Chapter 5
Diya enrolled in the computer centre and continued her studies after her twelfth grade because she now knew that if she sat idly at home, the people in the village would not let her live in peace. And now she also has a little girl. She could never imagine being helpless like her mother, nor could she dream of having a husband like her father. She wanted to raise her well and take care of both herself and her daughter.
In the biting cold, she used to go to class early in the morning. Her baby was only six months old, so while Diya was in class, her mother would take care of the baby. Gradually, Diya started to focus more on her studies. Now, the bright smile that she had in the beginning began to return to her face. Her teachers praised her a lot and respected her for her excellent performance in her studies.
But it was not that the relatives and people of the society had stopped bothering her; rather, they still did not let her breathe in peace. Just when she was trying to gather herself, everyone started asking her to remarry. Some people were so persistent about getting her married that they would bring such proposals that would once again disturb Diya's heart.
Someone would bring a proposal for a man with five children, while another would send a proposal for a man the age of her uncle. She had become so afraid of marriage that the red bridal attire seemed more terrifying than a shroud. She was a victim of various kinds of trauma. She would have bad dreams that ruined her nights.
Whenever someone mentioned the idea of remarriage, she would start having panic attacks. Her hands and feet would tremble, and she would start sweating; her heart would pound so hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest. Her breath would get stuck in her chest, and the world would seem like a hellish place. Those around her would appear not as friends, but as enemies.
Her previous wounds had not yet healed when people started bothering her again, and at the same time, her family, influenced by the relatives, began insisting on marriage. The words of her elder brother, "From now on, we are three brothers," were just one statement made in the heat of emotion.
She never expressed her tears or sorrow and hid all her mental trauma behind a smile. That's why everyone thought this girl was happy and had become stubborn. For her good, the elders in the house insist on getting her married, but she doesn't listen to anyone!"
After hearing all this, Diya still kept her feelings hidden because until now, no one had truly understood her, so who would understand her now? This time, Diya could not agree to marriage under any circumstances, nor could she recover from the wounds of her soul that only she and her God knew about.
Despite everyone's hatred, she continued her studies. When her ex-husband found out that Diya had started studying again and was happy, he couldn't bear it, and his heart burned. He wanted to cause Diya pain in any way possible because two months after their divorce, he couldn't find a girl who looked as good as Diya or was better than her in every way, so he was forced to marry a not very good-looking girl who even had epilepsy.
Yes, but a good dowry was received. This fact irritated and angered her bulky husband, who couldn't bear it, and he thought of snatching the child away from Diya. The child was now nine months old, and Diya had only a few days left in her computer course. He sent his cousins to Diya's place, saying that they would take her for just one day and then bring her back.
Daya's heart was troubled by this thought, but for the sake of her child's grandparents, she sent her away. After sending her, the emptiness she felt made her restless, and that night she went to bed with the child's clothes. She couldn't sleep; all she could do was cry. The next day, she couldn't attend computer class. Daya found out that now they did not want to return the child. Another mountain of sorrow had fallen upon her.
She cried as much as she had never cried for herself. But her crying didn't affect anyone much. She cried so much that her eyes and face became swollen, and she felt exhausted; only her mother was there sharing her tears, otherwise, everyone else still thought it was just a drama.
People can be blind, deaf, and mute, but the biggest disease they suffer from is not understanding. They are living, breathing, speaking, and eating statues.
Diya was absent from class for four days, prompting her friends and teachers to ask why she hadn't been coming. One of Diya's close friends even visited her at home and said that the teacher had asked her to attend class. Already reeling from grief, Diya was further distressed by her engorged breasts. Since her baby hadn't been feeding, Diya's breasts ached, causing her to shiver with pain. Despite this, she mustered the strength to attend class.
To be continued...
