What to say about myself, where to start? I do find it difficult but here I am trying because of all of you as that’s how we can empower each other. My childhood was spent in Malad (Mumbai). My mother initially worked as a domestic worker in a small company and was later a caretaker and into house help. We were member of 5 including me, my younger sister, mother, addicted father and another important person is my grandmother whom I loved the most and who pampered me the most during my childhood.
Facing poverty, I studied only till 8th grade, that too in a municipal school. Later, I was helping my mother by doing housework and then working in a small company for a few days. My father left us when I was young and he never returned. A few years later, my mom remarried. Finally, my mother got tired of the husband who was into gambling addiction and left him. After that all the responsibilities were taken by my grandmother and mother.
We lived on the Chawl. Only four women in the house and looking to the societies unsafety my mother got me married at the age of 18. I didn’t like it much but I could not reciprocate. Barely a year after the marriage, my mother-in-law, father-in-law and husband started harassing me for not bringing dowry. We parted because of the daily abuse I received. My grandmother’s support made me move on from that.
I didn’t want the life I lived so far in chawl. So, I started working in catering, bought a house on rent, forgot everything and started a new life. That’s where I fall in love with a boy but being a Muslim turning love into marriage was a task which anyhow we both managed as none of our family members were supportive and also did not accept our marriage. A few months later I got pregnant, during that time my husband started showing its true colors with same situation followed in house my baby was born.
He started abusing and beating me daily along with filthy language when I was 8 months pregnant. I thought that life would end like this. I tried to hang myself in the 8th month pregnancy as his father was also supporting him. One day he told me I want to marry someone else, you leave the house, my baby was three-month toddler it shattered my world completely, future felt scary to me and I started pleading and begging to the entire family but all the efforts failed, they threw me out of the house the very moment.
Already the marriage decision of mine was against my mom and grandmom, so going back to them was not at all my option, again suicidal thought was coming up and I even went to the railway track for the same. Looking at my daughter I changed my thoughts and spent several starving days and nights on the station. Fortunate enough one of my native person did saw me and informed my mother about me, and Yes that was my turning point. My mom took me back home and I realized that I have to be tuff and stronger as no one ever came even to enquire about my daughter and her well being, they probably don’t even know if we are alive or not. Anyway now my daughter is studying. I am trying to give her what I did not get in life. We share a great friendship bond.
I work as a manager in a bank in (thanks to Maharashtra Shramik Credit co. Operative housing ltd). Being interested in social work, I am active in some social organization. Today I am standing on my own feet or can express being independent woman have took care of my loved ones. I have my own house. Seeing this, my mother feels proud. One of my best friend helped me a lot to come out of this trouble and gave me mental support. In the meantime, I completed my remaining education up to graduation.
I love listening to music, walking, shopping. It usually takes a while for me to make friends now but if once connected then its long term.A lot of good things happened in life as well as sudden ones. But happy now. My daughter who loves me, my special friend who stands by my side and my mother who supports me no matter how tired I am from work and my other child Pari (Dog) and son Simba (Cat)
Living a very happy life.
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