Earlier this month, the tragic death of Anissia Batra, a 39-year-old air hostess took place in Delhi. The police are investigating whether Anissia committed suicide by jumping off of her terrace, while her family maintains she was murdered by her husband. But what has also emerged is a story of a young, independent woman, who was from an army family, her father a retired major general who was in an allegedly abusive marriage for two years there are even allegations of dowry demands being made. The question many are asking is, why would a woman who friends describe as headstrong, independent, professionally successful endure such a marriage. This also raises larger questions about urban women and the silence around domestic abuse. What recourse do they have and while we have strong laws on dowry and domestic abuse how effective are they? Where have they failed and, also are they misused?