Helmsman

 “Hey God, please give me another grand-daughter.” Shoba’s mother in law was trying to give her a message through god.

“Mummy, what will you do with so many grandkids? Will I be just stuck in this? Why don’t you think about my health? You already have a grandson. Your family line is taken care of.”

“Have one more child, my daughter-in-law. We are doing fine and can take care of the kid. We can get the child educated and give a good citizen to the country.”

“Sorry Mummy. Please forgive me. One child is enough. I have to live my life. I cannot live a life of hardship like you.” Saying this, Shobha took her car and got ready to go to the club.

As the car stopped at the traffic junction, a beggar woman with two children following her and another innocent kid in her arms, pleaded with Shobha to open the window of her air-conditioned car. Lowering the car’s window, Shobha asked the beggar “Why did you have these many children if you have to beg to make your ends meet?”

“Who gives alms to any woman here? A new child is the only way to earn some money.”

Shobha tossed a two rupee coin towards the woman and rolled up the window of her car while glancing the country’s future helmsman growing in the woman’s womb.