Sign Out, A Life is Waiting for You

This isn't what I signed up for—this one thought can change your fate, and it did shift Jasmine's fate.

Filled with excitement, Jasmine rang the bell at her best friend Nancy's house. Jasmine's eyes sparkled when she told Nancy, "Hey! I have got engaged." Nancy's eyes sparkled even more, and a smile as bright as sunshine doubled Jasmine's joy. The girls shared a beautiful bond; they always supported and cherished each other.

Who is the lucky man? Nancy asked

When Jasmine answered, Nancy screamed at the top of her lungs, "Zen! The Zen! You're going to get married!" Both friends shouted in excitement. Zen was a top-tier surgeon from a prestigious medical school, and his dad owned a chain of hospitals. Jasmine's life was about to leap from the middle class to the town's elite. The family was not just wealthy, but kind and humble– that's what the city believed.

"You deserved someone like him," Nancy said

Jasmine's eyes filled with tears, and with a joyful smile, she hugged Nancy.

Jasmine's challenging circumstances had shaped her into a beautiful person, but no one had thought her good nature would bring her his fate. On 31st December 1999, Jasmine and Zen got married. The couple chose this date intentionally, beginning their new life together on the first day of the millennium. The Families took great care of every detail— the venue, decoration, food, guest list, and wedding dress. As Jasmine walked down the wedding aisle made of rose petals in her white dress, tears rolled down her parents' eyes, seeing their daughter walking towards a life she deserved.

After the fairy-tale wedding, Jasmine and Zen entered his grand mansion. An unsettling air of dullness seeped into the atmosphere. Jasmine noticed the weary expressions and subdued demeanour of the family members. She reassured herself, thinking their exhaustion was simply due to the hectic wedding festivities.

Jasmine and Zen entered their room, which was quite plain. There were no decorations, and a simple grey bedsheet covered the bed. Jasmine lost her smile. She was young and didn't know much about life, but she could gather that something was wrong. Zen retired to bed, saying he was tired and had an emergency surgery tomorrow, so he needed to be well-rested. When Jasmine held his hand, he pushed her away. Zen fell asleep, but Jasmine remained awake, her thoughts racing in the room's stillness. She stared at the ceiling, wishing that morning would be better.

In the early morning hours, Jasmine fell asleep. Suddenly, she got up with a thud; Zen wasn't in the room. She put on the robe and hurriedly went down the hall. Everyone was ready for work and having breakfast; tears rolled down her face. Zen looked at her and said, "Why are you crying like a kid? Are you missing your mom?" Everyone laughed, and Jasmine rushed upstairs in embarrassment. She cried for some time, but no one came to check on her.

In the afternoon, Zen returned home with two couples, his old friends. Jasmine heard a loud commotion coming from the hallway. She had packed her bags and was ready like a newlywed for her honeymoon. She was taken aback to see his friends. "They'll be joining us too," Zen remarked. The entire day, Zen focused on his friends rather than Jasmine; this is how their millennial, and first New Year's Eve, was.

On their very first Valentine's Day, Jasmine transformed the room into a romantic haven decorated with shimmering gold and deep red hearts, and candles lit all over the room.. A radiant bouquet of velvety roses nestled delicately on the table, while a heartfelt "I Love You" card lay beside. She baked a heart-shaped cake with their names. As evening fell, Jasmine's heart raced as she awaited Zen. As she settled into her daydreams, her phone buzzed, breaking the spell. Her heart sank as she answered. "I will be late tonight," Zen said, abruptly disconnecting the line. Jasmine broke down; she was stuck and had nowhere to go due to her financial dependence and the conservative society. She had to surrender to her fate.

"Do you have a mind?"

"Never counterargue with me"

"You are a liar."

"I will be late today."

"I don't feel for you."

.

.

.

Jasmine became a victim of Zen's rage and biting insults. Every time she approached Zen to have a conversation, he refused, saying, "I don't have time for girly talks." "Do something better with your life. Ten Years passed, and Jasmine's efforts did not help her relationship with Zen. She approached Zen's family now and then to come forward and help, but they turned a deaf ear to her call for help. With each passing year, Jasmine became numb, but she was labelled as misbehaved, insensitive or high-headed. In this excruciating emotional pain, her heart was screaming, but she was unheard or misunderstood. The days became long and the nights longer. She didn't know a way out of this maze then, but one thing was clear: "This isn't what I signed up for."

Jasmine became determined to get out of this situation. After much contemplation, she realised that it was not financial dependence but a taboo surrounding her problem that kept her stuck. She decided to break her silence. Jasmine approached her friend Nancy and opened up about her marital struggles. Nancy's forward-thinking gave Jasmine the courage to speak to her family. When Jasmine laid out the details of her ten years of married life, every incident pierced their hearts like a dagger, and they stood by their daughter. All they wanted was their daughter's well-being. As she dared to take her first step, the rest followed.

Hello Joe, Jasmine said, "I will be away from work for one month."

"What is the occasion?" Joe asked.

"My Wedding," Jasmine replied.

On 14th February, a car draped in flowers pulled into the driveway. Seb's house was beautifully decorated to welcome the new bride. As Jasmine entered her rooms, her eyes filled with tears of joy; the walls were adorned with gold and red hearts. The room was lit with candles. A bouquet of red roses lay on the bed, alongside a heart-shaped box. Seb opened the box; there was a diamond ring with an infinity band. As Seb held her hand and placed the ring on Jasmine's finger, he warmly embraced her, sharing a silent promise of a beautiful life.

This is the married life we all sign up for.

In conservative societies, many women find themselves trapped in marriages, just like Jasmine. If you didn't sign up for it, sign out like Jasmine. A life is waiting for you.