A letter to Eastern eye's Problem Page

 In august Namza went on holiday with her parents to Bangladesh to visit some relatives, well this is what they told her and more so I also encouraged her to go. This is the biggest regret I have I should not have encouraged Namza to go because later by a letter I found out that she was being forced to marry another man who was Bangladeshi. She wrote to me many times telling me how she was being forced and she could not do anything about it. At first I was shocked the love of my life was proposed to marry someone other than me. Despite this I came to terms with it, as I knew Nazma did not love anyone other than me. However knowing the fact that some other man was getting intimate with Nazma caused me great distress but in one of Nazma’s letter she did say that it was just sex and she did not enjoy it, even though this was meant to give me comfort it still seemed wrong and I hated to even think about it.

        As soon as I found out about Nazma and how she was treated I tried to go to the police but they were between shifts, so I ran to the public library and looked up the names of people who could help me get Nazma back. I wrote and called more than 30 official bodies and charities most of them did not have the decency to respond and other gave advice and some sent money. I later found out what I was dreading to hear the British authority could do nothing to help, as Nazma was a Bangladesh nationality while she was in that country she was considered to be a Bangladesh citizen. At this point I did not know what to do or who to turn to nevertheless I knew one thing for sure I was outraged by the whole situation.

        In December I had no choice but to go Bangladesh because I knew the wedding was extremely near. I had to lie to my own mother, who I am very close with my mother and I had to borrow £670 to go to Bangladesh, though I never told my mother that I told her I was going to London. When I arrived in Bangladesh I was curious and knew nothing about foreign currency and I did not no how to speak Bangla. The journey to finding the Nazma was a disaster and I was tempted to give up and go home but I was not going to go back that easily. When I found out where Namza was I tried to get messages to her this was difficult as where ever she went there was someone with her. Afterwards I found out that she knew I was in Bangladesh and she was trying to arrange a meeting place but her husband woke up and caught her. I do not know quite what happened after that all I knew is that I had to go back to Britain as I could cause Nazma more trouble.

         When I came back to Britain I contacted The Sunday Times and they helped me and took me to Bangladesh again to get Nazma. By this time it was too late! When we found her I was surprised to find out that she was married to another man named Bokul but this time she was not forced into it she decided to marry him out of her own will, it was a love marriage. I felt numb, I felt cheated the lady of my dreams did not love me anymore. All of a sudden I had this empty feeling inside and at the same time my heart was crying. I felt all these different feeling but deep down I was pleased to know that Nazma was happily married and if she had the strength to let go of me then maybe someday I will. Really I should not dwell in the past; I should look forward to the future and get on with my own life. At least now I can learn from my mistakes and maybe I have opened your eyes to some typical situations within the Asian community. Maybe someday I will find another Nazma.