Tanaya, young yet perceptive, saw the cruelty of these traditions. She couldn't accept that girls and their families were punished for things beyond their control.
Superstitions, masked as traditions, turned their lives into nightmares. Determined to fight this injustice, she pleaded with her parents, but fear of society's judgment kept them silent. Meanwhile, the pressure mounted—whispers spread, and soon, people began blaming her family for delaying her marriage.
Some began to fear that Tanaya was getting too old to be married off. For two years, she remained silent, refusing to accept an arranged marriage. She hoped her defiance would serve as a protest, but when she turned 11, tragedy struck.
One day, a group of villagers brutally beat her father, using her delayed marriage as an excuse. He fell gravely ill, burning with fever. Desperate, Tanaya sought medical help, but the villagers blocked the doctors, forcing them to leave. Helpless, she watched his condition worsen. With her mother, Tanaya turned to the village Sardars for help. Her mother begged on her knees, but instead of offering aid, the Sardars and the high lords questioned Tanaya's marriage.
Fueled by frustration, she boldly spoke against their cruel traditions. Her defiance enraged them. Without hesitation, they beat both Tanaya and her mother, refusing them any support. As punishment, they decreed that her family must never step outside or show their faces in public again.
Bruised and broken, Tanaya refused to surrender. Instead of begging, she sought out other girls facing the same fate, determined to fight back.
Tanaya secretly left the house and began meeting with other girls. Some refused to listen, unwilling to talk at all. Others heard her out but dismissed her ideas, too afraid to act. A few agreed with her but lacked the courage to stand beside her, fearing the same fate as her family. Talking to them, Tanaya felt discouraged.
Fear had taken deep root in their hearts, making resistance seem impossible. Despite her own determination, she realized how hard it was to fight against a system built on fear and control. Yet, she refused to give up. Determined, she devised a plan—publishing disguised articles against forced marriages. Since the villagers read the newspaper daily, she hoped it might change their minds. Her uncle, who worked at a news publishing company, agreed to help.
Every week, Tanaya's articles spread awareness. Slowly, support grew. But soon, the Sardar heard about them. Furious, he realized that people were questioning tradition. If forced marriages ended, he would lose much of his income from dowries. Desperate to stop Tanaya, he called an urgent meeting with high society lords—those who profited from child marriages. That night, they devised a plan to put an end to her efforts once and for all.
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Tbc