Local and Global

Poonam Maini was 17, in college in India, when her mom delivered some news that shook the teenager's world: A teenage boy was coming over to meet her in a potential arranged marriage. If he and his family liked Poonam, who wanted to be a lawyer, she would have to marry him.

In 10 days.

Maini went through with the arranged marriage. It was the start of a life odyssey that has taken her from her native Punjab, India, to Sarasota. More bumps would be forthcoming, centered on what Maini says was a physically and mentally abusive marriage that lasted 18 years.