'I'm a Warrior' — Priya's Story (Chai With Sahelis: A Desi Dost Project)

Priya is a fiercely independent software engineer who married a man her parents found for her. Her husband, an H1B worker in Silicon Valley’s tech sector, abused and abandoned his new bride in their first year of marriage. Priya lost everything: home, career, confidence, and her H4 visa status.

In the struggle to reinvent her life, Priya discovered resilience and purpose. “Don’t give survivors advice they didn’t ask for,” she says. “We just need love and support.”

“I’m A Warrior” is about Priya’s drive and courage in fighting for her rights.

Her story is nearly at a (happy) end. The first of a three-part series for October’s Domestic Violence month, the story is part of a unique storytelling project “Chai with Sahelis,” where survivors from the Indian American (desi) community share deeply personal stories about their experience living with and surviving domestic violence. This three-part series for October’s Domestic Violence month, is supported by the USC Center for Health Journalism in partnership with Desi Collective, Narika and India Currents.

[This article was originally published by India Currents.]

Did you like this story? Your support means a lot! Your tax-deductible donation will advance our mission of supporting journalism as a catalyst for change.