The recent suicide of a nursing student in Southern Tasmania has triggered emotions of varied natures amongst resettling lovebirds. The first lesson for all teenagers and adult lovebirds is to be serious in relationship and get resettled in the same country. Reportedly “betrayed” by her boyfriend, who is now in US, 22-year-old Hari Thapa killed herself by hanging in her own room, bringing a most tragic moment in her family. The last video post in her Facebook profile page clearly indicates that there was something wrong between the lovebirds for quite a longtime – may be an issue of marriage.
While attending several interviews at the UNHCR and IOM, resettling refugees have been asked to furnish their all sorts of details including the marital status or relationship with a partner, if any. In a society like ours, girls hesitate to open themselves up. This is why Hari was resettled in Australia without knowing that the guy she loved more than herself was moving with a heavy heart to the United States!
However, the ill-fate could have been avoided had there been enough seriousness towards their relationship from the beginning and by making parents of both the families informed about their longtime affair.
In a true relationship, no word like ‘betray’ exists. Every situation should be beneficial for both the partners. And, no parents will appear as barriers in between when a teenager is very much serious and cautious while adopting someone of the opposite sex as a lifetime partner. Instead, they’ll encourage. If your lifelong partner is resettling in a different country, hurry up to sit with your parents and inform about your relationship. Probably, no officials at UNHCR or IOM will stand against your decision if you do not fall within the legal age bar.
(This is an Editorial column adopted from the Bhutanese refugee based newspaper “The Refugee Herald” Third Edition.) Continue reading
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