Fasten your seat belts we are now landing at Birmingham Airport, I turn and look at the man next to me and ask in my language “what did they say”? he explains that we are arriving at Birmingham Airport. I’m so excited that I’m going to see my husband, and in laws, I waited so long for my visa so I can come here to the UK, I think of my parents and a tear rolls down my cheek, I remember what my father said “beta now you are married, that is your house not mine” I sigh I and wipe the tear, yes he’s right this is my new home.
I come out the airport there are so many people who have come to receive me but I can’t see Hassan anywhere, I look around and my thoughts are interrupted my mother in law “beta Hassan couldn’t come, he had a urgent meeting” I smile as she hugs me and compliments the henna on my hand.
Driving home my heart pounds faster, I can’t wait to see my husband, we pull up in the drive and go in, the house is decorated for me and I smell delicious food, my husband comes later in the evening I see him and get so happy and shy. We speak a little and then he says “go sleep mehreen, you must be tired”.
Days go by and lots of visitors come to see me, my mother in law asks me to help her in the kitchen, I oblige happily. Months are passing now and I see the atmosphere of the house is not the same, it’s like I have a fixed routine. Wake up clean the whole house, cook the food, iron everyone’s clothes, I don’t get to see Hassan much, but when I do he’s tired and I don’t trouble him much.
I’m not feeling well today, so I lay in the bed, my mother in law comes and asks why I haven’t made the breakfast, I explain why and ask if my sister in law can help today. She looks at me and is quiet, a few minutes later my bedroom door swings open bang. “Hey what did you say to mum” says my sister in law” I sit up with my aching body and say “Nothing, why?”
My sister in law says “You said you’re not going to cook breakfast because you’re not everyone’s slave, who the hell do you think you are, damn Paki, you can’t even read and write English, we did you a favour and got our brother married to you” she slams the door shut and goes…….
Boom boom, I feel my heart pounding, I’m shaking and my tears roll down continuously, I’m in complete shock, my mouth opens and I say “Aba, mama kahaa ho? (Mum and dad where are you)
It doesn’t get better……
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