The first week in her new home was a performance. Anjali played her part perfectly. She woke before dawn, prayed with the family, helped her mother-in-law in the kitchen, and spent her days learning the intricate rules of the Shekhawat household. She was a ghost in her own life, her vibrant personality buried under layers of silk and duty.

Her husband, Rajiv, was a sweet but simple man. He was kind to her, but his attentions were clumsy and brief. He was more interested in his friends and ...