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A story of Tarayana Beneficiary1: The Story of Tsherim She made her maiden journey with her father towards Phuentsholing leaving behind a tragedy that broke her father's heart and her hopes. When her mother and two brothers died one after another, her father decided to leave Sombekha (west of Ha) for good. Tsherim was only nine when they left their village and moved towards Phuentsholing. There were hopes to start a new life. After staying there for three months and not finding any solution they moved north, again, hoping to find a greener pasture. Difficult as it is to predict one's future, Tsherim's tragedy actually began where she expected the best for life. They arrived at Paro, a new place for them. They knew no one. Not long afterwards, her father suddenly died in the town and left behind Tsherim to her fate. Some people took pity on her and among them was one particular man who took her under his wings. He vowed to protect her and make her future worthwhile. He adopted her as his daughter and said he would even give her a share from his property. So for the next thirty years she had lived with Ap Zori. She had given all her youth serving the family as a worker. When she attained maturity Ap Zori sexually abused her and as time passed by he married her off to his cousin brother, who was a carpenter. When she was eight months pregnant her husband had left her. The worst thing was that she had a miscarriage. It was not just Ap Zori who exploited her; his brother Tashi joined him too. By Ap Tashi she bore a son who is now sixteen years old. After that her husband came back and she gave birth to three more children, a son and two daughters who are of age thirteen, seven and four. Life has always been a bed of thorns for her. She never knew a day of peace and comfort. Her husband happened to be an alcoholic - always violent towards her and their children. He would spend all his earnings on his drinks. He came home drunk and beat her and her children. Living had become an endless chain of abuses and sufferings. When Ap Zori built his new house, Tsherim and her husband worked
non stop for seven months, but they got nothing in return. Four years ago, they
were driven out of the house, with nothing in their possession. The reason is
still not known. Four years later fate had once more put her to another test. Her alcoholic husband died in the town and left her with all the responsibilities to bring up the children. Although his living never brought any comfort, he would still have been some one to be with and a reason to cling to life with a hope that one day he could change for better. Now with no place to live, no job and no source of income she has to depend on whatever other people give her. A month after her husband died she sent the documents to claim the life insurance money from Mongar that is where he originally came from. But the money never reached her till date. One day, her husband's niece turned up to claim half the money. It is also not known whether the insurance money had been claimed or not. Wherever she went she was faced with disappointment and betrayal. The story does not end here. Tsherim and her children are still living and the small girl goes to school, while her late husband's relatives had taken the elder son away. The Foundation through Tarayana Club of National Institute of Education (NIE), Paro, is now supporting Tsherim and her children. Apart from Tsherim, other names in the story are altered. |
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