Chandni Shaikh has been a victim of domestic abuse. Her husband Mateen, an autorickshaw operator, beats her black and blue even without provocation. One day as she writhed in pain and screamed loudly after being beaten by a leather belt, her neighbour Vaishali Kale banged on the door and barged into her house through the partially open door. Kale was followed by her husband Anil and daughter Sheetal. While Vaishali took Chandni out of the house and into the shelter of her own home, Anil and Sheetal caught hold of Mateen and thrashed him. By then the people in the mohalla (area) had gathered near Shaikh’s doorstep. Had fate not intervened in the form of a patrolling police van, Mateen would have suffered grievous injuries.