The Story of Many Girls

"Congratulations!", the voice of my friends erupted as I entered the house of Simran.

I and my friends had all come to Simran's house to celebrate my 10th results. I had stood first in my area and in top 100 in my state. I had loved studying from the very start.

"Wow yaar! Meena, you literally nailed it!", Shalini wrapped her arms around me as I sat between her and Reshma on the sofa.

"So what are you going to take up, ha? Science or what?", asked Simran as we helped ourselves to the juice kept on the table.

"Well, science.", I said. "But I love biology and maths both, so..."

I stopped midway, realising that all were looking at me with a playful look in their eyes and holding back laughter. 

"You are a complete nerd!", they all shouted in unison and we all burst out laughing. I had not laughed so hard in a long time.

Like this, we enjoyed for a while over the juice made by Simran's mother. Then, we decided to go out for dinner. I shot my brother Samarth a message informing him the same. He replied with a thumbs up in a few minutes.

We arrived at the restaurant and had a great time. We laughed over old memories and made new ones. We did not care about anything and spoke our heart out. After all, this was a much needed meeting and that too, after so long.

We made most of the time we had got and after the dinner, we hugged each others goodbyes. We all knew how important the time was as most of us would be changing schools.

When I reached home, it was already around nine at night. I saw my father's bike outside and my heart cramped. I knew what was coming. The two steps before the door seemed the longest and the hardest. As I entered, I made up my mind to be as calm as possible.

"Come, and have a seat.", my father motioned his hand to the end of the sofa, as he sat on the other end.

I did as I was told, exhaling calmly as I did so.

I could listen my brother studying in the other room when I had entered, but now, he stopped as if to listen to the conversation.

"Can't we do this some other day?", my mother said. She stood there and looked at my father.

"No, it is important.", my father looked towards me with a determined look. 

I heard my brother ruffle through pages and shift his books and felt that he was done studying and was about to come out.

I was staring at the table in the red light of the incandescent bulb, breathing as calmly as possible.

"Meena, you cannot study anymore.", my father said the cruelest words ever.

"But, why?", I said as I looked at my father with love for studies in my eyes.

"No!! Then, who will do the household chores and who will marry you?", my father raised his voice a little and moved his hands while speaking as if to make me understand that the decision was right and important.

"Life is much more than such useless decisions", I wanted to say.

My mother had given in on this years ago and she stood there wiping tears. 

"But, I love studying and I want to study further!", I persisted.

"Arey!", my father roared. "What will people say?"

"Who do you love, me or people?", I wanted to say.

"I don't care about people!", I shouted, looking at him with red eyes.

"ENOUGH!", my father thundered. "My decision is final!"

And with that, he stood up and proceeded to walk away. But, a voice stopped him.

"No!", my brother had come out, and he stood face to face with father.

Sarthak said, "You think you can walk away just like that? What about her dreams?"

Dreams. This word meant to me more than anything else. I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I didn't hold myself back any longer.

I stood up and shouted at the top of my voice as tears rolled down my cheeks,- "Just because you couldn't live your dreams doesn't mean you shouldn't let your children live theirs! You SHOULD be making your children believe that the world is beautiful, that the world is theirs to create! You SHOULD be believing in their dreams and make them believe too! You SHOULD be helping your children feel the beauty and joy that you once felt! You SHOULD be helping them feel it all their lifetime even though you couldn't feel it all your lifetime!"

My father eased up there and then. He sat down on the ground and cried his heart out. And I knew that I had won.