Yay!!!
WOW: 38 missed calls in 10 mins! He wondered
what was going on'
“I am not getting what your problem is? Does
he beat you, Slap you?” asked the mother quite irritatingly.
“No mummy, but please talk to him and
his family.” the daughter replied
“Then? What will we talk about?”
“But I am sick! I live in a jail,
literally. He checks up on me every half an hour or so, sometimes even every fifteen
minutes.’ The daughter replied with teary eyes.
“Does slapping only amount to cruelty? He
had guts to record my line-phone conversations. He enquired with the neighbors
about me mamma!” she added
“And how did you get to know all this?”
asked the mother
“Singh aunty told me that. I found the
recorder under the table. Sometimes, he locks himself up in the room and
refuses to come out for hours. It is too much papa” said the daughter as she
switched her cell phone off and threw it away in disgust.
“Beta, it happens. He loves you. Every
boy shows his love in a different manner.” The mother tried to pacify her.
“By being so obsessive? Is this love
papa? He does not allow me to work even. I left my job under his pressure” she
again looked sadly at her father.
“Beta, he is well settled and do
not forget that you are enjoying the comforts you only dreamt of.” The mother
tried to throw in some positives.
“So? Is freedom not a thing? Mummy,
diamonds have blinded you to my deep agony. A foreign honeymoon is not a surety
of a good marriage. He avoids taking me out on social occasions even. If he
does not trust me, it is better to go our own ways” the daughter said firmly.
“I agree beta, he is a bit possessive
but he is handsome and well settled too. And you are making a scene out of a
minor thing” The mother said as she paced up and down the room.
“A bit? You call this a bit! The small
dreams that a girl harbors and the ambitions she nurtures over the years always
fade behind the glittery wedding to the rich groom. They lay like dead
under the flowery aisle that often leads to a golden prison. He comes home for lunch usually unannounced and gives me strange
stares that match the shades of an internal agony and helpless doubt of a
juvenile.” The daughter said as she looked her mother in the eye.
“See, we do not want your philosophy. We
have one more daughter to marry, can’t you see girl! If you cannot help in
finding a suitable match, at least do not create troubles.” The mother heaped
on the chair avoiding the eye contact.
“Mummy, I cannot live with a psycho like
this. Firstly, you did everything in such a hurry that I could not get time to interact
properly with him. I got to know his rotten mind only after marriage. I am
repenting your mistake mummy. Look papa, are you listening?” said the daughter as
she wiped another tear.
“I think you should stop this nonsense
now and focus on your personal life. What will you do if he gets interested in
another woman? Where will you go then? Hold your life girl; hold him fast
before he slips away. After all who finds such a prince so easily! The mother
said as if trying to push her outside the house.
“Alright, there is no hope I can see
here. I am going back to that dark hole”. She said, switching on her mobile.
“My God! Look at this papa! Do you need
more proof now? I switched it off for just 10 minutes!” the daughter said as
she gaped at the screen in awe and irritation.
“Beta,
probably you are right. I think it is time to talk to him and his parents
seriously and if required, seek medical help.” The father said and stood up when
he saw 38 missed calls
in 10 mins! He wondered what was going on.
PS: Mental troubles and deviated behavior
are not taken seriously in our country. Instead, marriage is considered to be a
panacea of all such issues. Visiting a psychiatrist or a councilor is still a
taboo. There are so many girls who are stuck with such abnormal spouses. It is
necessary to seek help in such cases; it can save bigger troubles in future.
I
have no appropriate words to describe how flabbergasted I feel at the news of
Barkatullah University in Bhopal launching the ‘Adarsh Bahu Course’ (Ideal daughter-in-law
Course). It is funny prima facie, but a serious look into it brings to fore some
depressing truths. Even in these times when we find a pleasure in our
non-traditional views and modern ways, such a course that aims towards training
young women to become good housewives and brides is discouraging. We are pushing
our women towards rut; forcing them to confine themselves into the space defined
by the men with rotten patriarchal mindsets. We are manipulating them psychologically
and making them visionless, dumb machines suitable only for domesticity,
recreation and procreation. This course is a slap on our society that promises little
gender equality. The overall situation remains as grim and gloomy as ever. 
