing Nisha growing despondent by the day, Kajal requested her aunt to speak to Nisha’s father who had a violent temper. But Nisha’s father remained adamant and all efforts to call of the marriage failed.

The day before Nisha was to leave with her family for the village where the wedding was to be held, Kajal found her crying helplessly. Nisha threatened to kill herself. Fearing that her friend would actually carry out the threat, Kajal decided to take her friend away to Delhi. She decided that the two would remain there till the date of the marriage passed by.

Acting on this plan, the two friends came away to Delhi. They returned to Bhopal once the marriage date had passed. Once they arrived, they discovered the marriage had been cancelled. On seeing them, both their families were furious and beat them mercilessly. The people of the colony sided with the family members and were unsparing in their criticism of the girls. Nisha’s family threw her out of her home. She was forced to seek shelter in Kajal’s home but the neighbours made their lives difficult. So the two friends went to live with Kajal’s aunt but found little escape from public harassment there as well.

Not wishing to inconvenience Kajal’s aunt, the two friends sought refuge in a Buddhist temple. But peace was not to be found here either. The two of them were dragged to a police station for interrogation. Nisha’s father had lodged a complaint stating Kajal had run away with his daughter. At the police station, the police and the media questioned both the friends. The media wrote about them as two girls who had the courage to marry and live together. In Bhopal, this news story had the making of a scandal.

When the police finally released them, the two girls found the pressure of living under constant public harassment and name-calling very difficult. They both agreed to be taken to a protection home. Hearing about their trials, Sangini Sansthan, a Bhopal-based NGO came to their rescue. Kajal comments, "I really do not know why such a hue and cry has been made of our friendship. If Nisha had killed herself, I would have blamed myself all my life. People accuse me and call me horrible names but why can’t they leave me alone. My life is my own. My family has stood by me and I know I am always welcome in my home. But I refuse to leave Nisha alone in her hour of need and will stand by her as any good friend would."