Sometimes, bachche, I come across a story that really makes me think. Not because there are two sides to the story or it’s some sort of grey area. These stories make me think because I still can’t believe we hesitate to treat women as normal human beings. Kya hamaare paas aankh, kaan, naak nahi hain? Do we look so much like aliens that men are treated as human and women are not? When a woman mistreats a man, no one tells him to just forget about it and move on. No one tells him to shut up and take it. So why do we say that to women when they are mistreated?

Listen to this woman’s story about her husband who ticked all the right boxes but…

 

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Here’s how to help the women in your family so that they don’t feel completely alone despite living in a crowd.

Listen to them

When a woman says she’s feeling a certain way, believe her. If her husband is mistreating her, or has mistreated her “only once” and she’s upset about it, listen to her instead of questioning her. You would believe her husband, wouldn’t you, if he said the same thing? You would support him if he was unhappy in his marriage, wouldn’t you?

Hold the men accountable

Stop letting boys get away with any kind of behaviour. Temper tantrums have a time and place and are best reserved for the people who raised you. So, if a man in your family is acting like a maharaja, please bring him down to dharti. You’ll do an intergenerational favour to your family.

Use your jasoosi skills for good

Even if a bahu of your family hasn’t complained or voiced any fears, there is no harm in checking on her. Watch how her husband behaves with her, watch how she reacts. Is she flinching in his presence? Is he dismissive of her, even mildly so? These are troubling signs in a marriage, and as a member of the family, you should intervene. Kabhi kabhi taang adaana achchi baat hoti hai.

You might become the villain if you support a bahu against the beta of the family. But remember, you will always have Aunty Eve’s love and support. That, and peace of mind is all you need for a happy life.

For more tips, tricks, and tippani, follow Aunty Eve on Instagram. And if you want to hear real stories and solutions to every kind of shaadi kalesh, tune into Saas, Bahu And Aunty Eve, an anonymous podcast for every woman who is about to get married or has been married for years. Listen to the podcast on YouTube and Spotify!

Related: Charmed Life Or Golden Cage? Why Marrying Into A Rich Family Can Be Disastrous For Women