Malayali woman's Manali adventure: Here's how travel redefined the 55-year-old

'You should see the world even by selling two cents of your land,' these words could be spoken only by someone extremely passionate about travelling. Although Nabeesa, who is 55 years old, dreamed of travelling, she hasn’t had the chance to set out on trips until now. But, her younger daughter, who knew about her mother’s desire, decided to take her to Manali. The videos of Nabeesa enjoying the snow like a teenage girl have become viral on social media. In one of the viral videos, she even addresses her friends by their names to remind them what they have been missing. “Naseema, Sakeena and Hajira, all of you can sit at home while I am enjoying this amazing vibe,” Nabeesa says in the reel. This trip opened up a fabulous world of unique experiences for Nabeesa.

Nabeesa is a loving mother and an ordinary homemaker like many other women in Kerala. Her dreams and desires took a back seat when she focused on dedicating her time and efforts to her family. However, she was quick to shake off this ‘ordinary’ tag after she went on a trip to Manali. Nabeesa, known only to her relatives and a few neighbours, has become a social media star. After losing her husband at a young age, Nabeesa struggled to raise her three daughters alone. She didn’t have time to think about her dreams or desires as she tried to make the two ends meet. However, she broke away from the shackles of societal pressure and misogyny as she stepped on the snowy terrains of Manali, holding her daughter Jifna’s hand. A new chapter begins in the lives of this mother-daughter duo after they decide to travel together.

The mother who loved to fly
Nabeesa lost all the happiness in her life after her husband’s untimely demise. Her voice was smothered, and she didn’t enjoy the freedom to express her wishes or opinions. The people around her apparently stopped her from expressing herself. The restrictions imposed on Nabeesa had only increased as her daughters grew up. However, things changed slightly when the daughters were old enough to speak for their mother. Nabeesa too had believed that a woman who doesn’t have the support of a man shouldn’t dare to raise her voice or speak her opinions. Jifna, her younger daughter and travel partner, says that the society has conditioned women like that.

“My mother, sisters and I had been at the receiving end of things just because we are women. My mother didn’t enjoy a respectable position even in her own family because she doesn’t have the support of a man. Moreover, she was afraid of everyone. She used to believe and accept whatever others said. My mother believed in the concept that we should cower because we didn’t have a man’s support or help. She was suppressed even by her close relatives. My mother has been a victim of the society’s unwritten law that a single woman should remain quiet and not enjoy any freedom,” says Jifna.

Sell plot and travel
Nabeesa says that one should travel the world even by selling two cents from their land. At the age of 55, Nabeesa had the good fortune to see new places and meet new people. For Nabeesa, it was a declaration of freedom more than travelling. Moreover, it is a chance to fulfil her dreams that she had to give up until now, just because she is a woman. Nabeesa is now busy making a bucket list as she is entering old age. Meanwhile, Jifna took Nabeesa, who love to see the sea, to swim in the ‘sea’ of snow. “We should find our own happiness and shouldn’t wait for anyone else to make us happy. So, we should be able to live as ourself at least for one day,” say Jifna and Nabeesa in unison. Meanwhile, Nabeesa who had studied only until class four has restarted her education and will soon take the class ten equivalency exam. She now wishes to win back at least a few experiences that she had missed out on.

“If I can do this, then anyone can. I suffer from knee and leg pain and is getting old. But, when I was offered such an opportunity, I didn’t have the heart to miss it. Although the winter in Manali was unbearable, I enjoyed it. Moments like these should be enjoyed. Every human being has struggles, tensions and difficulties, but we should keep them aside for a while and set out for a journey. A brand-new world awaits us outside our home. There is nothing more amazing than being able to live with freedom and happiness,” Nabeesa signs off.