In this episode, Marta and Signe, interview a beautiful woman, Eesha Samad, who has managed to free herself from an abusive relationship. Eesha entered an arranged, promising marriage when she was just about 17 years old. The relationship quickly turned out to be a real nightmare. After years of depression and a suicide attempt, Eesha has found her strength to free herself from the toxic marriage and start her life from scratch in Denmark.

Eesha takes us through the story and the innocent beginning of the relationship.

She tells us about the first signs of the abuse and how quickly things start spiralling down.

She tells us about her depression and suicide attempt which serves her as a turning point.

She then needs to keep on surviving the abuse for 2 years more before she finds the solution to finally escape the marriage.

She tells us how she starts her new life in Denmark.

We find out what helps her heal from the trauma.

In the end, she sends a message to all women who find themselves in an abusive relationship.

————

My name is Eesha. I turned 30 this year. I moved to Denmark 4.5 years ago with the intention to start a new life. Recently I moved to Aarhus for my work. I work as a Regional Manager for UNICEF Denmark. Back in 2016, I took a plane in search of happiness to the happiest country in the world! DENMARK. The day I took a plane to Copenhagen, Denmark where I did not know what the universe will bring to me, I was about to start a new life in a new country where I do not know anyone so the fear of crying alone for the rest of my life was on one side as I won’t have my family, friends or anyone that I know there so I decided to take out all the emotions and grief I had of leaving everything behind. For the first two hours in the flight I cried and cried and cried like a baby, without caring about the crowd and people surrounding me, I was telling myself ‘You can cry as much as you want right now because the moment you leave this plane, no crying, no sadness, you are going to be headstrong and ready to work your ass off for your dreams as this is the only chance you get to make things happen and to create a life for yourself.’

After seven hours there is an announcement that the plane is landing at Copenhagen international airport in 10 minutes. I quickly grab my bag and go to the toilet to fix my face, put on some makeup and get ready to explore a brand new journey of my dreams. Everything was seeming so unpredictable yet so exciting, an end that was unknown but I have always loved and enjoyed the unknown rather than worrying. I still remember that feeling so fresh in my mind when my plane landed at the Copenhagen international airport I felt like a newborn baby it was as if I was given a new life, I was super ready for a brand new life; a life that I will be living on my own terms further away from all restrictions, social and cultural pressure and a life that I’d live only for myself and for all the things that would bring me joy & happiness. On one side it was this massive pressure of starting a completely new life, on the other hand, it’s the grieve of leaving my family, friends and homeland and literally EVERYTHING that had been a huge part of my identity and existence.

Eesha’s email: eesha1970@gmail.com