An Unpredictable and Undeserving Story - of a mother & daughter

 A girl(Sangeeta) was born in a very remote village of Bihar, as she grew she was not offered any education and was totally dedicated towards her marriage. She was always told that the only aim in her life was to marry someone and raise a family. Time passed and she was 15. At this point let me make you aware of a marriage tradition that you all must have heard and that is "Pakadawa Vivah". In this Vivah or marriage, the bride's family chooses a groom or keeps an eye on someone they want to marry their girl, and on the decided date, the bride side just kidnaps the supposed groom and is forced into marriage. This is something that has been practiced for so long in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Pakadawa Vivah also saved the dowry that the bride's parents have to offer to the groom in return for the marriage.

Sangeeta was born at a time when there were no strict rules against Pakadawa Vivah and as she was one of the 5 sisters in her home her faith was already decided. As she turned 15, she was married to a man and of course, it was a Pakadawa Vivah. Sangeeta has no idea as to what was going on in her life, she was sent with the man she was married to. She never got the acceptance and love she deserved because she was married to a boy who was the only son of his parents and so the boy's marriage was expected to bring lots and lots of dowry and Sangeeta brought none. 

Sangeeta had no choice she managed to live there, soon she gave birth to a baby girl. The girl was named Seema, Sangeeta had many dreams for her baby girl, she decided that she will never let Seema undergo the difficulties that she herself had gone through. Sangeeta's husband was a drunkard and was against the idea of educating girls. Sangeeta thought that at least her baby girl will get a good family after her marriage, she will get all the happiness that she deserves and what Sangeeta never got.

Time passed and Seema was 18, in Bihar where girls are supposed to get married at the age of 16 Seema got a chance to be with her parents a few years more. As planned Seema's marriage was fixed and this was not going to be a "Pakadawa Vivah". Sangeeta was on cloud nine and was very excited. Sangeeta invited all her relatives. They were offering a good amount of dowry everything was going well, all the rituals were being done to their fullest.

The Barat arrived and was welcomed, everything was fine until someone came and informed Sangeeta's husband that the groom is handicapped and is not able to move his right hand. This news spread like fire in the forest and the bride's family was cheated as the disability was not known to them. Sangeeta and her husband decided that they are not ready for the marriage and the Barat will be returned. Then came into role the so-called society and its people who said that returning a Barat is not considered as a good omen and they need to find another way.

Sangeeta could not figure out anything she was just sitting still in one corner of the room. Suddenly someone came with the news that the groom has a cousin who is quite well off and can be considered as an option. Sangeeta's husband agreed at the time and they abducted the young man. The young man was forced to marry as his father was threatened with an AK47 pistol. Sangeeta could not figure out what was happening with her baby girl and when she came to know she fell unconscious. 

Seema was forced to go with the young man to whom she was now married, the boy refused to accept her and take her with him. The boy even said that he would commit suicide as his and his brother's life was ruined and he cannot accept the girl who was going to be his brother's wife. In the end, Seema went with him and returned the next day after the groom's side filed a case against the bride's side.

Sangeeta was hopeless, destroyed and could not eat for days. Seema who was the newlywed bride was devastated and her life was changed as hell. At last, what happened with Sangeeta's daughter was worse than she had ever imagined and all her dreams were crushed in that one night, that one ugly night. Seema was forced to live a life that had no respect and no dignity.

In both the cases of Sangeeta and Seema the girl had no rights to decide what was happening with them, their wish, their will was not even asked. Why does it still happen in a country like ours where we have strict laws against all this? We still need to make the girls aware of their rights, they need to stand for themselves, they need to be equally participating in the decisions that involve their lives even if they are called outspoken or besharam. 

Let's make the girls more powerful and more aware.