What If the Man You Married Is Quietly Breaking You

Noopur Kumari | Jun 10, 2025, 18:00 IST
What If the Man You Married
( Image credit : Freepik, Timeslife )
You dream of love, safety, and companionship. But what if the very person who promised to protect you is the one quietly draining your spirit? In a world where marriage is still seen as every woman’s milestone, disturbing truths are surfacing about emotional manipulation, hidden betrayals, and the mental toll that often goes unseen behind smiling couple photos. This article unpacks the haunting case of a honeymoon that ended in murder,
The recent news of Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly plotting her husband Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder during their honeymoon in Meghalaya has sent shockwaves across the country. What was meant to be a celebration of love turned into a horrifying tragedy. A young couple, newly married and full of dreams, ended up with one dead and the other at the center of a chilling investigation. Raja’s body was found in a gorge, and Sonam—now accused of orchestrating the murder with the help of her alleged lover—has left the nation stunned and heartbroken. This isn’t just another crime story—it’s a mirror to the growing cracks in the foundation of trust within modern relationships. As more such stories surface—filled with betrayal, manipulation, and unimaginable cruelty—many are beginning to feel a quiet fear creep into their idea of love and marriage. Where once marriage symbolized emotional safety, companionship, and shared dreams, today it sometimes feels like a space where unspoken pain festers. When a life partner becomes the source of harm—emotionally or physically—what does that say about the state of modern relationships?Is marriage still a sacred bond of trust? Or has it silently become a dangerous emotional gamble in today’s world?

1. The Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: A Case That Shook Faith in Marriage

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Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )

Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, newlyweds from Indore, had just started their lives together when tragedy struck. Days into their honeymoon in Meghalaya, Raja was found dead in a gorge near Cherrapunji. His body was identified only by a tattoo. What followed were chilling revelations. Police allege that Sonam was in an extramarital relationship with Raj Kushwaha and plotted Raja’s murder with him and his friends. According to the investigation, she insisted on the trip, convinced Raja to wear gold jewellery, and shared their live location with the killers. After the murder, Sonam vanished—only to surrender later after Raj’s arrest.Her family claims she’s being framed and has requested a CBI inquiry. But regardless of the outcome, this case has become a turning point in how people view trust and safety within marriage.

2. Why Are Marriages Feeling Scarier

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Marriages Feeling Scarier
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Incidents like the Raghuvanshi case dominate headlines. Stories of spousal murders, domestic abuse, and toxic relationships are becoming too familiar. They plant seeds of doubt in the minds of people considering or already in marriages.Marriage is built on trust. But when betrayal—emotional, physical, or financial—becomes common in public discourse, it weakens that foundation. Suspicion creeps in even where there’s no reason for it, and emotional safety becomes harder to find Today’s relationships are shaped by evolving gender roles, career aspirations, and social mobility. While these shifts are necessary, they also come with pressure. Expectations rise. Tolerance shrinks. Communication breaks down. Many enter marriage hoping for partnership but end up feeling alone, misunderstood, or emotionally drained. Toxic marriages can silently destroy mental health. Many individuals—especially women—struggle with anxiety, depression, and trauma caused by emotional neglect, gaslighting, or abuse. Constant exposure to disturbing marital stories adds to the fear, making marriage feel more like a risk than a source of stability.

3. Is the Fear Justified?

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unhealthy marriages.
( Image credit : Freepik )

It’s important to recognize that high-profile cases are not the full picture. Most marriages don’t end in violence or betrayal. But the fear they generate is very real—and valid.These fears bring attention to critical issues we often overlook:
  • The need for emotional literacy in relationships.
  • Creating support systems for those in unhealthy marriages.
  • Teaching people to identify early red flags—manipulation, control, secrecy—not just physical abuse.
Importantly, the emotional impact of such stories goes beyond gender. While women are often the victims of marital abuse, recent cases like Sonam’s show that men, too, can face emotional and physical harm. Marriage is not automatically safe for either partner—it must be made safe through effort, honesty, and mutual respect.

4. What Needs to Change

Mental health support within marriage should not be a last resort. Therapy, counselling, or even open conversations with trusted friends or mentors can prevent emotional breakdowns. People often hesitate to speak up when something feels wrong. Whether it’s excessive control, secrecy, emotional manipulation, or sudden changes in behaviour—these are not “normal” relationship problems. They are signs worth paying attention to Marriage isn’t about control or endurance. It’s about emotional safety, companionship, and growth. That narrative needs to be reinforced in families, pop culture, and social norms.

A Wake-Up Call, Not a War on Marriage

The Meghalaya case isn’t just a shocking headline—it’s a mirror to the unsettling cracks in how we perceive marriage, trust, and mental health today. When a honeymoon turns into a crime scene and a life partner becomes the alleged mastermind of betrayal, it forces us to question the very foundation of relationships. Love, which is meant to be safe, healing, and supportive, sometimes hides manipulation, emotional trauma, and deep loneliness.This incident is not just about one couple—it’s about a society that often prioritises the image of a “perfect marriage” over the emotional realities behind closed doors. It’s about women and men silently suffering in toxic relationships because “log kya kahenge” becomes more important than “main kaise hoon.”Shaadi sirf ek rasam nahi hai, yeh ek emotional journey hai jisme dono logon ka sachcha hona zaroori hai. Sirf pyaar bolne se nahi, nibhaane se hota hai. Har rishta sundar dikhe, yeh zaroori nahi—andar kya chal raha hai, uski bhi sunni chahiye.Let this not be a reason to give up on marriage, but a reason to enter it more mindfully. To ask deeper questions. To choose not just with the heart, but with awareness. Because real commitment isn't about grand promises—it's about quiet, everyday integrity

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