Meera stood on the threshold of her new home, a two-story structure that would accommodate not only her new husband, but also his parents, two siblings, their spouses, and three children. Her little bag seemed heavy in her shaking hands, not because of its weight, but because of the load of expectations it carried.
Just last week, she was teaching at the village school, her small world revolving around her classroom, her books, and her dreams. Now, at twenty-three, she was expected to become a different person altogether. Her mother's words echoed in her ears: "A good wife is like water, beta. She takes the shape of any vessel she's poured into."
The first few months were a blur of adjustments. Wake up at 5 AM, just like her mother-in-law. Learn to cook the way her husband's family preferred – less spice, more gravy. Wear her saree the way the women in this household did,...