Rasing a daughter witout a father in Indian society is dreadful..
What the man did was not good...she should clam maintenance and make her daughter stand in her own feet...and forget about her husband...she should have forgotten her by now..17 years is too long a time..
In this situation my feelings are with...the lady and her daughter...
Probably the husband is not able to come back because he is illegally staying in the US...
DF