MY SALUTES TO THE BRAVEHEARTS OF SOCIETY

Astonished by the hammering sound in the flat next to mine, I ran to see who had moved in. Our floor had four flats, out of which the one opposite our apartment was vacant for a long time. At the sudden sound of the things being moved in, I stood at the door to welcome the new neighbours. As I was standing to receive, I saw a beautiful lady with mysterious eyes smiling at me. I looked at her and smiled back, asking her was it she who had moved in. She replied with a nod. She was busy moving things. she had not brought many things. She looked too composed. I went in to make some snacks for her. I went to her flat with a mug of hot tea and snacks, offering her some help. She smiled and replied that she had very few things, and it was easy for her to organize. I asked her about the other members of the family. She passed a passive smile and replied that she was the only one in her family's name. I pitied her, saying that it must be difficult and tiresome to live alone. She replied that living alone is a boon in some cases. It is a relief. Her words seemed too vague to me. I just smiled, unable to understand her plight. I left her alone to set her house and came back to my flat. The whole night those eyes haunted me. They had so many complaints, so many questions, and so many mysteries hidden in them. They had awe in them. I thought it was not right on my part to interrogate her immediately.

Within a few days, we had become good friends. We used to meet each other over a cup of tea in the evenings after work. One day I mustered up all my courage and asked her what was hidden in her eyes. Why did her eyes have so many questions hidden in them? I told her that she was a beautiful woman, yet why was she alone?

She stared at me with a grin and told her story, which rose each hair of my body. She said that she was married to a man who was nearly fifteen years older than her. She had no complaints. She was happy. Smoothly her marriage went until he fell sick just after five years and never recovered and passed away. They had no kids. He had left a good fortune, but unfortunately, the relatives were so greedy that they planned and plotted to acquire the entire share. She lived in a joint family. Now the real torture started. They were entirely orthodox. In the name of custom, they started troubling her. She was forced to quit all her colorful and glittery clothes. They questioned her for whom is she wearing it? Her Mangal Sutra and bangles were snatched. As she was a beautiful woman, other ladies started feeling inferior complex. They were afraid that their husbands would attract her, so they started compelling her to shave her head, as was the custom. When things reached unbearable levels, she revolted. She said that it was tolerable until she was snatched of clothes and mangal sutra, but she was not ready if they would do physical torture. All this became a grave issue at home, and plotting and planning started how to tame her. She was not allowed to mingle with everybody. She was left aloof. She had to eat the leftover at home as though it was her fault that her hubby died. When it was time to console her, everybody started torturing her. Is this humane? Unable to bear the torture and the customs burdened on her, she walked out, saying NO to the nightmare.

Each word of hers pierced my heart severely. That night was the most difficult night for me. I could not sleep. I sat and went on thinking about how can we torture another person for no fault of her. Who gave us the right to do so? Who formed the rules of this society? Aren't they being created for the welfare of society, for our benefit? Why does not a man have to go through all these tortures when his wife dies? Thousands of questions were raised in my mind-blasting each nerve when no answer was found. I failed to comprehend the state of mind of a woman who had lost her husband, undergoing so much torture. Her courage astounded me. With so many questions and unknown mysteries, my night passed like a flash of light.

The next day, early in the morning, I went to her house and knocked on it. She was surprised to see me in the early hours. I just went in and hugged her. I told her that we might have reached the moon and the mars, but certain orthodox customs are still running in our society, which is hollowing it. I apologized to her for being part of that society. I stood facing her and saluted her for having the courage to say NO to the ugly rules and customs.

She smiled back at me and said that life is complicated at times, but still, we have no choice but to lead it. She said that each one of us has to fight our wars for better survival. She taught me the biggest lesson of life.

I salute all the brave hearts who have fought their brutal wars and come out with flying colors. They make us proud. Their courage, strength, and patience, with a smile, should be celebrated.