The continued occurrence of dowry deaths in India is a grim reminder of how deep-rooted patriarchy and material greed remain in our society. Despite strict laws like the Dowry Prohibition Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code that deal with cruelty and murder for dowry, families still treat daughters-in-law as transactional assets. The horrifying reality is that many young women lose their lives due to unmet dowry demands — a crime cloaked in the name of tradition.