The wedding goes on for several days, and Swati’s family have to pay for everything. The husband also demands a dowry in the form of money, household items and gold. Once the wedding is over, Swati moves in with her husband’s family in a different village. Now Saritha and her other sister Narthi, often have to go hungry. Their parents had to borrow money so that they could afford to marry off their oldest daughter. Almost every­thing they earn now goes to pay off the loan. Swati never comes to visit, and she hasn’t been to school once since the wedding, even though her husband’s family promised that she would be allowed to continue her studies.

Swati comes home
One day, Swati turns up at home. She is crying, and looks tired and thin.
   “They beat me all the time,” she says. “I have to work like a slave, and they won’t let me go to school.”
   “It’s my fault. I married you off too early,” says her mother, who is crying too.”But the father sends Swati back to her husband.
  ‘ “If you don’t go back it will be a scandal!” he says worriedly.

When Swati has her first baby, it’s a girl. Her husband is furious, and demands more money. “You didn’t pay me enough to take this useless wife who can only give birth to girls,” he says. “I want a son!”
   Swati’s parents have no money left and two more daughters to marry off. Swati’s mother herself has given birth to five girls, but no sons. Two of the girls were killed at birth and are buried under the family’s dirt floor.