New Delhi
"Reveal the natural fairness hiding behind dark skin cells"
"Lighten with confidence"
"Apply this to remove dry and DARK SKIN on your Neck, Elbows, Knees, and Armpits".
" Say Goodbye to pigmentation and spots forever"
These Slogans are basically drilled in my head, their part of my image. Anywhere you go you see those kinds of ads, on billboards, ads on tv, etc.
Creams, soaps, even clinics offer skin bleaching.
Agh, it's so saddening. Everyone I know feels they are obligated to lighten their skin to please the standards society has set for dark-skinned people.
All my life I have been complimented on my beauty and especially my natural "fair skin". My parents say that my fair skin is a blessing from God, I could care less what shade my skin is.
My mom uses bleaching creams and soaps on a daily basis. I saw a few old pictures of her when she was about 18 years old. She used to have dark beautiful skin but now she has this greyish tone to her skin.
Before she met my dad she wanted to marry a guy from her village who was looking for a bride. She wanted him desperately since she didn't want to live as a poor person anymore, but he turned her down. He apparently said to her very rudely:" I'm not looking for a dirty woman like you, I want a fair elegant woman who doesn't look as if I picked her up from the side of the streets".
My mom was devastated and from then on she was obsessed with the idea of being "pure" and "fair" and having children who have these features.
In the end, she got married off to my dad who didn't have the features she desired.
When my older brother was born she was not happy. Dark skinned with black eyes and hair with a big nose, just like my dad.
A year later she had me, she was apparently praying every day of her pregnancy that I would come out as she desired. Light skinned with light brown eyes and a small nose, the prayers worked since I turned out the exact way she wanted me to turn out.
We weren't rich, as a matter of fact, we were borderline poor, but my mom saw potential in my beauty. So at the age of 1years old, we moved to New Delhi to start my modeling career.
Since then I have upheld the image of an obedient, pure, and fair child, for society to admire and compare their own children to.
As a baby, I was basically in every baby magazine. Then as a toddler, I started doing tv ads for toys and as a teen, I also started appearing on tv.
As the money my parents received grew, my popularity skyrocketed and my brother got more neglected.
My days are filled with photoshoots, meet and greets, and filming for shows and ads. Sadly my brother's days are filled with organizing my work schedule, he is busy working while my parents enjoy the money I make.
Even at school, I got no break from being a celebrity. There are the people who pretend to be my friends for publicity and my money which I usually saw no penny of. I hated them, running around with those fake smiles, but I was and am just as guilty.
Playing a happy and bubbly person day by day is hard.
Then there were the people who envied me. They acted nice to you but when you turned around you would get trashed talked.
They said something like ": Ugh, she thinks she is so much better than us." or "OMG, that dress makes her look so fat." I would be lying if I said that they didn't bother me, I may look unbothered but they really cut deep and hurt my feelings since I really tried to make friends, to no avail.
My brother is a great person, he's the only one who cares about me and he tries to convince my parents to give me a break once in a while. Even though he gets neglected he doesn't blame me at all, I feel so guilty.
We support and rely on each other day by day.
We bond over sports. He is the reason why I'm so into sports. I love every kind of sport it so exciting. Football, American football, golf, tennis, darts, I just love it all. I love the adrenaline rush it gives me. Football is my favorite, that's why my brother and I would play football often but in secret since I was never allowed to play sports.
"It's a men sport, made by men for men" that's what my parents said to me.
Soon my parents had enough money in their bank account that my work was unnecessary for their bank account.
On my 16th birthday, my parents were oddly excited, yet anxious. I thought to myself that they were just excited about the big party and all the guests that would attend. My birthday party was in a big hall, it looked like a palace, it was so Georges, the hall was decorated western style.
My brother was very excited and so was I. On the morning of my birthday he basically kicked in my bedroom door, gave me a big hug and wished me a happy birthday.
Seeing him excited made me even more excited about the party. I hadn't seen him that happy in a while.
After my mom helped me put on my big and fluffy light orange birthday gown, she but a beautiful hijab on me. I normally didn't wear a hijab but I thought since it's a special occasion that I'd wear it.
After getting dressed my mother and I made our way to the limousine were my brother and dad were waiting.
When I saw the limousine I thought to myself "They really went out and spent money on me, what a surprise, if this was my only birthday present I would be 100% satisfied"
When we arrived at the hall, my heart was pounding. I was so nervous even though I had stood before bigger crowds before.
Not only were my classmates attending but also high profile actors and singers. I'm not friends with any of the guests just acquainted but I did remember all of their faces but not their names though.
When I entered the hall everyone was clapping and cheering. I genuinely felt happy for the first time in a while.
We danced and ate. All of us including me and my brother were happy, we danced and made jokes. We had a lot of fun.
Then after I cut the cake I opened, with the help of my brother, the presents.
One by one they came up to the big table, where I was sitting with my family, and personally handed me the presents.
I was so overwhelmed with the presents that I started crying tears of joy.
Then after I received all the presents my parents left the table, went to the middle of the hall and announced that they had big news.
Me and my brother were confused since we didn't know that they wanted to announce something.
Mom said ": We as parents are responsible for our daughter's future in all aspects, we want the best for her."
Dad ": As all of you know family plays a big role in Indian culture, marriage is very important, since two families are being united. It's very important for us that she marries a good person who will take good take of her."
~I'm called to the front~
Mom": That is exactly why Mr. Muhammed is here."
I'm was still very confused, everything happened so fast that I couldn't process anything.
As this man I have never seen before walked towards me I couldn't stop feeling danger. While my gut feeling told me to run towards the exit, my facial expressions staid calm with a faint smile on it.
Me": It's nice to meet you, Mr. Muhammed."
Mr.M takes my right hand and places a kiss on it. ": Nice to meet, Aisha. You can call me Ali."
It's then when it dawned on me. I looked around, "It all makes sense now," I thought to myself. All the money spent wasn't on my birthday, it was for an *engagement*. *My engagement*
My mom happily proclaimed ": The surprise is... Aisha is getting engaged right now!"
I looked over in horror to my brother who was frozen in shock and red from anger.
To my horror, I saw this 30somthing-year-old man on his knee with a ring in his hand proposing to me a 16-year-old girl.
All eyes were on me and the pressure was high. I couldn't let them see me upset and hear me say "no" to this man.
I so desperately wanted to so say no but I had to uphold my perfect image, so I did the only thing I could do.
I said *yes*
~Clapping and cheering ensues as he puts the ring on my finger~
I looked happy and excited but deep down I just wanted to disappear into thin air.
I knew that my brother wanted to help me desperately but just couldn't. He stormed out of the hall to let all the emotions out that I wasn't able too.
After we had our first dance my dad announced that I will be stop going to school and stop being a public figure to peruse the life of a housewife.
He said": They will be engaged for 2 years, then when she turns 18 she will get married.
I could have broken down right then and there but I instead excused myself to the bathroom to cry my heart out.
~After the party, back at home~
I was laying there on my bed crying thinking about what my life has become when I got a knock on my bedroom door.
Brother asked": Can I come in? I got chocolate cookies."
Me":Come in"
He sat down next to me on the bed.
Brother": Want a cookie, they're fresh."
Me": Yeah, thank you."
Brother": So how do you feel."
Me": Like shit."
My brother tried to apologize for not being able to protect me but I assured him that he wasn't at fault and that he didn't need to feel responsible for what had happened.
Brother": Reasonable. Do you need to talk, I have two open ears ready to listen."
Me": ...."
Brother": It's ok, take your time."
While trying to hold back tears I said": I thought that I could finally have a normal life but I instead got engaged to a random man I had never met before . All I want is to be..... a normal girl.
Brother": You are..."
Me": I AM NOT NORMAL! A GIRL MY AGE SOULDN'T GET MARRIED OFF! ~She calms down abit~ ... Sorry I didn't want to shout at you."
Brother": It's ok, don't worry about it. These are hard times for you, I understand your feelings."
~I wiped my tears away~
Me": You do?"
Brother": Yeah. Being forced into something you don't want to do is something we both have felt before all this."
Me": What am I supposed to do now?"
Brother": What you have to do now is stay strong and wait until you are of age. I will get the opportunity to live a normal life but I won't do that unless you are free."
Me": What is your plan?"
Brother: "In those two years I will try to help, support, and protect you as much as I can. The plan is to get you out of the country.
Me": How and to where?"
Brother": 1st I'm going to save money and take some from mom and dad. 2nd, then I will get all of your papers and apply you for a visa and 3rd, I will buy a plane ticket. 1st class, of course, only the best for my little sister. 4th You will have to go to the police when you have turned 18 and give them a statement that you will be "moving" and not to be contacted nor be searched for so that they don't go looking for you. Ohh, by the way, you're going to Canada."
Me: "Mmm ok, so you're are going to save money, then apply me for a visa and then you'll buy a first-class plane ticket for me, and then I will give the police a statement. Ohh then and I'm going to Canada..... Canada...Canada?... OH MY GOD, I'm GOING TO CANADA. THAT'S SO FAR FROM HERE."
Brother:" Of course, it's not like you want mom and dad to find you."
Me:" You have a point... where will I be staying?
Brother: "At a school for trouble teens."
Me: "You're joking right?"
She raises a eyebrow
Brother:" I know that it sounds weird but let me explain. About a month before all this I had a very strange yet straight forward dreem. I saw a man dressed in a suit with a briefcase in his hand walking towards me. He approached me and handed me a card with the name of the school and its number. He then said: "Take the card. When the time is right call, no money required." after that, he vanished. The dream was very vivid, it felt real the only thing that bothers me is that I couldn't remember his face. A day after the dream I was out walking through a market when I saw the exact same man, it felt like Deja Vu. The difference was that this time the exchange was silent, he didn't say anything nor did I. He didn't do anything else than hand me the card, after that he vanished in the crowd behind me."
Me:" That's so weird. I wonder who he is."
Brother: "I'm curious too. I will give him a call tomorrow to prepare everything, better too early than too late. He can probably help with the visa."
Me: "I guess the time is right."
~The next two years were hell. We lived in a huge house so we obviously had maids for the cleaning and cooking since it would have been impossible for one person to do it on their own, but my parents thought that it would be perfect training for a future wife they said. I'd wake up at 5 am in the morning make myself ready and get my parent's clothes ready, then I would start cleaning, and at 7:30 am I would make breakfast. After breakfast, I would start cleaning every inch of the house. My brother would try to help me as best to his ability. He couldn't help much at cleaning since there were CCTV cameras that would be able to see every inch of the house. Once when he helped me clean my parents checked the camera footage, they went full rage mode. They shouted at us saying stuff like: "Cleaning is a woman's duty, it should be easy enough." and "This is for your future, all you have to do is obey our and your future husband's commands. Your future husband paid a lot of money to marry you, we don't want to disappoint." When my mother tried to beat me with a broom my brother jumped in front of me so that I wouldn't get hit. That just made my dad angry so he hit me across the face multiple times. My brother tried to help me but my mom continued to beat him. That is why he can't help me, but he still tried to protect me.~
~Present time~
A week has passed since my 18th birthday and my wedding would be in a month.
My brother has already sorted everything out with the school. The school has even helped with the visa (school visa). Stage 1, 2, and 3 have been sorted out, Now it's time for the Statement. We decided that right before I left for the airport we would give the written statement to the police. Right now I'm packing my bags to "go visit my Inlaws who are living 3hours away from New Delhi". In reality, I'm going to the airport to finally be free. And my driver just happened to be my brother. He will be leaving as well but not with me, he will leave for a remote part of India to start over.
As we leave the house the house all I'm thinking is:" Freedom, freedom! Finally free."
I'm so nervous yet excited about the new life I will experience. My parents didn't even say goodbye, didn't expect anything else.
In the car ride, I'm uncontrollable shaking out of relief, anxiety, and excitement.
~First stop police office~
As I approached the front desk I instantly get recognized.
Police officer: "Ohh miss Aisha, haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?"
Me: "I have been good, thank you. I'm actually kinda in a hurry, I just need to drop this off."
PO: "What is in it?"
Me": It's just a statement about me moving and not wanting to be contacted."
PO: "Aaamm, ok."
Me: "Could you please open it tomorrow it
is very important that it's not opened today. Can I trust you?"
PO"Yes of course mam, leave it to me. I'll protect it with my life until tomorrow."
Me: "Thank you so much."
~At the airport~
We enter the airport with my luggage. My brother accompanies me to the gate, it feels like time is slowing down. As we get closer I can feel the tears building up in my eyes. Just as we arrive the gate is opened and I burst into tears.
I turn to my brother and just hold on to him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. You have been the only person who ever cared for and protected me. You have done so much for me and yet I couldn't pay you back and again your the one who is saving me."
He pats me on the head saying while trying to hold his tears back:" The only thing you can do to pay me back is live, you have to live Aisha. Make friends, make enemies, fall in love, find the things that will make you happy. Be free don't let anyone slow you down, defy all odds by living your best life. By living a fulfilling life you'll pay me back. Now go."
I look him in the eyes and give him a reassuring smile of "I'll be fine now". Then we nod to each other and I entered the plane ready to go at live head-on.
Her brother thinks to himself": I guess our separate journeys begin now
Hope you enjoyed all of the MC's backstories. The next chapter will just describe the character designed so that y'all can have a better picture of them in your heads. You can skip that chapter.