The battle against our faux societal beliefs has just begun.
For the longest time now, we keep shouting it out to the world that ‘we’ the young Indian brigade have a modern outlook, we are fighting the stereotypes and hate our ancestors!
Before you start believing in all that… here, let me give you a reality check: The cool looking dude in your neighborhood with messed up hair, IIT degree, high paying job and a guitar in hand… still wants to marry the VIRGIN girl; his parents arrange for him over high tea!
A woman names Zaaria, a single mom fights with the stigma of being a divorcee single mother everyday for over a decade now, she has spent the last three years negotiating with the legal system to obtain passport for her 10 year old son!
Zaaria, has had a fairy tale wedding when she was 19…
…Then, “things changed drastically, over all it wasn’t just the ex it was the whole family, which betrayed me to stay on the ex husband good side. He was one sour grape in the whole bunch. They were any bride’s worst nightmare - Pathological liars, manipulators, abusive people, they couldn’t keep one 19 year old safe.”
She came back when she was three months pregnant.
“So 30 days after I had delivered and my stitches hadn’t healed – I went to the family court to fight for my son. My son has been to more courtrooms in the first 5 years of his life than most people ever would.”
Today, she struggles with officers in the passport office to get a valid passport for her son, which forced her to start a petition on Change.org
Most annoying questions are asked, “ Where is the father? Where is the ex husband? Why can’t you get an NOC? If you don’t know where he is, then file a missing complaint. It’s absurd! after telling them the whole story in a nutshell, and showing documents to back the facts.”
Zaaria has been through the worst; marital rape and extreme violence. But, her spirit is courageous and refuses to give up!
“It’s been tough to trust people. I know many men are amazing and would kill to keep their partners Happy. I haven’t given up relationships or lost hope. Just haven’t found the right one.”
With each scar that is healed, Zaaria’s belief in Love is reaffirmed.
“The past was bad luck. Yes, I am open now, I think it’s great to have companionship. Trust takes a whole while to build up, and why not! I am sure to find a partner that understands me.”
My fingers are shivering and the tiny muscles around my lips and eyes contract as I write this. Such is the strength of the mask that others passeth upon us as our own. We live with them get used to them and make others suffer for our so called sense of justice, order and morality.
Let’s stop entertaining lies. Let’s shed the illusions down. Let’s sign Zaara’s petition petition for change Now!
