A Happy Ending

Dec. 23, 2002

My mother made me eat a dollop of curd before I left the house for my job on the first day. It is considered auspicious to eat curd, jaggery, honey or sugar before exiting the house while embarking on any important mission.She did not even smile, as she had just recently been widowed, and it hurt me to see her shed tears on my departure.
" Saloni," she told me with a heavy heart," do everything your boss tells you, but do not do anything that will bring our family name to shame. Do not allow males to touch you!"
I said a silent prayer to Allah for mom, and left. When I left the house, I wore a burkha- a veiled dress that we Muslim girls wear. Just before reaching the bar, though, I removed it to expose my modest salwar-kameez.