NAGPUR: Bonded by love, two married women in the tribal district of Gadchiroli , a Naxal stronghold, have left their families in remote hamlets to stay together. The bold love story and the unprecedented move, unthinkable even in metros, have stunned the mostly tribal population of this remote district, usually in the news for Naxal violence.

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The Bengali women, Sunita and Nandita (both names changed), recently shifted to an undisclosed location in either Chhattisgarh or Hyderabad after they decided to put end to all speculations and begin a journey of togetherness afresh. The decision came soon after Sunita, the senior of the two, divorced her husband by submitting an affidavit before the panchas of the gram panchayat in Etapalli taluka of south Gadchiroli.

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Sunita, in her 30s, left home with her younger partner Nandita amid tumultuous social protests and resistance from their families. Nandita, in her 20s, who plays the husband among them, also left her life partner to be with Sunita. The women, with little resources, eloped with their children. “Today, we are bearing all troubles just to be together and have left everything to be happy,” said Sunita. She said that they were living as ‘sisters’ in the undisclosed location, and toiling to raise their children.

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Sunita said they left their families as they were unable to tolerate the torture by their husbands any more. “I even asked my husband to marry a second time, just so he would leave us alone. But he was adamant on remaining with me, which was not possible,” said Sunita. “Now we fear men. Our only strength is Nandita’s daredevilry, which compensates for a man in our lives,” she said.

A source in Etapalli told TOI the region was shocked by the boldness of the two women moving out of wedlock. “One of the two women told me they were not getting a house on rent, and wanted to send back their children to the village for the sake of their future. However, the families are in no mood to support the kids,” he said.

It’s learnt that Sunita was married at one of the refugee camps-turned-village at Pakhanjur at Chhattisgarh in an arranged marriage around 12 years ago. She shifted to Etapalli in Gadchiroli with her husband. Sometime later, Sunita, mother of a 10-year-old boy and a younger girl, and her husband moved to a hamlet in Mulchera, where Nandita’s family was staying in a neighbouring house.

Sunita was neglected by her husband, who was addicted to liquor, and also stayed away from home due to his business. A lonely Sunita and younger Nandita developed a close friendship before their affair turned amorous. The women started staying together in the absence of Sunita’s husband, which drew the attention of local residents.

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So, Nandita’s family got her married off, despite her objections. She gave birth to a boy soon afterwards, but continued her relationship with Sunita. The latter’s husband too came to know about his wife’s relationship, and shifted back to Etapalli.

Nandita too joined Sunita there after some time. Soon, the women were inseparable, much to the shock of the two families and society. Sunita even asked her husband to accept Nandita too in their family, however his family rejected the suggestion outright. “Many of Etapalli’s residents had spotted Sunita’s husband sleeping outside while the women remained indoors,” said a source.

“The women twice left home together but returned on being cajoled by their husbands. The women were away for around seven months after they eloped the second time. The situation had reached a boiling point by then, with Sunita’s husband demanding an end to their relationship or else a divorce,” said an Etapalli resident. “Sunita opted to end her marriage with her husband rather than distancing herself from Nandita. She boldly ended the marriage on affidavit before the panchayat and left home for the third time with the children,” said the source.

It is learnt that the women have moved to Abanpur near Raipur , Chhattisgarh, where they are staying as ‘husband and wife’. “Sunita wanted to settle with Nandita in Etapalli taluka and start a small business but everyone opposed their plans, compelling them to move out for the sake of their love,” said the source.

