The Victor

Tania once again adjusted the pallu of the seafoam colored saree. This is the seventeenth time, she adorned sarees in over a period of three years. Well, she lost count of the times she wore a saree prior to the day when she started counting.

Just then Mrs Dolly Sachdeva, Tania's ever enthusiastic mother walked in the room and said, "Tania, are you ready yet? They have turned up." "Come out when I send in Anya." This time also Tania nodded her head and looked at herself in the mirror. 

She was looking beautiful, infact she was glowing. 

Tania was an MBA from a reputed University and was working with a NGO which looked after children with special needs. Tania's thoughts went to the day when she sat for the interview when Mr. Richards remarked, "Tania, you are an epitome of kindness and talent." "Congratulations, you are hired!" Tania's heart knew no bounds, she wanted to shout out loud and clear. She wanted to answer those who had judged her over years. She felt it was a tight slap on their faces.

Life hadn't been kind enough for Tania; she had faced hurdles in each and every step of her life. Right from being ignored by her father, grandparents to the society, she adjusted herself with the abuse and trauma by ignoring them. Had it not been for her mother Dolly, Tania would have been long dead. 

Tania heard tales from her mother how she had to fight with the family and then the education system just to get her enrolled in a convent school. For everyone, 'Tania wasn't normal.'and thus 'Hard earned money shouldn't be wasted on Tania.'

Just then Anya walked in, "Didi, let's go." Tannu looked at herself once again.Tania looked confident, firm and bold. Several thoughts started engulfing her mind, she needs to take a decision. She was not ready for rejection but infact she would reject them. 

As Tania walked in the room where the prospective groom's family sat, she saw that everyone looked at her face hopefully. They were having their share of sweets and samosas and talking in articulated manner. After all it was the engagement day. Tania was to be engaged to Mahesh Soni- a businessman after Mrs Sachdeva agreed to pay thirty five lakh rupees, a Honda City car and twenty five tolas of gold as dowry. 

Everything seemed so artificial to Tania, she wanted to scream and say, "You fake people, get out of my house." "Stop playing your dirty games with my aged mother." But Tania sat silently observing everything and everyone. The groom's mother appeared quite happy and started praising Tania's beauty and her demure nature. Just as Anya, Tania's younger sister brought the engagement ring, Tania indicated her to stop. She brought out a piece of paper where it was written, "Physically I may be dumb but mentally I am perfectly fit." "Kindly leave our house as I am not interested in this match."

Everyone was shocked. Tania's mother folded her hands and requested them to wait till she talked with Tania. She then dragged Tania inside and started questioning her to which Tania replied in sign language, "Throughout my life you had been a strong mother, fighting and protecting me because I have a physical disability. You have been my voice for so long! Now it's my turn. Let us not bow down to societal pressure for dowry. I don't want to be treated like a doormat lifelong. Let me be a free and independent bird."

Mrs Sachdeva was shocked, she knew somewhere down the line her daughter has grown into a rebel. As they say like mother, like daughter. Tania would have her way!