The little human being in her arms was beautiful. Her face, just like that of an angel and her tiny body felt so delicate and soft against the palms of her hands. Suddenly, the 7 hours of labour didn’t seem so tiring. Gauri! Yes, that is what she was going to name her bundle of joy. She felt a rush of emotions from extreme joy to happiness to sudden fear about her unknown future to her protective instincts as a mother. She wanted to protect her from all that could hurt her and wanted her to blossom into a beautiful woman who would be respected and loved.
As she watched her new born, she made elaborate plans for her future. She wondered why someone would think she could be a burden. She wondered how a beautiful thing like the one in her arms feels any different than a baby boy. She thought of the times when she was a little girl, and her mother would warn her to be careful every time she went out. She wondered if her baby girl would understand the meaning of being careful. She thought of the cruelties that the harsh reality held for girls, in general. She wished that her life wouldn’t be a struggle for survival and dignity. She vowed to protect her daughter if someone as much as raised a finger at her. Her friends will be scrutinised thoroughly. Her boyfriends would definitely have a tough time! She decided her daughter would never be a victim of the batter system in our society, better known as the dowry. She would select the most suitable and the most handsome suitor for her only when the time was right. Her daughter would be free-spirited, strong-willed and have her own identity. She was going to be her daughter’s best friend and confidante. She knew there would be times when they wouldn’t get along but she would still not budge from her decisions because she already knew what was best for her.
She wanted her daughter to grow up in a society where women are looked upon and treated as humans and not just worshiped in temples where they are elated to the status of a Goddess. She wished that when a woman broke down, it isn’t seen as a sign of weakness or that they aren’t glorified as objects of sexual pleasure. She wished for her to grow up in a place where every woman is celebrated for her beauty, imperfection and for the various colours of emotion that only a woman can display.
FAME11 