She smiles at you and welcomes you with a warmth fading away from human beings. People come to her beauty parlour for that also I suppose. What each woman needs to look good is a personal touch and Shweta di as we call her does just that. Her smile travelling to the eyes that beam as they welcome you. When she jokes around and entertains you as she gives a perfect arc to your eyebrows or pays attention to the smallest scar while tending to your skin you would feel she is the happiest person on earth. But when in a rare moment of sadness on a bad day after two years of knowing her she reveals she is bringing up her two children single handed, by running a small beauty parlour for women in a middle class locality in a small town in Gujarat, you will just wonder ...do you even know her? How does she hide the pain? Upon asking these questions she answers with a smile "I chose to be a mother to a daughter and another daughter". That in short defines a lot but what she has endured and yet dared to embrace the And is an inspiration for every woman.
A fair bride, a good sum of dowry, gifts for life and a son or better more sons, are some of the demands from a daughter in law across classes in India. It was more so of in the era gone by, and do instead of spending on Shweta Di's education her parents saved for her dowry as do most Indian parents. A huge mistake that is costing one everything. Soon after Shweta Di's marriage her in laws would abuse her for being dark coloured. They demanded for more and more money, which her poor parents couldn't afford. Knowing she never asked and was beaten up regularly by husband and in-laws. Then came the greatest crime a woman in Indian society make, give birth to "a girl child". They abused and pressurised her again and she was pregnant once more though doctors suggested a break in between. When do Indian women have those privileges?
She clearly remembers the faces after second delivery. It was her mother in law first and then her husband, with the worst expression on their faces uttering the words "its a girl again, why can't you just produce a son for us". The child was abandoned by everyone and the operated mother Shweta Di picked her up. When she was taken home plans were being made to kill the child, not welcome it. It was all there a huge tub full of water. Her mother in law took the baby and drowned it. She cried and fought and before it was too late she took it back. They hit her, injured her like animals, she took it for her daughter. Then they said it "If you wish to live in this house, drown the child". How could a mother, any mother in the world do that? She chose her child. She left for her mothers place but they were poor people and for how long could they sustain her. Her mental condition broke, she knew she had no where to go, she was alone and had two girls to bring up. What would she do?
She was being treated at a Psychiatric hospital. As the medication helped her forget her problem and de-stress she decided to live her dream that she had before marriage of being a beautician. Not having enough money for professional courses, she would go to local beauticians who needed assistance and would teach her. The little money she got home, was welcome and so was she more welcome than the burden before. She learnt little by little, step by step and when confident enough she set up her own.
Today she earns on her own, has her personal outlet, a flat and is now learning English. Her husband couldn't find another fair skin bride it seems or now needs her back she isn't taking him, for her he is the devil who wanted to kill her daughter. Her daughters study in English medium school and she only saves for their education.
Her journey is yet to achieve its destination but she has started, the best part she always smiles and if you didn't know her closely you would feel she is happy woman. Its the local hero's like her that motivate me. She was given a choice to be a mother or a wife but today she is an excellent beautician and the mother of a girl child and another girl child and an amazing fighter at that.
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