36-year-old Natasha* was abandoned in India just days after she revealed she was pregnant with her Sydney-based husband’s child.
“We were at his brother’s wedding in Chandigarh in November when I discovered I was pregnant. But instead of looking after me when I was not feeling well, my husband left for Sydney,” Natasha, who’s name has been changed to protect her identity, told SBS Hindi.
Once-divorced Natasha married Jugal, who was also a divorcee on February 27th 2017 in New Delhi.
The couple then applied for permanent residency of Australia and travelled to Australia in May 2017.
“He did not add me as a spouse on his PR application. I instead travelled with him on a tourist visa,” Natasha recalls.
Jugal and Natasha returned to India after a short trip and later moved to Australia in August 2017.
Natasha again travelled to Sydney on a tourist visa.
It was during this time, Jugal started being abusive.
“He always used to drink heavily. After moving to Australia, he drank even more. I also discovered he was in to substance abuse. He started calling me names and didn’t give me any money,” Natasha says.
“If I asked for money or if I complained about his behavior, he would assault me.
“Once when I dialed triple 000 to call police, he threatened to inform the authorities to cancel my visa,” she says.
The couple travelled to India for a wedding in November when Natasha discovered she was pregnant.
“I wasn’t feeling well. I wanted to see a doctor when we were at the wedding but my husband and his family insisted I wait till I reach Delhi,” Natasha says.
Her husband, a heavy drinker and a drug addict, left Natasha in Delhi and flew back to Sydney on November 30th last year.
“That was the last time I saw him or heard him. He has not been in touch with me since the day he left.
“He did not call after reaching Sydney. I got worried and kept calling him. I called my mother-in-law who was in India but no one answered my calls. They had all blocked my number.
“A week later, I miscarried. There was no heartbeat. No one from husband’s family came to visit me or even ask, how was I doing?
“My husband after reaching Sydney informed the authorities he was no longer in a relationship with me and withdrew my tourist visa as well as my spouse visa application.
“I was in a miserable condition. I didn’t know what to do. Everything that I had dreamt of, was gone. I realized I had been abandoned by my husband,” she says.
Natasha, a former international tax consultant claims she has spent over 40 lakhs on her wedding, supporting her husband and moving to Australia to start a new life with her husband.
“I was an independent woman with a career. Today, I do not even feel like going out of my room. I am dependent on my ageing parents.
“He just fled without saying anything. He is gallivanting in Sydney even as I struggle in India.”
Natasha, who is struggling to get her life back together, has filed a complaint of domestic violence against her husband and her mother-in-law in India. She has also complained against him in the NRI cell of National Commission of Women.
“I have also spoken to Indian authorities in Australia who have asked for First Information Report (FIR) details. But that will take time as he has been given time to appear before Indian officials,” Natasha says.
Have you been abandoned by a NRI spouse? Write to us at mosiqi.acharya@sbs.com.au
