Quiet She
It's a story of Jaya.
Who has been married for 17 years,
Unhappy, unsatisfied and full of fears,
That's how her married life appears.
Before marriage she was subordinate to a male
After marriage she wished to freely inhale,
But the colours of her life turned out more pale.
And then, she got to know the depth of the patriarchy,
Where she has no career, no choices, no decisions,
Apart from raising the children, and looking after the others, without being tardy.
She starts recalling, what her grandmother used to say,
A role of idle lady you should play,
To get a good husband, it's the only way
Learn cooking cleaning and always obey to what everyone say.
She has kept a long silence,
To maintain her dignity and existence.
That's what she was taught by the society and her grand mother.
No matter what happens a good marriage means staying together.
She was married to a businessman by profession.
They both were not happy with their relation.
Stayed together for years, yet no communication.
What kind of relationship was that? Jaya and her husband had to live like a diplomat. Her mind was full of questions, Why no one considers her viewpoint and why there is no care for her emotions? But her life is just bound by so-called traditions. Then, she became aware about her individuality, And thought of writing all such rationality. Then, society started doubting her personality. When she started expressing herself in her writings, She got to know that no one likes her sophisticated opinions. Society again showed their dominion. And then an unpleasant incident happened in her life, Her husband lost the job and she has to role play an emotional wife She had hardly recovered from that situation, And she got the news that her teenage son has fled the house. And now her raising skills are under speculation. Then Jaya thought of ending her plight, She picked up her own fight and fought for her own rights. She Broke that long silence, to make her life more resilient. So that rest of her life would be redeemed from the 17 years of her bad dream. WRITTEN BY: Dimple Adlakha, Final Year, Development Communication and Extension, Lady Irwin College EDITTED BY: Pratibha singh INSPIRED BY: Shashi Deshpande's book 'That Long Silence"