Interfaith Marriage Poem by Asit Kumar Sanyal

I am Rukshana, a Muslim girl
in class 9
I fell in love with a Hindu boy 'Rahul'
my classmate
one year older than me
but I couldn't tell him this
when I was completing my high school
and moving to college
then I said him, 'I love you'
he accepted me
and shortly we decided to marry
after graduation.

one day he said
Ruksha, come with me today
and meet my parents
they want to see you physically
I went to his house
and saw for the first time
how a woman is treated in their house
I saw, his mom is beside his father
whereas my mom is always behind my dad.

Their house was big and beautiful
with roof top garden
decorated with religious paintings
three persons, four rooms
all rooms well arranged
neat and clean
with a pleasant smell all over
whereas my small house is packed
with my grandfather, uncles
and their children
also with goats, hens and their kids.

There were a lot of minute features
in their house
that is only a dream for our family
he told me in whisper
this is what is going to be your life
if you ever want to marry me.

After a lot of struggles
finally I married Rahul after five years
and my dream became true
in Hindu society
there was no burkha, less restrictions
I started flying like a free bird
my family abandoned me
my mother-in-law became my real mother
and after one year
I converted into a Hindu willingly
from 'Ruksha'... I became Rusa
dressed like a traditional Hindu housewife
stood in front of my dressing table
and discovered a different beauty
in me
it was awesome
As of now
I am carrying a baby
and we are planning to name him
after my now favorite god vishnu.

Life as a Hindu is better
for every woman
because Islam treats women
inferior to men
but in Hindu, men and women are equal
with fewer restrictions.wome

If I ever meet my family again
I will tell them
I am more happy in a Hindu family
Hinduism nurturing me
and upgrading me in all respects.