Identity indeed! It's the one thing that defines you as a person, if it is under question, your worth as a person is under question as well. When you know who you are, no matter who questions that, at least you never will. you will instead stand firm in your own truth!
establishing an identity is the business of life, your actions form a part of that identity but when you lack the tools to find this truth, you will always be a wanderer, lost not only to the world but to yourself as well.
The world has advanced in so many areas so much it is possible to have a face-to-face discussion with someone miles and miles away from you. there are however areas in which it is sadly stagnant, being born a girl, especially in a patriarchal society is one such area. A society in which your identity is not your own but tied to that of your father, and then your husband after him. you are not judged for your worth, rather you are scorned for being born a girl... how sad is it that you are precisely the one giving life at the risk of your own, only to be loathed by those sons...
Imagine a three year old asking for ice-cream but not be given because her older brothers are enjoying it, a maid cannot even spoil you for fear of losing her job, not even for humanity's sake. You are pulled out of school and unable to complete your education because you gave into your urge to dance. Something so natural and so much a part of being human. Finding happiness in amusement is just human nature, and finding happiness is necessary for your mental well-being. instead you have to be honed as a housewife, be molted into the perfect servant for your eventual husband and his family. It does not matter that you are very intelligent, it doesn't matter that you may not even want marriage. your choices do not matter, you are no one in yourself, you are a mere extension of someone else's identity. they are judged for whatever you do, and if your actions cause them any harm, you get the worst end of it. π
I suspect Aarti dared to pursue her dream as a dancer and when she was found out, it brought "shame" to those vultures and let to her being cut off... I do not know how much Yash was involved in this so I will not comment on that for now; I will see his version before I make up my mind on that score. What struck me though was that Aarti did tell him indirectly that she was getting forced into this marriage. "my parents choice is also my choice" translates to I do not have a choice because my parents decide my fate. her body language must also have been a clear indication. if he chose to marry her therefore, he can hardly blame her if she did not meet his expectations. there is however a part of her which yearned for love so if he gave her that, I do not see any reason why they would not find felicity in their union... but like I said, let's see his side first...
what I love about Aarti is that when she stands up for those abused or victimized, she does it in a way that makes the offender think. she does not attack them verbally and make them defensive, rather she subtly points out their wrongs...
but as much as she stands up for the underdog out there, she does not do so for herself. she allows the abuse she grew up with to continue and accepts all of their unreasonable demands to her own detriment. had it not been for Aaman and his parents, she would not have realized her love and talent for dancing, she would not even have finished her education. but they can help her only as far as she allows them to.
inside her though is that three year old girl still yearning to be given sweets, to be spoiled, accepted, and loved just like her brothers have been. but when she had always been invisible, when her birth had been cause for mourning, how will this wish get fulfilled?
especially now that she is an outcast, now that she has no identity and is apparently loathed for life... but precisely when one hits rock bottom is when one discovers their own strength. only in leaving the nest can a bird fly after all. now it's time for Aarti to find just who she is, for her actions to reflect who she is, for her to be judged for her own merit and not for whose daughter or wife she is. Aarti should establish her own identity, just be Aarti, not Dubey, not Scindhia, just herself.
I am eager to read just how she will go about doing that Didu, and of course I love my gift! π€ thank you so much for that love and the effort you put into it! β€οΈ
what I know is that I am not waiting a month to read the rest! I want to read whatever you have so far immediately! π‘ I shall of course wait for that PM π