Underestimate...

“You can do anything, Devika.” Her mother encouraged her.

Her mother went to the hospital. She and her brother were the only ones left in the house. The summer break was going. Today, with her friends she was off to a beach in an hour.

Rohan came into her room. He was crying.

Surprised I asked “Hey! Why are you crying dear brother? What happened? Why are you so upset?”

His reply made me fall on the bed in shock. My brain stopped functioning. I felt numb. “Devika, see the news on the television. Father... attacked... army members killed...” The last three words were whispered but kept ringing in my ears. I burst into tears. A flashback came to my mind.

 

2nd February 2008

The memories flashed in front of my eyes. Tears of anger began to well up in my eyes. Their words kept ringing in my ears. I asked myself. “Why sacrifice our dreams so that all we have to do is take care of our family? Why are women underestimated? Why are we unable to do work to our full potential? Why does gender discrimination happen? Why do my own friends sometimes not understand me? Why does my own family dictate my life? Why do teachers believe in gender discrimination? Why should I sacrifice my dreams?” Soon I was so angry that I did not realize myself digging my fingers in my palms. I began to frustrate and felt like throwing a temper tantrum. I decided to go to the park for a walk and do some meditation, neither the walk nor the meditation worked. I came back to my room and started crying. I saw my father approaching me. He sat at the end of the bed. He looked worried seeing me cry.

He asked “What happened, dear daughter? What is troubling you? Anything I can help with?”

Looking up, I began to tell him, what happened, today. I told him all my worries. Slowly, I felt relieved as I felt a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I saw him smiling at me. 

His answer astonished me “You do not have to sacrifice any of your dreams. Let others think what they want to think of. Sometimes people are discriminated against as long as they discriminate against themselves. Women have proved themselves every day, which they do. Writing glows when the words create a picture in the mind. Those pictures present an exorbitant richness and texture that overcomes every other emotion. Let the writing be you and the picture of your world. Remember child, Commitment, transparency, and honesty are the building blocks of any healthy relationship; be it a relationship between family members, friends, office colleagues, or even that of a company with its customers. Constant perseverance focused effort and stubbornness with a purpose bring forth a boosted expertise and striking advancement in the creative field. Dictate your own life, child.”

Smiling he stood and left the room but not before saying “Possibilities only became possible because someone crossed the line of impossibilities. Be that someone, child. Be the one to make impossible, the possible.”