Anondi is her name. The English translation of her name would be ‘happiness or joy.’ But contrary, till today this is what she has missed more. Perhaps this very word was not written in her life dictionary. I know her from the day she came into this world. When she was born I must have been 12 or 13 years old. She was born in a very poor family. All the more, her father was an alcoholic. Whatever he was earning, he would spend on drinking. There was constant quarrel between her parents. Her father would beat her mother often. Her arrival in this world was not well received. First of all she is a girl and secondly the coloure of her skin.
Her parents got two more children. Both were boys. As her mother would work in houses of rich people, Anondi had to look after them. She would have begun to cook for the entire family when she was just nine or ten years old. In spite of all the problems, her mother wanted to give her children education. She got all of them enrolled in the school. But Anondi did not do well in school as she had to do a lot of works at home. She discontinued.
Years went by. The sad story of Anondi continued. By now she accepted her fate. Meanwhile I left home. I would meet Anondi once in a while. In my last meeting I saw she was already grown up. Her parents were trying to arrange a marriage for her. But the coloure of her skin became a problem. Anondi shared with me her sad stories. She was afraid that as her father constantly beat her mother and one day he might kill her. When she was talking to me her eyes were filled with tears.
Then last September I got the sad news that her mother committed suicide. I really felt very sad. I was worried for Anondi. I know my culture! I know my society! I knew how difficult it would be for Anondi to find a life partner. I could only see the darkness ahead of Anondi. I wish I could help her in some way! But...
Life keeps on going. I would often try to collect some news of Anondi. Recently I heard her father kept on taking alcohol. Her brothers stopped going to school. This is what happens in a family without mother...And then, I got the news. A marriage has been arranged for her. She is due to get married in June, this year. I wish and pray finally for her ‘joyful life!’
(I come from a country, where there are many more Anondi...I feel sad for them...the society, the culture, the people are against them...I wish I could reach out them...if I could add little happiness in their lives...)
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