When Women Become Homeless Between Two Homes


In many households, a woman often finds herself in a paradoxical position - living in two homes yet feeling homeless. This phenomenon arises from the complex realities faced by many married women who navigate the expectations and emotional distances between their parental home (मायका) and their marital home (ससुराल).

The Dual Homes and the Invisible Bondage

After marriage, a woman usually leaves her parental home to build a new life with her husband. However, livelihood and circumstances often bring the couple far away from both their families - sometimes miles apart in a metropolitan corner - turning the woman into a guest at her parental home and a host at her in-laws’ house. Despite physically existing in both places, she feels a deep sense of homelessness.

This displacement is not just physical but emotional. She becomes a “bondage” of sorts, caught between two worlds where she is neither fully settled nor truly accepted. The new home might provide shelter, but it often comes with its own challenges and distances, making her feel far from belonging.

The Weight of Unseen Responsibilities and Hidden Pain

In both homes, the woman plays multiple roles - she welcomes both families with an open heart, striving to prevent her loved ones from facing any sorrow due to her struggles. She hides her pain and disappointments behind a smile, carrying her burdens silently. Her resilience is often likened to Lord Shiva, who bears immense suffering quietly.

However, unlike Shiva, women cannot simply absorb pain without scars. The emotional and social pressures take a toll, often forcing women to sacrifice their rights and desires to maintain peace and keep their families happy.

The Silent Sacrifice of Rights and Expectations

To avoid becoming an unwelcome guest at her parental home, many women gradually reduce their claims and expectations from their family after marriage. They convince themselves that since their life is now established in the in-laws’ house, there is no need to demand anything from their parents.

Yet, this self-effacing compromise often backfires. When hardship strikes - especially when conflicts arise at the marital home, sometimes from younger members who may not appreciate the sacrifices made - women find themselves trapped again. The very foundation they tried to build becomes unstable, and the “poison” of neglect and disregard spreads through their lives.

Returning to the Parental Home: A Cycle of Compulsion

Ultimately, many women are forced to return to their parental home - not as cherished daughters, but as guests whose presence is often viewed as an imposition. This return is not a matter of choice but compulsion, driven by emotional or social turmoil that cannot be resolved easily in the marital home.

Thus, the paradox persists: a woman with two homes often ends up feeling homeless, caught in a cycle of unacknowledged pain, silent sacrifices, and unstable belonging.

This poignant reality reflects the intricate emotional and social challenges many women face post-marriage. It invites reflection on how society, families, and individuals can better recognize and support women’s complex needs for belonging, respect, and emotional security within both their parental and marital homes.

C. P. Kumar
Energy Healer & Blogger

Amazon Books by C. P. Kumar: https://amazon.com/author/cpkumar/
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