After her husband's sudden death in a road accident, Supriya was totally shattered. She did not how to balance her job as well as home alone without her better half Sachin. Her relation with Sachin was quiet sorted. They had two little cute kids. They never took the help from anyone and raised their children as they desired. Now, she was finding it difficult to manage everything alone, she was feeling lonely and empty and needed his physical presence. To raise her kids alone as a single woman was very challenging for her, although she kept the maid now for her help but parenting and apart from it all the financial tensions handling alone made her more frustrated and depressed. Being a widow, she was considered "unlucky". She was forbidden to attend community rituals and celebrations - even weddings. She was forced to stay in her depressed world. She grew very weak and suffered from pain. She thought to die many times- because then she could finally be free from her life's vicious cycle of pain and humiliation, but her kids were the only reason for her survival.
It had been five years now, she still miss Sachin. She was in the most fragile part of her life, and there was no time to breathe. Being a widow was the most terrible thing that ever happened to her in the last 35 years. Her family and inlaws were deeply rooted in the traditions. They never thought of Supriya's re-marriage. She was working then, as Sachin always supported her and now it was the need to work. She never took help from her parents or inlaws in any matter. Supriya's best friend and her colleague Roshni was the only moral support for her in these tough times. She asked Supriya to get more involved with the office groups, as she would feel better and less lonely. Slowly, she started to interact with the young brunch in the office. In this lot was Akshat. With time, Akshat became one of her good friends and they started to meet in coffee breaks, and during lunch. Supriya was at a senior position so she maintained the professional distance from Akshat in the office. But, there was something unsaid between both of them, they both were getting attracted and felt some spark. In a couple of months, they were sure of being together with each other. But Supriya was afraid to disclose her family and in-laws, as they will uproar on hearing this news, and so it was. Duniya kya kahegi, You are 35 now, understand your role as a mother. Why is your sexuality on fire?
She kept on listening all accusations, suddenly her elder daughter said, we have seen our Ma under depression, and her sleepless nights and teary eyes. After Dad's death, she had been completely barred from happiness, why so? She has the right to live and bring back all the hues in her life. MOM, say something till when you will listen quietly, you have to stand for yourself. Supriya was surprised to hear their daughter who was just 13 years, Being in her thoughts...even a child can think of my happiness then why can't they all. After a while, she said, if my kids are ready to accept me and Akshat then I have no regrets about breaking the widow rules. I will continue to live- really live- and not let widow's grief steal that away from me, no matter what you all say or what society says.
To those eyebrow raisers, there is a new flash... Heart expands as we find more people to love, and no one has finite love to distribute. You can love someone new without detracting love from someone old. With absolutely no intended disrespect or lack of affection, I am making a conscious decision to embrace what is left of my own life. I am trying to live in the present, and to do that, it's sometimes necessary to move from the past.
In Hindu culture, a woman wearing a red tika means she is married, and the red color signifies true love and prosperity. However, widows wearing red are not acceptable. They are the ones that are refrained from using bright colors, especially RED TIKA and RED ATTIRES. While the color red symbolizes the color of life and passion. Girls wear bright colors even before they are married, so why not after they are categorized into single women(widow). All have the privilege of empowering colors according to one's personal choice, Let's not be judgemental. Like Supriya all other single women have their right to take decisions for their happy life.
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