Shiney needs to heal physically and emotionally: Anupam

Oct 4, 2009 Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Oct 4 (IANS) Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja arrived in New Delhi from Mumbai Sunday morning after spending 110 days in jail for allegedly raping his domestic help. His wife Anupam Ahuja feels that the process of her husband's re-acclimatisation to normal civil life will begin now.

"He needs to heal physically and emotionally. Now begins the second phase of my struggle. But you know what? I can't seem to feel any bitterness. God is great. The judiciary system in our country is great," Anupam told IANS.

Shiney, who was behind the bars for more than three months after his maid accused him of rape, got bail Thursday. He reiterated his claim that he had consensual sex with the domestic help.

Shiney would've been able to meet his daughter Arshiya in Delhi on the day he was freed, but the bail papers were not ready and then Gandhi Jayanti occurred the next day -- as a result his trip home was delayed.

"So we had to wait till Saturday. But it doesn't matter. I've waited three months for Shiney to be released. I don't mind waiting one more day," said Anupam.

She says she didn't know how to react to the bail plea being accepted.

"It just goes to prove that the law of the country is always trustworthy. I've a feeling Shiney will never have to go back (to jail). God has tested us enough. If he has been suffering inside, I've been suffering outside."

Shiney can't wait to be united with his daughter Arshiya.

"Do you know when I last met Shiney in court on September 25, he was in acute pain. I think he was doing something in jail when something in his back got severely strained. He told me he had dreamt of our daughter. And the same day my parents in Delhi told me Arshiya had woken up calling out, 'Papa'. I saw that as a premonition for Shiney's freedom."

The fact that Shiney won't be able to stay in Mumbai is not seen by his wife as a damper.

"Why should I be unhappy about such a small matter when I've got my husband back and our daughter has got her father back? We'll be just fine in Delhi. I see our life coming together again, with the good wishes of our friends, like (filmmaker) Ashok Pundit who has been a brother to me through this trying period," she said.