She had demanded a divorce immediately, but his family had been reluctant, what if people came to know? They had tried all tricks in the book, to keep her from leaving.
Oh, the physical pain she had suffered, not to mention, the trauma and the heartbreak of losing one child after the other. And for no fault of theirs, or hers.
But I would remain silent, because husbands own the right to marital rape. The next morning I would get back to the never ending chores, as if nothing happened.
“How could you stoop so low? You are a woman, what about your honour, our honour? You reject a stable relationship, for excitement?
Relatives who hadn’t cared to as much talk to us since ages, were now offering advice, as to how being a mother, I was ruining my son’s future.
If you wonder why we didn’t complain, let me tell you it’s not that simple. Many of these offenders were powerful and influential.
So, to cut a long story short, the much needed paper work somehow brought me to where nobody else in my family had set foot in for almost thirty years.
She wondered how she had managed to lose herself amidst all the riches and luxury. She was bound in a walled garden, with a husband who loved her, as long as she stayed a few steps behind him in all walks of life.
What’s the big deal about Tribhanga that people are bothered by Kajal mouthing cuss words? Everyone suddenly seems to have woken up and taken notice!
'No offence, but ladies work, study & pursue their hobbies. You do well too, but there’s nothing very special like you don’t excel anywhere.'
In spite of everything, today’s man expects his life partner to be an epitome of perfection, appropriate height, figure, qualification, career, dressing sense, values ….NOT MORE, NOT LESS.
Here we are, lecturing about how Bollywood objectifies women, how regressive the item songs and their lyrics are and how perhaps it’s time we break the stereotype and treat women with more respect.
But then, if she had been a girl all the time, she would have never known the other side of life. How different it is, to be a man in our part of the world.
Does abuse always come with blows, taunts, physical and mental torture? Doesn't total disregard of someone's needs count as cause for bitterness too?
“Bhabhi worked before marriage, Ma. You insisted on her leaving her job. I’m not like you, I can’t think like you. That reminds me, Karthik seems to be free now, it’s his turn to mop the floor today. Bye."
She had heard stories of the forbidden land, the widows’ quarters, but little had she imagined it to be so miserable. She quietly followed her husband, why did visiting one’s own mother have to be a secret?
Women of the family are often blamed for having daughters instead of sons. Even though the gender of a child should not matter, here is an old newsflash from science: If anyone is responsible, its the men.
Now how would I feel if my girlfriend lands more roles than me, wins awards every now and then, and to top it all, works with my rivals and agrees to do intimate scenes with them? Wouldn’t I become a laughing stock?
Sexual harassment may not always be an inappropriate touch or comment. Some times, it is something seemingly mundane as phone calls too!
I tried everything possible to have a son. I followed diets, rituals, conducted all Poojas for a son. But still, nothing worked. I have two daughters now.
Never tolerate sexism and objectification from your professors or employers, your abilities and talents invalidated because you're a girl, says this author.
For the village folk, she was like a daughter they never had, a friend they could trust. They treated her with unadulterated love and respect, they looked up to her.
They fought pretty strongly Bhairavi, looks like, in less than a month, this Devdasi custom will be totally abolished, you will be free forever.
'We received an elaborate report indicating Dyscalculia.' And thus began a mother and son's battle against the dreaded Maths! How she battled it is amazing!
Why are women who do not remove body hair shamed for it, wonders the author - after all, it should be her choice!
The emotional gap between us, which we created over years, was bridged in a few seconds. Why did it take so long for us to laugh together?
To kiss or not to kiss is no longer the question. It has changed to - who kissed whom. And if it a woman taking that initiative: heavens forgive her!
An Indian woman who moved to Sweden after her marriage, the author shares an unusual aspect of what coming home means to her.
Those few hours when she returned from school to an empty house, were like Nirvana. She would deck up in her mother’s cosmetics and pose before the mirror, until the day her brother saw her.
There were hundreds of real humans who loved her, she glowed with confidence. She had long given up examining herself on the mirror, but of late, when she saw her reflection, her radiant self smiled back.
“You were ruining our family reputation. Living in with a man, without getting married. Oh, and the clothes you were wearing when we met that day in the city, so tight, so short.
She taught me MY value in MY life. She taught me to be a bit selfish and not center my entire day around my kid.
His brothers and friend Karna covered for him, as they fought my father’s soldiers. As for him, he took off with me in his chariot. And I don’t know why, I was bowled over.
He never loved me, and I was always a disgrace for him, didn’t speak well, didn’t dress well. I was a ‘country bumpkin’ as he called me and much to his relief, I stopped going out to parties with him.
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