“I got married at the right age & the right time. But during those days, we were not given a lot of time to make a decision about a lifelong bond of ‘marriage’. I & my ex husband were poles apart with completely different mindsets, but divorce in India is considered to be taboo. Moreover, after giving birth to 2 kids, it was even harder. So we stuck around for almost 23 years until we realized that our happiness lay outside this relationship. I was resilient enough to take this decision because I was fortunate to have completed my Post Graduation & could earn a living for myself with the degree. I feel that it is very important for women to be independent. I always had a clash about this with my family because my father believed that a woman need not pursue higher education as she ultimately has to look after her husband’s house. I was never in support of this. For me, education was an integral part of my identity.
Post my separation from my partner, I have found my happy place and my true identity. I am 58 years old and am now a certified Therapist and a Counsellor. I completed the last leg of my education in 2016 (though I had a hard time preparing for exams due to lack of touch). I have also taken my hobbies and interest ahead by acting in plays and playing tennis at 5 am in the morning. Nothing stops me from doing what I want to do. At an age where people have preconceived notions about pursuing new interests, I have trained myself in the Salsa dance style. My trainer compliments me for my dancing skills, which I was once intimidated by. I was a regular at Salsa dance nights before Covid and have been loving every bit of my life.
They say that life stops when you don’t have a partner with you. As an independent woman and an artist, I’d rather say “Life is a play and the show must go on. Don’t wait for people to applaud you, be your own applause and your own Star”.