Yakub's story: In the background, silent, always standing by his wife

BEING out of the house for days together was quite the norm for Yakub Rasul Patel, a cattle trader. But for the last six years, 28-year old Yakub hasn't left his wife and children for even one night.

Instead of travelling to cattle haatsacross Gujarat, he has been a constant companion to his 25-year-old wife, Bilkis Bano, as she battled for justice. "It was our family trade and we used to travel across the state trying to buy and sell in cattle haatsin different villages. But now, being away from my family for even half a day is a terrible thought," says Yakub, Bilkis's husband of 11 years.

After his wife's gang rape and the massacre of 13 members of her family, Yakub has become her whole world.

After six years of dodging threats, Yakub says he now has a constant urge to be around his three children.

And though survival has been a struggle, he cannot think of a full-time job. "We have been on the move ever since the case came up for investigation. So getting a full-time job was not possible. Also, I cannot stay away from the family for too long because there is this con stant fear lurking at the back of our minds," he says. They have survived with help from relatives and money Yakub earned from odd jobs.

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Image and Article source:Indian Express
Article taken from the issue: 22 Jan 2008