As ProperGaanda continue the series on broken families and if kids are neglected in the process or not? The famous dialogue from Bol echoed in my ears as the stepmother entered a place which was now her home too, and in my head, I asked my dad a question, “Jab paal nahi skty toh paida kiun krty?” However, a reality in Pakistan of broken families is often highlighted as a taboo topic, and misconceptions spearhead the conversation, painting the stepmother or stepfather as a villain in the story. It was not for me, but the paranoia of my stepmother being a shady figure triggered my thought process and became a source of vendetta. As an 11-year-old, I was asked, “Whether to live with my father or mother?” Well, as I am well versed in this question? Definitely not, but guess what? This is a choice I had to make, and for that time, I held the stepmother accountable, definitely realising later that she did no wrong but tried making the house a better living place. Fast-forward a year into MY HOUSE; the stepmother tried her level best to make a bond with me, but the revengeful traits in my personality forced me to do small gimmicks making her feel off, at times holding her accountable for making my life a living hell and sometimes, raising voice at my father for not giving a better childhood, but that was not all… More to come Op-ed by: Rana Abdullah Hammad