A 25-year-old woman named Rita from Jalalpur, Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh, tragically died during a bus journey after receiving a deeply disturbing phone call. The call came via her husband Shailendra’s mobile phone, but the person on the line identified herself as his “second wife” and told Rita, “There is no need for you to return to your in-laws’ house.” The unexpected revelation left Rita visibly distraught and emotionally shattered.

Rita was traveling from Delhi to her village in Hardoi, accompanied by her mother and brother. The call triggered an emotional breakdown—she began crying uncontrollably in her mother’s lap and soon complained of feeling unwell. While the bus was passing Dhikunni village, under Atarouli police station’s jurisdiction, Rita suddenly collapsed and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Her family revealed that Rita had been under considerable emotional stress due to ongoing marital issues. She had been married to Shailendra, a resident of Baniya Mau in Sitapur, for approximately two and a half years. Shortly after their marriage, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had returned to her maternal home for treatment. Though she recovered and went back to her in-laws’ home, disagreements continued. In May, after her father passed away, she again relocated to her parental home. Escalating tensions eventually prompted her move to Delhi with her mother and brother.

Following her sudden demise, her brother filed a complaint with the Atarouli police. Inspector-in-charge Markandey Singh confirmed that Rita’s body has been sent for an autopsy. Police are also investigating the phone call’s origin, including reviewing call records to determine whether foul play was involved—though they await forensic and postmortem findings to establish the official cause of death.

The incident has spurred grief and debate within the community, with relatives and neighbors gathering in Rita’s village in sorrow. The tragedy has also sparked dialogue over the effects of mental and emotional stress in strained relationships and the importance of mental health support.