“I Wish I could be like Sharma”-Shabanu

Aunt Sharma says there’s a choice to marry and who you marry. I agree with Sharma because in a year or even six months my parents said I would be getting married to a man that’s way too old for me! I believe that marrying this older man and marrying at the age 12/13 will stop me from being the free girl I am in the desert herding animals. Mama and Dadi say I have to marry this guy because he brings money to the family and I have no choice to and the decision has been settled already. I told Mama and Dadi that I want to go and live with Sharma along with Fatima so I don’t have to marry and I can be just like Sharma! But, they yelled at me and hit me on the top of my forehead. Sharma is helping me with this marriage situation and she understands and I’m glad I have an aunt that can help me.