Finding a loving partner is considered as ultimate step in settling down. Finding a partner whose family loves you like your own back home? It sure is a fantasy lived by rare few girls. In our society filled with acute patriarchy and judgments being more prevalent than pollution in cities, what does an Unmarried Girl past her "prime" age go through?
Meet X.
Anxiety and depression about proposal verdicts are the main dishes with judgments and subtle jibes as the side dishes daily for the girl living at home, waiting to find a match. She has a lengthy list of all the things she can't do, doesn't matter whether or not she likes any of it.
She has to do a lot of things until she's married off but mind you, most aren't from her own free will. She has to go on about daily routine of house chores, has to duly take care of every family member's needs, has to cope with the anxiety of waiting for the answer from the recent proposal, has to smile all the time and unwaveringly manage motley guests at her place every week, has to watch her independent friends with cheerful facade as they settle down, has to periodically grapple her old love's memories and swallow down the bitter nostalgia with a scalding cup of tea, has to watch herself age in months everyday in front of mirror before getting on yet another day of routine, has to NOT dream about being independent despite being more able and educated than others, has to rely on the family for any financial assistance.
Everyday feels like hundred weeks and night is not a relief either. Why? Following day is more meaningless and mundane than previous. The reason she endures the taunts, repressed emotions, discarded needs is all for her family and for the messed up family, instead of seeing the sacrifices made, all that matters is the image in the society and the social circle.....
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Working women are prevalent now. Not only are they sought after "type" by families, they also have an air of sophistication around 'em. Some have it easy, some don't. Summation story of one such working woman.
Meet Y.
She needs to be up at 5 daily. Regardless of how tiring yesterday was, regardless of how long she spent crying last night over her boss's attempts to grope her in his cabin. Dark circles can be hidden. Pretty appearances can be extended. A professional working woman can never seem vulnerable. Isn't it the law of the corporate world?
She has to help her ever complaining, diabetic mother with her chores and hurry to get her younger brother dressed. She waits for the company cab at sharp 6:30. Miss it and she has to take the train filled with leering men to her remote located office and lose half day pay for being an hour late. No matter how covered up she is, perverts stare at her bosom and back as if they can see through it all. Every day she wonders, if being a pretty woman was a hidden curse. Misogynists, trying blaming her clothes now if she is raped, why don't you?
She used to be passionate about java and bagged awards for her innate talents at coding. She was even offered a good job at a reputed MNC in other city. But there was opposition at home as sanskari girls dont live away from home. Now she's a report manager at an automation company. Working almost double hours for half of the salary she could have earned as software developer
She was in love with a guy from her department. He was comforting and understanding and good looking, she even consummated their relationship after some reluctance. Few months down the line, she finds out hes a serial womanizer. Confronted and begged him to mend his ways but got dumped as soon as pregnancy came up. It broke her as she got her first born aborted. He spread rumors and there were disgraceful whispers and unwanted advances from who assumed she's that type of woman
She waits to get married to someone. Anyone. Just to get away from the hell her life has turned out to be...
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Back in victorian era, women who bore a bastard child were at the top of the shame chain of the society. From the moment they were branded as single mothers, everything was their fault. From making men sway towards immorality to bringing up criminals, single mothers were the root cause. Fast forward few hundred years, surprise! oh wait, no. Mankind has reached from candle light age to nuclear fusion propulsion systems but humanity has more less stayed the same. What was ideology then has become the basis of morality now. One of the stories of a hardship faced by the single mother is below.
Meet Z.
She is from a rich and influential Orthodox family. Being pampered by her family, friends and relatives, she led a rather haughty and enviable life. That was until her drunk childhood friend along with her few relatives raped her on during her birthday party.
Going through the trauma changed her outlook of life at rather young age. She decided to bear the child hoping the family would come through for her only to find herself become the pariah. The best solution they offered was to marry her off the rapist so that the news of her "tainting" died quietly. She would have rather committed suicide if not for the fetus growing inside her.
Leaving her family was the solution she decided and became an activist. She did leave huge imprints by creating orphanages and NGO's for single mothers but her personal life was reclusive as her influence and popularity came after a terrible tragedy. She had a still born child and lost her uterus, with it her chance to bear her own child. Regardless of the wide support and compassion for her all around her, she lives alone with words "damaged goods" ringing in her head. Probably till the very end.....
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