We were able to connect with featured character, Salome in her home in Sardarpur. She graciously agreed to talk to us about her life. If you have read Shrouds Over Eden, then you would have first met her there. I’m looking forward to hearing from her.
Assisting me today is Alizeh Rasheed who is fluent in both Urdu and Punjabi, plus, she tells me, she also speaks several local dialects as well. She is my translator.
Me
Tell us a little about yourself. How old are you and where do you live? Do you own your own home or rent?
Salome
I’m 27 years old and live at home with my parents in a small town called Sardarpur. I have a brother and two sisters. I used to be married but not anymore and I don’t have any children.
Me
Are you divorced or did your husband pass away?
Salome
I am separated from my husband. It is not easy for a woman to get divorced here, especially a Christian woman. My father asked his friend who is a lawyer about getting a divorce for me. He said, at one time that would have been possible, but one of our former presidents changed the Christian Divorce Act. The government is currently changing the act to include violence but it will be a long time before it happens. Besides, maybe my husband will change some day and I can go back to him.
Me
Who is the most important person in your life? And why?
Salome
The most important person in my life is my father. He has been my biggest support through all my difficulties, with my ex-husband and with my illness.
Me
What is your greatest fear?
Salome
I’m afraid to eat. Eating is very painful for me as my esophagus is damaged.
Me
What happened to you?
Salome
I don’t like to talk much about it, but I did it to myself. I was so depressed about my mom and sisters calling me names because I am not with my abusive husband. My mother is ashamed of me and couldn’t face people in the community, so she started to verbally abuse me, as did my sisters. All of this made me depressed so one day I drank Sweep. The acid burned my esophagus and stomach. But my father found me and rushed me to the hospital and now I am alive.
Me
Who is the person you respect the most, and why?
Salome
My father, because he loves me and he has supported me through everything. He is a very special father, especially in my culture where fathers don’t love their daughters the way my father does. Most men want sons, not daughters, so my father is an exception.
Me
How do you measure success?
Salome
Success would be having enough money to pay off all our debt.
Me
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Salome
Perfect happiness would be to be married to a good man and to have sons.
Me
Do you work outside the home? What is your occupation?
Salome
I work in people’s homes, cleaning and doing laundry and other chores. I am not educated so the only job I can get is cleaning.
Me
What quality do you like most in a man?
Salome
Kindness in a man. And hard working. I wish all men were like my father.
Me
What or who is your greatest love of your life?
Salome
God is my greatest love. I spend a lot of time reading his Word. I wanted to know so much about him that I learned to read by myself, even though I am not educated. Not everyone in my family believes the way I do. Black magic is commonly practiced here among women. They feel it gives them power. I get my power from God. He saved me from trying to kill myself.
Me
And my last question, is a fun question. What is your favourite colour?
Salome
I like red colours, bright reds.
Thank you, Salome, for the wonderful interview. I know you were nervous at first because your interview will go all over the world. But you did very well, and I am so delighted to have been able to interview you today. If any of you readers would like to read Salome’s story, click here to preview and purchase Helen Khan’s book Shrouds Over Eden.
Click Here to read Shrouds Over Eden by Helen Khan
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