prepare food for all the family members. She had fixed betrothal of her youngest daughter Meera. When the boy’s family came to see Meera, Kaushalya had been called to the parental home. At that time, they did not call Vinod Kumar. Twelve days after Meera’s marriage had been fixed, Kaushalya passed away. Kaushalya had suggested that she would stay back and help in the work required for Meera’s marriage, but two-three days later, Vinod Kumar called and requested that Kaushalya should be sent back because they could not manage the household affairs without her. On this, Kaushalya was sent back to matrimonial home. Upon a pointed query in the cross-examination, the witness stated that it is a custom in their families that a girl is not kept with mother-in-law during the month of Shrawan. Kaushalya had been called to parental home a few days before onset of Shrawan month and she stayed at their house for whole of the month. However, before Rakshabandhan, Vinod Kumar called and requested that his sister and brother-in-law had come and thus, Kaushalya should be sent to the matrimonial home. Thereafter, Vinod Kumar came in the morning and took Kaushalya with him. On that day, they gave some clothes and a sum of Rs.200/- to Vinod Kumar and likewise, clothes etc. were given to Kaushalya as well. During Shrawan month, Vinod did not come to their house, but used to call. After Shrawan month, Kaushalya went back to matrimonial home and stayed there for two months. The witness agreed to the defence suggestion that the matrimonial relatives did not permit long stays by Kaushalya at the paternal home and always used to say that they could not manage without her . Questions were put to the witness regarding
