A Complete Woman

"Doctor…doctor…emergency," the nurse shouted. "Don't worry ma didi will be alright," a girl said crying. "Nurse takes her to the emergency ward," the doctor said. "Call her in-laws and inform them to come to the hospital directly," the woman said. "Okay ma I will go and bring them here, Didi take care of her,” said the boy. “Don’t forget to inform Jiju,” the girl said.

"Good morning sir. I am Parvati. I have recently completed my MBA in a reputed college and here are my certificates,” she introduced herself handing over the certificates. “Well nice percentage and congratulations you can join from tomorrow,” said the interviewer. “It will be an honor to work with you, sir,” she replied. “I got the job and I’m going to give you a treat so meet at the restaurant,” she said on phone. "Hi, so finally your dream came true. I'm proud of you and by the way congratulations," the man said. “Thank you and I think the time has arrived and we should tell our parents about us,” she said. “I don’t think they will be happy for us but we can’t delay any more so let’s face the reality,” he replied.

Years passed they earned money, respect, love, and a reputation in society. But one thing that bothered them is not having a child. They never felt bad for not having a baby because she always treated everyone like her children but society and their relatives made them feel depressed by their words and actions. “It’s been 12 years and you never had children,” her mother-in-law whispered. "Everyone is sad because of us why don't we consult a doctor?" she asked her husband. "Okay I will make an appointment," he said. “We did all the tests and the reports will arrive soon anytime till then can you please wait outside,” the doctor said. “Sure doctor,” they said and waited. “I saw the reports. There are some complications in her uterus so she should use medications and we will hope for better results,” the doctor said. She used medications for a few years but they are of no use. “We didn’t find any results with the treatment so we decided to adopt a child,” she said to her in-laws. “Adoption?? I don’t think it’s a good idea. We don’t know whose child it would be and what is the family history and background. What if the child belongs to a murderer or a thief?? What if the child belongs to some low caste or religion?? We can’t accept a child from another bloodline," her family opposed firmly. "A woman is called a complete woman when she experiences motherhood and gives birth to her child," her mother-in-law said.

"Do we have any other option doctor??" she asked. "Yes we have the last option in your condition but it involves risk, if you are ready to take a chance then we can proceed with the procedure," the doctor replied. "What is it exactly doctor??" she asked again. "There might be a chance of pre-mature delivery and your life will be at risk too so think properly and decide," the doctor advised. “I’m ready to take the risk doctor,” she replied. "In that case, we will start the procedure soon and you have to visit for a regular checkup. It's dangerous to skip them," she warned. Everything is going smooth, months passed they are happy and are planning to have a baby shower.

"Hello…yes, didi I'm fine and what's your train time??" she asked. "We are at the station and the train will be here anytime soon, we will come there by 6 am, what about your husband? Did he start?" her sister replied. "He will start at the midnight," she replied. "Okay take care. Bye," she said hanging the phone. She stood before the mirror and started talking to herself "My womb…it seems like earth. Like how the earth nourishes a seed takes care of it till germination and gives birth to a new a life a woman's womb also gives birth to a new life. Maybe that is why a woman and earth are honored as mothers”. The next day morning she suddenly fell and her family rushed to the hospital. She was in emergency and the treatment was going on.

"Doctor, how is she now? What happened to her? Will she be okay?" her mother cried. "Her condition is critical. Let me know one thing did she attend her routine checkup this month?" he asked. "No doctor, she said she will go with her husband after the baby shower ceremony," her mother replied. "What… how could you be so reckless? You know that she is under IVF and still you neglected her," the doctor shouted. “We are trying our best to save them but we can’t be sure because the baby is growing in reverse and is now troubling her to breathe,” he said. They are worried and in a short while, the doctor came with a piece of bad news. "Sorry…we failed to save both mother and child. If you had taken her to the regular checkup on the due date then we would have found it earlier and there was a possibility to save them," he said in a low voice. They cried their hearts out. She might be between us if she was not forced to have her child. Why doesn't society consider a woman without children as a complete woman? Every woman who loves a child with all her heart is complete even if the child is not from her womb, blood, caste, and religion.