Dear readers, as a news reporter, I have to go through many brutal, unthinkable incidents that one couldn't possibly even think of. It's a story of a woman, Afreen siddiqui,who was living her 10 years old married life. I went to interview her on the topic,'triple talaq'. I asked her,what was her perspective on this matter and she wanted it to be banned or not. She replied from the bottom of the heart she wanted it to be abolished at any cost. I was a bit surprised cause in her voice it was just more than anger,there was also pain too. I asked her the reason behind it. She was wearing borkha, so I could only see her eyes, there was tear and rage both! She said, why not? Cause I didn't want this to happen with any girl again. Then she told me her story and I was stunned..In that very moment I decided to write about it. I am writing quote and quote what she said to me. Afreen said, I was the first graduate woman in my family. I wanted to study more but my abbu (father) arranged my marriage with my long distanced uncle's elder son Javed. After marriage,first six months there was no problem but after that my husband Javed started to show his true colour. He was an womanizer.. When, I charged him about that he slapped me and said,'do your job slut! If my father won't force me, I wouldn't marry you..There are many beautiful girls here than you!!' I was shocked and I stopped talking with him. He started to spend his time outside more than in home.I was helpless, couldn't think of anything. After few days, he came home drunk and raped me without my consent. I became sick, within few days I came to know that I was pregnant! I gave birth to a boy , I named her Mohammad. This time, everyone was jentle with me cause it's a boy! Even Javed started to spend time with his son. I thought atleast for the child, he would change. But I was dead wrong. When, Mohammad was almost five years, he again started to spend time outside. I was so frustrated that I requested him, what does he want?? He answered me he was not 'enjoy'ing me anymore!! I had enough, I went to my father's house in Delhi. Almost two weeks passed, no one came to take me back.. One day, I was scrolling through my whatsapp, I saw a message from him, it was written three words that forever changed my life, 'Talaq, talaq, talaq'! I couldn't believe my eyes,I read it again. You know the most painful thing was not that message, it was when I told my family about it they blamed me for it!  And forcefully send me back! I went back with my father, there when I asked the reason he said he wanted to marry another woman and according to Islam, polygamy is legal!! It means one man can have as many wife as he want!! Still, my father begged him to have me back otherwise he won't have 'respect' in the society!! I was out of my words.Then they decided to do 'nikah halala' it means the divorced woman has to marry other man to return to her husband! I had to agree with that cause I had no other option! They arranged the marriage with my uncle, Javed's father!! I was forced to sleep with him also!! After a month 'sleep'ing with me, he agreed to divorce me! Javed married me back.. But I could see that it's not going to work.. Within a week, he again said,' talaq, talaq, talaq'! But I couldn't do anything cause everything was 'legal' right! My father came again and did his best to save his 'respect' but Javed rejected his proposal. Again, all the family members sat on a meeting and decided since Javed won't marry me ,so they arranged my marriage with javed's younger brother Sohale! And now I am Javed's wife, mother and also his brother's wife!! Now, mr. reporter you tell me, was I a toy?? That's what I deserved. I couldn't report against anyone cause everything was according to Islamic 'law'!! And you are asking me why I want to abolish this 'triple talaq'?
  I have no words to say to her. She was living in there still and now her son Mohammad pronounces her as aunty cause according to islamic law, the father will have the child custody after divorce! I silently promised her I will try my best to spread her words so it would never happen with others again and left the place with a broken heart..
This incident is a proof that instead of fighting about which religion is best first make your religion for human first.. Every religion is imperfect, it's just an example, raise your voice against wrong regulations only then other inhumane laws like this will be abolished. 'Triple Talaq' was abolished from 17th September in 2019 in India..But many more laws are still needed to be abolished..If you are reading this long do let me know your thoughts..I will wait for your views on this..
#realwriting


© Soumyadip