Trust issue :)

Woaah woaah woaah...…a whole year gone! I made a resolution to keep writing last year and it obviously didn’t work out. But hey, I’m a boomerang...So here we go again xD

❄️ THE TRUST ISSUE ❄️

People hide things for their gain,    

To spare themselves a little pain.   

But blind they stay to what it cost,   

The hearts they hurt, the trust they lost.

They chase their wants, they guard their lies,

Ignoring tears in others’ eyes.     

For every truth that’s left untold,    

Friendships turn from warm to cold.

And when they look back, years away, 

Regret will come but none will stay. 

For trust once broken can’t be mended,

Some bonds are gone once they’ve been ended.

The one that got away :)

Hey there !

Long time, no see, rather no blog...Not because I’ve been swamped with work, just didn’t have the inspiration or the drive to write. I can be pretty lazy at times :P

But here’s a poem that’s been on my mind for the last two weeks. Finally getting around to it :)

She liked you then, but thought it best,
To keep her heart in quiet rest.
Your world, your life - so far, it seemed,
Fitting into it felt like a distant dream. 

But fate had plans, and you did meet,
In person now, her heart skipped a beat.
The warmth, the glance, the spark,
It felt like you had left your mark. 

What was once distant, felt so near,
A connection built without fear.
The one she thought she’d never find,
Had quietly lived within her mind.

Yet timing’s cruel, the hour so late,
For she had pledged and sealed her fate.
A commitment set, a promise made,
But in her heart, her feelings swayed.

Would things have been so different then?
Had paths not crossed in that moment’s bend?
She knew she cannot turn what’s done around,
In silence, destiny's echo would sound.

The silence of family

How does it feel when your own father

Turns his back on your dreams?

When he dismisses your hopes,

And listens only to others’ screams?

How does it feel when your brother

Turns a blind eye to your plea?

When you seek his guidance and care,

He's nowhere to be seen, just leaves you be.

How does it feel when your father

Believes you're always in the wrong?

And never trusts you to be worthy,

No matter how hard you sing your song.

How does it feel when your brother

Deceives you with promises of care?

And when the moment arrives for action,

He’s nowhere near, not even there.

How does it feel ?

Just howwwww ?

Princess : More Tears to Cry

Hey guys !

Guess what ??? I finally found time to get back to blogging after giving up on becoming a full-time binge-watcher today 😅 
"Princess : More Tears to Cry" is a book that moved my heart with its raw and compelling depiction of women's lives in Saudi Arabia.

The book is about Princess Sultana, a Saudi royal who fights for women's rights. We are dropped into a world where women are often treated as commodities, with their lives being controlled by male relatives - fathers, brothers or husbands. We get to know the story of a young girl married off to an elderly man. Her fate is sealed, not by her own will but by the decision of her male relatives. This is a testament to the deep-rooted patriarchy that denies women the right over their own lives and bodies. Guardianship system in Saudi inhibits a woman's ability to make independent decisions....ranging from traveling to seeking medical care.

Sasson also throws light on the daily struggle women face in accessing basic rights and services in Saudi. Education and employment, which are taken for granted in many parts of the world remain battlegrounds for Saudi women. There is this story of a woman who studies secretly to become a doctor, risking severe punishment if discovered. What I loved the most about this book is how Sasson shines the spotlight on these courageous women who defy norms for self-improvement and independence despite societal backlash and legal hurdles :)

"Princess: More Tears to Cry" is a strong reminder of the ongoing fight for women's rights and the need for worldwide support. Though there has been progress, achieving equality is still a tough and long journey !

 

The power of her unspoken words

Her flaw, it’s true, she won’t always admit,

When wrong steps are taken, or when she slips a bit.

But she’s been learning, slow and steady,

Ready to change, to grow when she’s ready.

He’s blind to her strength, her fire, her fight,

Blaming her always, claiming it’s his right,

She never once mentioned the flaws that he hid,

The anger, the ego, the things that he did.

Self-respect knocked, she answered at last,

This time she stood tall, no longer her past.

She let him go, though it tore her apart,

Still hoping he’d come with an open heart.

A simple “sorry,” a tender plea,

Could bring back what was meant to be.

But silence fell, no hand reached through,

And she learned none of it was true.

Code Red

Saru and her friends usually go for a walk around the office campus after lunch every day. It’s the best way for them to unwind a bit, stretch their legs and talk about everything but work.

One particular day, they got down the lift and were heading towards the track when Saru heard her friend Shiv shout, "Why are you walking like a snail? Keep up with us !"

Normally, Saru would sync her pace with theirs without any difficulty. But today was a completely different story. She simply couldn't keep up....no matter how hard she tried ! It was the second day of her period, and she was running on fumes ! Day one is tough, day three is manageable, but day two? It's brutal. Her whole body ached. She was battling endless cramps, heavy and tender breasts, sharp pain in her pubic area, hips, and thighs - Saru felt like her body was waging a war against her !

Her friend Soha, noticed her struggle and jumped in, "She’s on her period. That’s probably why she isn’t able to walk as fast."

Shiv turned towards Saru and said, "Come on, it’s a monthly ritual, right? You still haven’t gotten used to it? It's just a period....I think you're over reacting....You're struggling like this because you’re probably too weak. Now, come on, walk faster."

His words made Saru's face turn red with anger. She marched up to him, barely able to contain her frustration, and said, "No uterus, no opinion. Unless you've had to deal with period pain, you don't get to have a say. It's not just a monthly ritual or a small inconvenience. It is serious pain. Try bleeding and cramping every month and you'll realise that it's not as easy as you think. Your perspective lacks depth and experience....You need to grow up !"

A message to men from Aunt Flo: 

If you belong to the sect of men who think women overreact when I visit them: it’s time to educate yourselves and show some empathy. Menstrual pain is not a trivial matter....It can be excruciating. Dismissing it as weakness is not only insensitive but also ignorant.

Respect the experiences that women go through. Understand that what may seem routine to you is a significant and painful part of their lives. 

Can y'all be a little empathetic to women when they are riding the cotton pony ? It's not an unreasonable request after all !

A four-lettered force

Hey guys !

I know that my blogposts are usually in the bottom of your priority list but at times, its good to keep up the facade and pretend like it's your top priority 😛

Here's Yeti signing into June on a high note with this post !

A FOUR-LETTERED FORCE

It cannot be explained by any theory because it doesn't have a definitive or a distinct meaning.  

A force that is so much stronger than the nuclear force that it’s effects are permanent and can haunt one for a lifetime.

Not exactly an attractive force, but includes an unexplainable desirability that goes beyond words.

Could be a magnetic force given it attracts two hearts.

Not exactly an electrical force as it cannot be confined to the theory that opposites attract and likes repel.

It may be perceived as a frictional force, but it doesn’t involve any roughness; it's only kindness !

A magical force, yet it is not so uncommon... you'd find it everywhere you turn around !

It is a force that is independent of distance, time and anything that can be measured. 

The force that drives the universe,

The force that keeps the world going,

Love - the force that lies inside each of us !

All eyes on Rafah

I penned this poem in the midst of Russia's attack on Ukraine. With Israel striking Gaza once again, it felt appropriate to share it now. 

Here it goes...

We know naught of sweet dreams,

We know naught of love,

All we know, is of nightmares,

And the war-stricken air above.

We know naught of rain,

We know naught of sunshine,

All we know, is of pain,

And hunger with no food to dine.

We see no roof,

We see no light,

All we see, is proof,

Or our sinister plight.

Rubbles are now our toys,

And cement, our make up,

Bereaved children go mad,

On losing their mum and dad.

Once a country,

Now no boundary.

Oh god ! can't you see past the distant blue ?

Or these men have bombed you too ?

All we crave, is a breath of fresh air,

Is that really unfair ?

My heart goes out to people whose lives have been cut short by war....If only there was a way to protect them from such cruelty :) 

A song that hit hard

A monday with no meetings and pressing tasks ! Looks like the universe has granted me the gift of time. And what better way to spend it than playing a snippet in my veena or indulging in a bit of writing ?

My day began like any other….morning rush, a heap of mails, and the never-ending torment of having to extract stress loads. But as the clock struck 4:30, my father appeared like a torch-bearer of freedom to pick me up from work.

As I cozied up into the passenger seat of my dad's car, my mind delved into The Bretton Woods Agreement, a topic that had stirred my interest this morning and I resorted to reading more about it in Investopedia. I found my attention go astray when I heard the cheerful voice of “ullooru Narayana vandhitaaru” in Radiocity 98.3….It was a segment that I totally loved, a perfect concoction of humour and astrology !

Attempting to multitask between reading and listening proved to be a challenge. "Don't multitask….You aren’t good at it" my father taunted, "either read or listen to the FM." Now, anyone who knows me well would easily guess which option I chose.

As we made our way through the Maduravoyal Bypass, the FM treated us to "Karai Vandha Pirage," a classic from the movie '96.  I've never been a fan of 96. Not that it's a bad movie….I just couldn't connect with it like the rest of the world did. So, when the song began playing, I was prepared to dismiss it, like I always would but I couldn’t….I simply couldn’t and I rather found myself strangely drawn to the song.

Tamil isn't my strongest forte….so, every time I listened to this song, it felt like I was discovering something new. Especially the first two lines: "Karai vandha pirage, pidikidhu kadalai, nirai vandha pirage, puriyudhu ulagai." They spoke to me in a way I would've never expected.

But there was a snag….the word "nirai” in second line left me scratching my head. Thankfully, a quick search on Google revealed its essence: "you end up liking the ocean once you reach the shore; you start understanding the world once your hair turns grey." And just like that, the song gave me a whole new perspective.

As the song continued, I found myself not just enjoying the music but also trying to decipher the meaning behind each lyric…My friend had told me to give this song a chance and I’m totally grateful for that nudge….Here’s to opening up to music outside of my usual taste !

Now….If you haven’t listened to this song yet, it’s time to stop doing what you're doing and treat your ears !

P.S. As I was listening to this track, I realised that songs have a way of reminding us of people who introduce them to us. It's like they are with us, even when they are not :)

Stay !

Hey guys,

I woke up to a throbbing migraine this morning and called in sick. Slept like a dead log till afternoon and I finally feel a lot better !

Today marks the end of the #NaPoWriMo and I was really keen on writing something.

Back in the end of March, I promised myself that I'd write everyday this month but come on, when have I ever managed to stick on to promises like that 😅

Thanks to FSP2Z being a schedule driven project and the unrealistic deadline set for the IFC package of piling contract, I found myself always pressing for time. Nevertheless, I resorted to writing atleast once a week.

Okay, That's enough ranting from my end...Don't hit the close button without reading the poem now !

Here it goes... Presenting to y'all today's poem "STAY" (Remember when young Murph tells Cooper to "stay" in interstellar ? - It's the same emotion here as well) 

Stay,

For I know this wouldn't last,

You and I, would be a dream,

And the dream would fade,

When night meets the day.

Hold on to me,

Like the leaves on a flimsy branch,

Dangling to the tunes,

Of the distant wind.

Cos anytime now we'd have to part,

And when the time comes,

You'd be gone.

Our dreams would be washed,

But hey, this moment, where you and I,

Keep stealing glances,

Between silent conversations,

Would be etched in our hearts,

Till the end of time !

So....Stay,

Stay with me and let us be.

P.S: Just because I write stuff, doesn't mean I sail through it. A writer can also draw inspiration from other people...So, don't flood my WhatsApp chat window with messages like 'Oooooooh....you finally found the love of your life, is it ?" 

And goodbye for now....pip pip !

A Heartfelt Gesture

In a world where the pace of life often leaves little room for genuine human connection, it's heartening to come across stories that remind us of kindness that exists among us. Today, I want to share one such story that reaffirmed my belief in the goodness of people.

It all began on a typical day, much like any other. My friend offered me a ride to work. Grateful for the convenience, I accepted without a second thought, little realizing that this simple gesture would soon unfold into something extraordinary.

As we navigated through the morning traffic, conversation flowed effortlessly between us, punctuated by shared laughter and the sound of melody streaming through the car’s speaker. It was a pleasant start to the day, filled with warmth.

As we reached the familiar sight of our workplace, my friend pulled in his car so I could step out. I hastily stepped out of the car because of the commotion induced by persistent honking of another car that was right behind us. 

I got off the car in a flustered state of mind and just as the door clicked shut behind me, a realization dawned—my phone, my lifeline to the world, was still nestled on the dashboard of my friend's car.

Panic surged through me like a tidal wave as I frantically searched for ways to contact him. With each failed attempt to reach him, my anxiety mounted, threatening to overwhelm me.

Desperate for a solution, I retreated to the familiar sanctuary of my desk, fingers trembling as I navigated to his Instagram profile over web, hoping against hope that he would see my message.

Little did I know that my friend had embarked on his own mission to get my phone back to me. He had been trying to reach me through WhatsApp with the hope that I would check WhatsApp Web.

Given I couldn’t log on to WhatsApp web without my phone, his messages didn’t reach me and with no option left, he decided to hand over the phone to me in person. The building's security, wary of unfamiliar faces, hesitated to let him in. Yet, he persisted, his conviction unshaken as he tried his best to get my phone back to me.

Having lost hopes of hearing back from him in Instagram, I was pondering over other ways to reach out to him when a sudden ring from my desk phone jolted me back to the present - It was a call from the security desk. With a racing heart, I answered the phone, bracing myself for what I might hear.

"Hello?" I said, my voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

"Hi, this is the security desk," came the calm voice on the other end of the line. "We have a gentleman waiting outside. He says he has your phone. Could you please come to collect it ?"

Relief flooded over me like a wave crashing onto the shore. I hurriedly made my way to the entrance of the building, guilty of having caused so much trouble to him.

As I stepped outside, I saw my friend waiting patiently - he had his phone pressed close to his ear, engaged in what appeared to be an important phone call. Despite this, he glanced up briefly, a reassuring smile lighting up his face as he signaled me to grab my phone.

The fact that he made a selfless decision to come all the way from his office in Chennai’s sweltering summer heat despite having a meeting on his schedule, touched my heart in ways words can't express.

As I returned to my desk, with my phone in hand, I couldn't help but wonder about the lengths to which people would go to ensure someone’s well-being and happiness :)

A quote

My eyes strained as they darted back and forth between piping isometrics and the endless rows of numbers on the spreadsheet. Extracting stress loads from the piping restraint summary was proving to be more daunting than I had anticipated. My brain was on the brink of a meltdown and every piping iso seemed to blur into a nonsensical whirl....Quite literally !

I casually checked the time on my computer and it was already ten past four, which is our usual break time...With a swift click, I pinged my friends over teams and hit windows + L. 

As we were waiting on our order for butter croissant and chocolate twister from Tryst, we resorted to lamenting about the never-ending tasks that lay ahead of us. 

The order finally arrived and as we dived into it like we were competing in the olympics of snacking, my friend asked me,

It is hard to write poems, isn’t it?

I smiled;

For I knew,

That poetry can never be forced,

They just flow,

In the course of life,

With the depth of feelings.

In response, I quoted the following lines that I read a while ago....

Poems aren’t hard to write, 

But the hardest poem is the one, 

That is written inspite of knowing

That it will never be read.

As I finished quoting that line, she appeared just as affected by the significance of those words as I was. She was about to ask if I had written one such poem when I cut her short saying it was 4.25pm already and we had only 5 minutes to make it to the meeting on time. We headed back to the lift lobby to retreat to our desks, ready to take up what was in store for the remainder of the day !

Crash to Courage

Thanks to NHAI and its poor maintenance of roads, I met with an accident that left me hospitalized, grappling with pain and uncertainty. Despite the hefty toll deducted from FASTag account of commuters, there are still highways that are akin to a lunar landscape with potholes that resemble moon's craters :)

                 

The accident inflicted a dual toll, as I dealt with physical pain of injuries coupled with lingering mental trauma. Each step towards recovery was a delicate balance between healing the body and soothing the mind....While medication worked its magic on my body, my mind remained restless with no outlet. That's when I retreated to writing, using it as a tool to divert my attention and find mental relief. 

Presenting to y'all one such snippet I penned down while I was resting on my hospital bed ! 

Broken visor, sirens wail,

Memories flash, like a trail.

Visuals of the street block,

Haunt me round the clock.

Yet hope flickers, a distant spark,

Guiding me through this dark.

Mumma was around, her warmth was near,

Papa's healing words, wiped every tear.

I realised it was just the shock,

That I'd have to come out of like a rock.

With every passing day, I find my way,

Amidst the chaos, come what may.

Fear

Back here after six looooooooong years.....Time to publish all those random rants that I had translated to words, one post at a time !!

 

I fear to fall asleep,

For my dreams are dark and deep.

I fear to wake,

Given a lot of things are at stake.

I fear the fall,

For I would end up losing all.

I fear the rise,

In this world, which is a game of dice.

I fear the mock,

For I am nothing but a laughing stock.

I fear to love, I fear to hate,

I fear to give in to my gruesome fate.

I fear life, I fear death,

I fear my being with every breath.

But there's something that I don't fear,

Sticking close to the ones that are dear.

Smile through pain :)

It was the second day of my period yesterday. Insane bleeding, throbbing menstrual cramps, and mood swings paid me a visit again, all at once. I wasn’t feeling so good mentally either....got knocked out in the pre-final round of interview with McKinsey. My heart felt out of sorts and my brain was totally clogged - so much that I wasn’t able to decide on my order for dinner. Once my meal arrived, I quietly wept while gobbling down those dosas. Amma was staring at me, shocked, for I’m a person who only gets delighted at the sight of food. We had gone shopping in the busy streets of T Nagar. The jostling crowd did a really great job testing our patience levels but we somehow managed to finish our shopping getting past every hassle. Completely drained, we fetched a bottle of water and booked an Uber.

Our Uber driver was a really sweet and a cheerful woman. Not only did she make our entire ride memorable, but also made me realise what actually matters at the end of the day. She initially asked us if she could make a pit stop to get some tea, for she was having a splitting headache. We told her to take her own time and to have her tea peacefully. She came back in a jiffy and kept her chit-chat going for the rest of our ride.

My mom asked about her spouse’s occupation, to which she said, “He’s working as an electrician, abroad”. When we chuckled, she said that her husband had abandoned her and that she has been raising her two daughters on her own. She elaborated on everything she went through for the past three years, driving auto for almost 12 hours a day and managing her household all by herself, her commitment to her daughters’ studies and clearing a huge debt single-handedly. What made it even more interesting was her quoting Vadivelu dialogues every now and then, lacing her painful and traumatic stories with witty humour. And thus, without us even being aware, time fleeted away and we reached our destination. We paid her a little more than the actual fare, to be a small part of making the rest of her dreams come true.

That conversation taught me to view things from a different perspective, to smile through pain and to focus on the big picture, rather than fretting about what cannot be reversed. If there are crests, there sure would be troughs. All we could ever do is move ahead, hoping to get on a crest again !

God men or Con men ?

How many of us would actually agree with the fact that most of the evil practices that encircle our society are sanctioned by spiritual leaders?

Not many of us right? That is exactly why I chose to blog on this topic !!!

I have often wondered why people actually need a spiritual leader in the first place and I eventually figured out that the answer lies in the question itself. It is because it is easy to fool a believer than to fool a non-believer. We are innocent people who are cajoled into believing that we are living a sinful life and that we are in immediate need of soul cleansing and spiritual healing.

We house opportunists for whom nothing else but money matters. These opportunists claim to perform miracles to relieve us of our pain and sufferings which we might not even have in the first place but yes……. they make us believe that we do !!! Even an idiot like me would get a hang of their marketing technique. It is the first rule of MBA…If you want to sell your product, you make your consumer believe that they need it even when they don’t !

None of the saints who lived before preached or lived a life of luxury. Be it Sai Baba, Guru Nanak, Mahavir Jain or Gautam Buddha, they all led a very humble life and taught us to be better humans and help the less fortunate. Centuries ago, we used to offer food and clothes as ‘dhaan’ to them and now we take pride in offering jewellery and money to the idols of these holy men. If these men were disinterested in material things when they were alive, how can they be interested in extravagant gifts after their demise? Also, when they were against this practice, then, why is it even a practice? 

According to the spiritual leaders of modern day, these offerings by disciples are not what the idols or institutions demand for but a mere symbol of people’s faith and devotion. If that is the case, why do the religious places have huge boxes for monetary offerings? So, they basically conditioned our minds to give offerings. Now, they ll claim that a part of the monetary offerings is required for maintaining the place. Fair point...But if religious places are exempted from taxes and receive benefits from government, only a small amount is required for maintenance. So, what happens to the remaining sum of money? Is it actually utilized for helping the less fortunate? In some cases yes but in most of the cases… NO! That is the reason why people like Ram Rahim Singh, Asharam Bapu, Sri Ravishankar and Baba Ramdev are super rich without even working for a single penny.

Few months ago, people of Haryana revolted in opposition to a verdict that was delivered in favour of a victim….People supported Ram Rahim Singh only because he is the chief of a spiritual cult. He was no messenger of god but a monster who had castrated his male followers and raped most of his female followers. What did we do to him? We offered him an airlift from court to prison instead of decapitating him. How did we defend his act of rape? By calling it Pitaaji’s maafi (father's mercy). Swami Nithyananda’s Sex Tape, Swami Paramananda’s Sexual assault, Swami Divyanand’s sexual exploitation are testimonies to the fact that most of the God men in India are into the business of prostitution, selling sex in the name of Tantra, preaching celibacy while having orgies. They are no god men but fraud men who are selling enlightenment by materializing God.

It is okay to have faith but it is not okay to get blinded by faith....It is high time that we stop believing and following these ‘holy men’ because it will save time, money and help us focus on things which require our attention the most. No one has or will ever attain nirvana by helping opportunists get richer. If you really want to make a difference and gain good karma....help the needy, stop wasting food and resources. Let yourself be controlled by humanity and let humanity be your religion. 

Be god loving and not god fearing because no God condones fear !
 

Voice of a single mother

I am sorry but you weren't there to fight for me when people pelted stones at me, called me a whore, bitch, a skank and slut !
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there to support my parents when people mocked them for raising a shameless daughter like me.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there when the mark of our love was growing inside me.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there to hear the first cry of our princess when she entered this world.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there to sing a lullaby to our baby when she used to cry all night.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there to hold our princess' hand when she used to trip and fall as she learnt to walk.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there to wish her "happy birthday" when she turned one.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there when people questioned me about my marriage and the father of my daughter.
But you should have been there.

I am sorry but you weren't there to protect our princess when the entire world humiliated her by calling her an "illegitimate".
But you should have been there.

I am sorry to say that you will always be my princess' father but you will never be her super hero.

I am sorry to say that you will always be my first love but you will never be the man who I lost my heart to.

Dedicating this to the most fearless woman I've ever met !!

Daughter of Iraq

Mayada Al Askari, a divorced mother of two, was leading a simple life managing a business that involved printing brochures. Her life gets capsized when she is falsely accused of printing anti-government propaganda. Despite having no idea of what her crime was, she lands up in cell 52 of Baladiyat prison. She meets women from all walks of life who shared the same fate of imprisonment, torture and had been condemned guilty without a trial. Nothing they said or did made a difference. 

Mayada led a comparatively comfortable life in Iraq because her family had ensured that she was educated and independent. Her mother was quite a powerful person in Iraq until she decided to move to Amman. Mayada had also come in contact with Saddam Hussein during the early times of his political career and he had even admired the articles she wrote when she was a journalist. However, nothing prepared her for life in Iraq’s so called "concentration camps". She encounters Samara, a strong, selfless and loving woman whose story would open up your tear glands :)

The women spent their time in jail talking about their stories and the way in which they ended up in the boot camp. They loved to hear about Mayada’s life story and her tales about the famous people she had met and Saddam Hussein and his wife were of particular interest. 

Most of the "Shadow Women" had no idea of what wrong they had done to land in jail. Only after repeated torture did they realize what was assumed to be their crime. The most distressing part was that their families had no idea of what happened to them because they weren't given a chance to call or let anybody know.  Despite all the torment and torture, the caring and concerned nature of her fellow inmates touched Mayada. 

The sufferings of Mayada, Samara and other “shadow women” in cell 52 is unimaginable and their will power to survive is something that has to be lauded. Hit continuously with a whip, beaten up, burned, electrocuted, raped and what not....I could hardly believe that they managed to survive for months....

I wasn't able to get done with this book in a single go for the story induced a queasy feel in me..... I quivered in horror at the description of their sufferings but was also touched by the compassion they held for eachother.

Even after her release, life wasn't smooth for Mayada for she not only bore the physical scars of her torture sessions but also hoarded memories that her mind simply couldn't get rid of.....Mayada found her way out of prison (thanks to the connections her mother had) but what about the other shadow women who were in cell 52 ???
Did they get killed by Sadam's monsters or they managed to save their lives ??? Mayada herself doesnt have a clue of what happened to them.........The desperation to know if your loved ones are alive is worse than death itself !!!!

The world is a vicious place for innocent people wanting to live with family and friends. All they want is happiness :)

Is that too much to ask for ?

Life lessons

Try not to think

What makes your heart sink,

Try not to drink

Post a sesh with the shrink,

Try not to stay confined during the day

Because of what people say,

Try not to stay

Pave yourself a way,

Try not to sleep

After making someone weep,

Try not to feel

The pain before you heal,

Above all,

Try not to be

Someone the world wants to see.

Devdasi system

Hello again!

I’m back here and I honestly haven't gotten the right time and headspace to get back to writing, but something kept nudging me to write about this tonight. And so, here I am, with a cup of coffee at 11PM, penning down my piled-up thoughts.

Flesh trade masked under the veil of Devdasi system is an abhorrent and shameful practice that is followed in our country.  It is nothing but yet another crime that is sanctioned under the name of religion and tradition. Devdasi system is an age-old custom where in a young girl is married to a deity even before she attains puberty. They were forbidden from a real marriage and had to devote their life rendering service to gods. They were considered to be the reincarnation of courtesans in Indra's court and the presence of a devdasi in occasions was considered auspicious because she was considered to be a nithya sumangali (a woman who is forever free from widowhood). But later on, devdasi system became the reason for the existence of modern day prostitution.

Devdasi system was abolished in the 1880s, thanks to the efforts of Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy but it is still prevalent in various parts of India. Even to this day, it is common in the Eastern part of india where in parents marry off their daughters to deities to avoid giving dowry.
Factors like caste system, male domination and economic stress resulted in them becoming prostitutes. Some devdasis are too young to even figure out what is happening to them and nothing can be more painful than getting kicked out by your own parents. They are not allowed to marry anybody else and are not supposed to step foot out of the temple. In the morning, they spend their time cleaning the temple and sanctum, decorating the shrines, dancing, singing and pleading to gods to put an end to their never-ending sufferings. During the nights, they are forced to transform into prostitutes to quench the thirst of priests, upper caste and high profile men. The daughter of a devdasi becomes a devdasi again and the tradition keeps going on and on. They face discrimination on the basis of caste, suffer from poverty, mental trauma and even become victims of HIV.

Women caught in this system are deprived of basic freedom and opportunities, enduring significant social stigma and economic instability. If only there is a way to eradicate this practice in regions where it is still prevalent and support these women in reclaiming their rights and dignity :)

She was forced into flesh trade,
Her innocence stolen, 
Dreams betrayed,
Wanted the practice to be slayed,
But found her hopes fade,
For the ones who preyed,
Never let it bade.