Re: the "black eye"
This has actually happened to me......I had been given a package in Karachi to bring back to Toronto for this family. When we went to see them we found the girl living in the basement apartment of her in-law's house. We waited in the upstairs living room. We were served chai etc but didn't see the girl.
The MIL/FIL took the package and said thank you very much. Meanwhile, no girl.
Ammi whispered to me that things didn't seem right and she didn't want to leave without seeing her.
I asked the MIL where "Sadia" was. She said, "Neechay hogi. Aap chali ja'o milnay."
Off I went......down the stairs.
Found her in her kitchen......and when she looked up at me.....BOOM.....the black eye and the bruises were undeniable.
I asked her what happened because I was too naive. She said she walked into the kitchen cabinet corner. Yeah right.
She never did come upstairs to see ammi. Claimed, "Mera salam kar dain aunty ko. Main FIL kay saamnay nahin jaati, sharam aati hai." (yeah right again!)
When I relayed the story to ammi she was very worried and made efforts to follow up on the phone with the MIL. Got totally blocked.
Wonder what happened to her........
Did ur mom try to inform her family back home?
That's sad.