A women’s destiny is made of only household chores, is it so? Is she
free enough to have her independent recognition in the society? Is there any
possibility that a woman can pursue her passion, follow her own dreams, Is she
courageous enough to leave her footprints in the history of wise? Inscribing such thoughts onto her dear dairy,
Sanjana sensed the serene silence of the twinkling stars amidst the dark sky
and got immersed into the ambience of sleep sitting on her rocking chair.
She opened her bleary eyes when the cat,
all seven pounds of skirmish flesh, climbed onto her belly. Squinting into the
sunlight streaming in from the open window, she discovered that she was now the
weary possessor of a pounding headache, and at some point, had managed to lose
both a tooth and a spouse. Suddenly, she
heard her mother’s voice from the rear door. “Sanju, are you well dear. Please,
open the door, your favourite breakfast is ready” Hearing this, Sanjana gently
settled the kitten on the carpet and opened the door.
“Good Morning Maa, thank you so much for your kind efforts” saying this she kissed on the left cheek of her mother. Mother gave a terrible sight at the cat and discarded her from the room. “Maa, what wrong can a harmless animal do?” The mother replied “you don’t know what havoc that tiny kitten brings in my kitchen everyday she is able to peep in my house. Leave this discussion, how are you feeling now?”. “ Just a bit headache, it will be alright from your delightful tea and supper tastes really delicious Maa” she replied to her mother’s query. Mother said “Sanju I would suggest you that you consider your relationship with Raghav (Sanjana’s husband) once before taking final decision of divorce. Raghav should be given one last chance if he agrees at any number of conditions putted by you.” She replied “Maa, Raghav is not bad person. It’s just that he has wrong perception for a working woman, which is indeed shaped by his mother. He sees everything, only after it passes through the spectacle of her mother’s mind. He has problem with my late night shifts, he suspects me of extra-marital affairs, he wants me to stay at home, give my aspirations as sacrifice at the altar of his mother’s will. My parents taught me the significance of self-respect and how it must be carried by you in positive or negative circumstances. I have taken the decision after giving him numerous chances. I want separation”. “All right, dear I will not be a hurdle onto your fight for self-respect. Your father is waiting downstairs he is obdurate at his decision to take you to dentist’s clinic for your tooth to get operated, today itself. So, be ready on time Sanju. He says he wants to end all your pain today itself.” said her mother. Sanjana replied, “My paa and I both hates indiscipline, I will be coming within thirty minutes.”
Mr. Manoj Malhotra, the father of Sanjana is
a retired Army Major General. He loves his daughter immensely from the core of
his heart. Although, he has a flaw into his personality, he makes pre conceived
notions about a person he meets for the first time. That’s the reason he liked
Raghav, his friend’s son in the first meet. But, there is always something hidden
inside the skin of beings, which comes subsequently with the passage of time.
He feels regret for marrying her only daughter so early without knowing the boy
completely. She accompanied her father to dentist, got her tooth operated and
then went to the district court where her mother was waiting for them. The
parents of Raghav also came there. Then the court proceedings went along and
subsequently both showed their consent for separation by signing on the divorce
papers. On the way to home, Sanjana suddenly exclaimed “Let’s party Maa and
Paa, I have emancipated myself from demon called Raghav! All right, jokes
apart, but tell me why you people are behaving melancholic. It was all Almighty
has planned. He must have thought something challenging for your daughter.
Today, I assure you both that I will never be your liability, will fulfill all
my dreams, reach where I want to go, will never break your trust. All I want is
your support, when I have my Maa and Paa on my side, no evil power in this
world can harm me. I lived for myself, now it’s time to give rent for staying
on this marvelous earth to God, by my good deeds and serving others without any
selfish interests.” Mother said “We will always with you until our last breath,
Sanju but you have to accept the fact that life journey cannot be completed in
a lonely walk. Try to understand you need a moral support dear of man somewhere. Sanjana smiled and said “If
there is someone, somewhere who is meant for me destiny will do great wonders
arranging our rendezvous Maa.”
Three years passed, Sanjana did great wonders for her company and
achieved recognition, got promoted to the post of Executive director after
which he coordinated several marvelous events and received larger contract from
big business to organize their events. She made many friends and many are
jealous of her caliber too. But she chose to go with the flow. She planned a
surprise trip for her parents on their forty fifth marriage anniversary to
Maldives. “Maa, all the packing is done? Paa, you kept all the relevant
documents and your medicines, what about them? Father replied, “Yes dear,
everything is packed and kept, don’t frenzy but where is your luggage?” She
said, “Paa this is your post marriage honeymoon, what I will do amidst two amorous
love birds”. “Sanju,” He said “This is extremely wrong, we cannot leave you
here and celebrate there.” She replied, “Now, I think it’s the time to end
melodrama. Flight is scheduled to arrive on time. Hurry, let’s get into the car
I will drive today. Mother said “When my daughter became my mother, I just
don’t realized”. Tears started rolling down from the eyes. Sanjana gave a warm
hug to mother, which embraced their love and selfless bonding for each other.
Her father placed loving hand over her forehead and said “God, give such
daughter to every father and curse those man who compares their daughter with
sons.” She bid adieu to her parents and
started advancing towards her home. She reached home, after one hour and the
same kitten was waiting for her sitting onto the bed. She looked hungry, and
Sanjana felt pity on the tiny creature and she brought some milk in a bowl,
kitten immediately sat onto her lap and started drinking milk from the bowl.
“You are companion of mine; when I was tired it is you who made me feel
comfortable, and it is my duty to make you feel satisfied at least for some
moments.” Then the cat swirled back to the window and there was serene silence.
Suddenly, her cell phone started ringing, it was one of her office colleague,
Tanay Bakshi. Tanay has become very known friend of Sanjana, who is among the
priority friends of her. She received the call and came to know that one of the
company building has got fire and many of the employs were working in their
night shifts. Sanjana, immediately went at the site, by the time fire brigade
has reached and situation was under control. But a dozen of employees were
severely wounded and they were immediately rushed to hospital in company
vehicles because ambulance was not available during that night. Sanjana and
Tanay carried them into their cars and rushed to the city hospital. Two of them
were in critical condition and rests are out of danger. Tanay stayed in the
hospital entire night with Sanjana and family members of employees. One of the employee
died and was not able to survive because he sustained ninety percent burns.
Sanjana
vowed to investigate whether the fire was accident or a deliberate incident and
went to the office next morning with Mr. Tanay. The reason was soon identified
it was a careless electrician’s work, who came to repair lighting of the
conference hall last night. He was sent for legal investigation further by the
Sanjana. It was found that the rival company has sent him to destroy the office
campus and soon a case was filled. Prosecution continued on the suspected top
management officer of rival firm Sanidhya limited. He was imprisoned for five
years and has to pay compensation of sixty thousand per injured employee and
have to contribute to the renovation expenses of the burnt building.
Although after one month period her parents reached back to India,
touring destinations planned by their daughter. Sanjana does not revealed about
occurrences to them and decided to conceal it for some time and inform them
later if required to do so. But, the mother came to know about that from the
facial expressions of her daughter that something went wrong. Sanjana disclosed
everything when asked frequently. The mother assured her by her calm verbatim
“That you did your best to make the culprit punished, you cannot return the
workers the same life, that’s not in your hand dear. Please stop blaming
yourself for their condition”. Yes, Maa I do understand that perspective. Don’t
worry I am all fine. “Dear, leave all this rumination, I have called Tanay, he
would be coming within half an hour”. Sanjana replied annoyingly “Maa, what is
this plot now, I don’t need refreshment sort of thing I am absolutely fine.” I
want you to go out for a while you have not left the home for refreshing your
mind, your car might have been bored travelling monotonous roads always and
mapping distance between office and home. I think he knows you in depth and
this is the order of your paa. Won’t you accept it”. “All right, I agreed, but
please don’t expect anything from me please. You know what I mean.” replied
Sanjana.
Tanay arrives and Sanjana accompanies him. “Where you want your driver
to take you ma’am? A serene garden, any historical monument, or your favourite
restaurant, what would you like to choose?” “Please stop behaving like that,
Tanay. You have planned it take me wherever you want. I am least interested in
selecting place of visit, right now.” replied Sanjana. “Ma’am is annoyed, all right my place.” Tanay
drove the car to a beautiful sunset point which is left untouched by human
turbulence, situated at the bank of river Krishna. Sanjana, just embraced the
serenity of air by opening her arms and welcoming the cool breeze making her
earrings tinkle and break the silence of the river. She closed her eyes to
savor the nature’s love, which was enough to soothe any weary soul wandering
amidst confusion, trouble, and dilemma. Tanay said, “This is the place my
mother used to bring me every weekend. After her demise, I used to be here
whenever I was at any turmoil in my life. I felt my mother’s love here, she
always helps me to come out of every situation, every challenge. Whether I want
to celebrate victory or realize vain of my pain, when compared to more
suffering population of this world. I felt that what I am facing is as small as
nanosecond compared to the most struggled population. You know Sanju, you are a
fighter, but something are just meant to happen, which brings havoc consequences
which are far worse from those imagined by we people. When everything is said
and done, there is always one thing in our hand. You know what it is?” “Your
response to what happens around you”, answered Sanjana. “Hmm, partially
correct, the answer is your mind. It is like a majestic fortress which have all
the capabilities into it, you have to guard it from weary and disheartening
thoughts. Use your mind for serving others, which I have observed is your
purpose of life. Start a new beginning, live to enrich yourself so that you
would always be in a position to help others. Update yourself, learn new
things, life is too short to waste it on things we can’t control, instead
invest your time on what makes sense. I would suggest make a wish list of all those
things you wanted to learn and you wanted to do for others. Work on it, give
time to it apart from fulfilling your business obligations.” Sanjana was just
looking at Tanay, smiling in the most serene manner, a smile that is pure, free
from all sorts of dirt, just a smile which is really a smile. The life seemed
to be still, both of them staring each other for a while. Sanjana said holding
the hands of Tanay, “You made me realize the truth of my existence. You gave a
new dimension to my eyes to look at the big picture around me. I can never
express gratitude to you in whichever way I will try to do so.” Both of them
sat silently at the bank staring at the nexus of Sun and serene Krishna.
“Nature is a great teacher, indeed which can lift everyone from any sort of
dilemma, you are healed by mother Nature, kindly don’t give me credit for the
thing I never did, Sanju” said Tanay. Sanjana just spread a broad smile onto
her lips and said “you are incredulous as well as eccentric being, I ever met.”
They both went to Sanjana’s home and Tanay dropped her there.
After that Sanjana, never felt disheartened, she took her mother and
father to the same place. She often planned outings with Tanay. They became
very close friends of each other and shared almost everything without
hesitations. Later Sanjana revealed her feelings for Tanay, in front of her
parents before confronting Tanay. She wanted their approval for her wish. The
mother became extremely joyous and both her parents have already accepted him
as their son-in-law. Later on she presented her feelings to Tanay, and planned
everything with the help of his parents. This was one of the most unique modus
operandi of love proposal.
“A woman is an affectionate mother; she is always ready to show
compassion towards her children, a devoted lover; she always finds her own
happiness in the satiety of her lover, a creative manager; manages multiple
works so proficiently that it really seems she has invisible multiple hands, an
enigmatic economist; she always have funds saved, no matter what is the level
of annual earnings of the family and no matter how additional the expenses be,
a favourite daughter; she considers only one best hero who is her paa and icon
her maa, an combatant; she never say I cannot do this, accepts every challenge
whether it is of household nature or related to external environment, an
inspirer; who has all the power in the world to renew any weary soul wandering
amidst the mirage of pleasures and true purpose on one’s life, a friend; she
gives her best efforts to fulfill the obligations of a true friend, who knows
the pain of her friend, who is happy in the happiness of her friend, a teacher;
She always possesses most appropriate solution to every problem of her loved
ones, and guides them with the right remedial solution whenever they are
entangled in any situation of life, the enlisting of roles of a woman never
ends, with the advent of modern era more and more role of a woman are emerging
and shaping the development of the world.
She is like a golden thread, which
when embroidered on a plain cloth, instills life on a lifeless object. It is
she who makes a concrete house a home. It is she who withholds the courage to
introduce relevant changes using her powerful vision. The true potential of a
woman remains unknown to this mediocre male dominating society, unless and
until we women take firm step of breaking out the shackles of barriers imposed
on our character, restrictions of what would other sections feel or think if we
took the initiative. If I ever got opportunity to convey a single message to
the women of the world, it would be that, stop demanding your rights, start
assuming yourself as the mistress of all your empowering rights, stop fearing
about others opinion, they will never be on your side when you are in trouble
or you have to suffer due to prevailing circumstances, stop accepting
limitations, there are none it’s just a false illusion created by people around
you, because the day women discovered their true identity, their inner powers,
not a single creature of this world would even think of harming you in mental
or physical way. I feel proud of my decision to leave Raghav, if I would have
not taken that bold step, the face of my life would not have been better from
my best dreams. Still there are things to be done, a lot of priorities still
left in my wish list, but the difference is only that now their beneficiary is
not me, but the poor, unprivileged children, victims of natural calamities. My
dreams are big, they would demand sacrifices from my side and I am ready for
that, I have to liberate people because unity of people have immense untapped
power. History has seen, whenever people are closely knitted in the bond of
love, compassion and empathy towards each other, no external power can harm
them in any way. India lost its sovereignty only when Britishers divided India
and ruled its kingdoms. We got engaged into bloody wars with the countrymen.
Now, is the time to unite people to serve the nation.” Inscribing these lines
in the diary, Sanjana closed her eyes in calm sleep.
PURVIKA PATEL
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