Women, since birth, are taught to tolerate, please and respect the men in their lives. Be it father, brother, husband or boyfriend. Don't raise your voice! Always ask before going out! Their no is the final decision! And what not. And the best one: He cheated? It's okay. Most men do. You should shower him with love to win him back.
I guess all this patriarchal jargon is ingrained so deep into the crevices of our heart, that we, as women, breathe and bleed it. It becomes a nature to us. It becomes our "normal". And we end up teaching it to every next woman of the generation.
This book by Veena Rao is the best depiction of that reality. Reading it felt like the story of every other woman I've seen going through this kinda torture.
This story is of Tara, an innocent girl who ends up marrying a man who didn't even talk to her properly, let alone love her. He leaves her at her home for three years without saying anything. Then suddenly invites her to stay with him. And she does (hoping to get out of the clutches of society and parents into hopefully a nice life). He then cheats on her, demeans her, beats her up and throws her out of their house.
But she being a girl raised in our society, forgives him just to go through all that torture once again.... Until she finally leaves him. Good friends help her go through it all. And on the path of healing and self discovery, she finds love and respect.
The best part about the book? It doesn't portray a meek crying woman. Instead, it portrays a woman who finally breaks the chain of generational trauma, who doesn't bow to the immoral norms of the society, who decides to land a strong slap in the face of male chauvinism, and who raises her voice against domestic violence.
This book indeed portrays a dark truth of our society. But it also gives hope to millions who are made to believe that they cannot raise their voice against domestic violence.
I'd recommend this book to every girl and woman out there. Do give it a read. It's worth it.
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