“Sia. You have had that gleam in your eyes.... a joy ...You found that one thing that made you more complete, like I do when I tie the ghungroos and dance! Today I can’t bear to look at the sadness in you.”

Say it loud and clear, ladies, that what you need from your spouse is a partnership in making family decisions, and support in your personal decisions - not "permission". 

Its highly important for parents to accept their daughters the way they are. Holding her back would do no good. Let her achieve by being outspoken. 

How hideous of Haryana men to gang rape innocent young girls and blame them for 'inviting' it? The root cause is the prevailing conditions in the state feels the author.    

“No! Mrs Adlam told us to colour-in outside the lines and make a bigger picture so that’s exactly what I'm doing. It’s pretty, right? It’s pretty.”