Hi! My name is Maya, I am 18 years old and an Indian. I grew up in a small village near the border of India and Nepal. I come from a family of farmers and we have always lived off the land. As a child, I spent most of my days playing with other children in the village or helping out with chores around the house.
One day when I was 16 years old, my father told me that it was time for me to get married. I was devastated because I had always dreamed of going to college and having a career outside of the village. However, my father's word was law in our community so I had no choice but to accept his decision.
A few months later, I was married off to a man who was much older than me. He already had two wives and several children. His family lived in a big city and he had a high-paying job. I knew nothing about the city life or even how to speak English, but my new husband assured me that everything would be fine.
After the wedding, we moved into his lavish apartment in the heart of the city. I was overwhelmed by the noise, the crowds and the fast pace of life. My husband was often busy with work so I had a lot of time to myself. During that time, I discovered my passion for photography.
I would spend hours wandering around the city, capturing its beauty on camera. It was during one such walk that I stumbled upon a small art gallery. The gallery owner was impressed by my work and offered me an exhibition. That was when everything changed for me.
My husband was not happy about my newfound passion but he could not stop me from following it. Soon, I started getting commissions for wedding photography which helped me earn some extra money. With the help of the gallery owner, I also began to sell my artwork online.
Today, I am a successful photographer and artist who travels all over the world to showcase my work. Although my marriage did not work out in the end, I am grateful for the experiences it gave me. I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of.