Its time to wake up.

Amina tried to hide her tears but her voice came out wet .Everyone in the house knew she was crying.But they can't allow her to stay in the house for some more days .Her aunts have been calling home from the morning gathering bits of information from their network of siblings.They all had the same question to ask ,"What happened? Ami had to leave yesterday ,right? ". These days they know there is something wrong , so answering such questions with a "Nothing , Don't feel like sending my daughter back .After all this is her house." does not help. They should send her back to her in-laws at any cost to keep the nosy relatives away.

Amina thought of the days at her in-laws place.When they realized that the bride's family has failed to present the promised dowry they sent her back home.But she was well aware of the debts her father already had and she kept quiet .She praised her in-laws care for her and returned back after a week promising her mother -in-law that the remaining amount will be sent soon.She didn't know how but she lied so confidently.Next time her in-laws dint bother to send the message with the girl , they went their own and informed their stand.It was a few thousands but her family couldn't even give a five hundred rupee in that situation.

She packed things in a black bag wiping tears with her sleeves.She put the thin golden bangle that barely has a circular shape into a small jewel box.Ami's step mother had removed it from her hands and given to her in the morning .She said,"this is the last thing remaining with me .I don't need a bangle over your life". Amina hugged her tightly and thought' she is not my mother'.The one whom her father married one week after her mother's death.She still remember the bargains that happened during her father's second marriage."I have spent a lot on my first wife's treatment , my only expectation is the dowry they offer .I need such proposals only" her father was shouting at the marriage broker. He was successful in arranging such a wedding.The only ceremony being the promise between her father and his father-in-law in the traditional way.But her father was keen in making sure that the dowry is intact as currency notes and golden ornaments ."This is more than the present day market rate. Remember you got this only because she is a divorcee ", her father gave a dry smile at someone's comment.
The girl who was just five years elder than Amina became her step mom .She and her younger sister didn't even look at her face for a month.But being rude to the children or such things that step mom's from TV soaps do were not in her power.Soon she became close to the girls ,she could never replace their mother but the least she became a friend.She had to watch all the fortunes she brought with her draining out of her husband's hand.

........... this events continued till they sold their house and payed the whole dowry.

Do you think this story of two women sucks? or this is such an unplanned one? .It is because reality sucks in many cases and life is totally unplanned.This is a true story I have witnessed.Amina had given up her graduation since the groom's family wanted her to be in their kitchen.This happened in the state of Kerala which boast of cent percent literacy and awareness and I bet this is not a rare case at least in certain communities and regions. In spite of having enough laws to prevent such things this is not receding.How can people name selling their daughters paying off money 'a prestige issue'? .Or what are the other drives , that I'm unable to understand, to pay off such huge amounts as dowry ? Does anybody think a girl can be happy with someone who bargained with her family to accept her as his partner?
This post is my entry to IndusLadies International Women's Day Blog Contest.Thank you Pinash



Tagging my friends
Ashikshitha
Kavita
Sujata

(Friends I know its too late to tag but you are some women I wish to hear from).
for tagging me.

Sleep baby sleep .

" .... and the fox ran away .", father puts a full stop to the story he made out of nothing .But the kid pulls his hand and demands him to tell what happened to the wise rabbit who taught the fox a lesson. "The rabbit went to his burrow" .Kid raises her head from bed and asks "if the fox returns....if there is another fox " , "No baby , the rabbit reached home safe.Now you sleep" father pats her back and the kid sleeps with her l'il right leg resting on father .
Next day she demands a song .Father sings the only few lines he ever know , night after night whenever the kid wishes.Father sings a lullaby that was written for a young prince.He explains the sights Bhima saw on his way to fetch Sougandhikam and another poem that the kid 'd learn in school after 5 years.Every time dad explains the meaning of each line and some times the kid helps him to complete a story. Kid never thought her father has a terrible sense of music.
Mother has a huge repository of stories but she rarely manages to finish her chores by kid's bedtime.Kid likes to hear the stories that the great grand mother once told to mother. "Bhishma was their grand father ..." , the kid imagined her grand father in a war field which is almost as big as their back yard .She wondered if Bhishma had taken his grand children to the rice fields to show the white cranes as her grand father does.She likes to rest her head on mother's hand and fell asleep.
She dreamed of uncle moon who had followed her all the way that evening in the sky .She had hidden herself inside the house to see if moon follows , to her wonder moon was looking for her right outside the window in the sky .She stopped peeping and shouted loudly ,"I'm here ."

Years went on , she read stories herself , told that to younger cousins and forgot many . But still father and mother stay awake to call the girl at bedtime and make sure their kid is all set to go to bed. Moon is no longer her uncle. The time machine never runs in reverse.

Pic courtesy :storytime