The greatest gift in this world is none other than the gift of life. Nothing in this world is more valuable than the gift of life. That gift of life is given to us through a wonderful beauty called Mother. She not only creates life in her but also, as we come to this world, she builds our life step by step and brings us to where we are today. Hence, Motherhood means giving birth to a child by oneself and brigining up that child to become the best they could be .Thus, being a mother is the greatest crown for a woman and celebrating this queen of our lives can never be limited to one day.
M –Million things she gave me
O- Only person who is genuine, kind hearted like no other.
T- Tears that she shed to save me.
H- Heart of purest gold.
E-Eyes with love-light shining.
R-Right she will always be
Mothers are superwomen. According to my opinion, she is the most important and indispensible character in the human race. Mothers play a major role in molding the character of a child. Each mother makes sure their children are happy and safe in everything they do. Everybody survives happily because of her love. “A child would definitely suffer without the mother”. That is what mother’s love means. Her love is overflowing and unconditional. In fact, most of the children do not understand the difficulties she faces in pampering a child unless they become a mother themselves. We all are indebted to her.
Pregnancy and motherhood are significant phases of women’s lives. In fact, motherhood is a privilege that only certain women can experience because there are certain women who are unable to bear children. The period of being a mother is the most satisfying and happiest moment that life can present to a woman. Motherhood involves being able to play several roles such as the role of a wife, mentor, best friend, caretaker while being affectionate and kind person to all members of the family. Above all, to keep the house moving forward. It is hard to imagine how she manages all things together. We must be proud of our mothers who nurtured our life and brought us to where we are today.
She loves her children more than anything else. Sometimes, she becomes strict and scolds or beats her children because of their stubborn behavior. But that anger is only for a short period. She does everything to direct her children to the right path and she wants to see them succeeding in life.
Mothers have been holding a prominent place in our societal and family structures since ancient times. Unlike fatherhood, motherhood is a natural and a very strong between a mother and a child. Mothers are like our shadow .When we are small, our lives fabricate around her. For everything that we need we call mother. We want her assistance to protect ourselves from all perceivable dangers. We hold her arms to go out. If we are injured, we run to her in order to heal our wounds. She is the focal point of our lives. She is the divinity on the planet earth. She is the greatest blessing of God upon us.
There is no way we can ever thank mother for all she has done for us. We are indebted to her. She is the one who is awake all night when we are sick. Praying to God to make us well and always ready to bear the pain on behalf of us. She is the one who wake up early in the morning to prepare meals for us. Mothers are the ones who complain that we are not eating enough or eating right. They cook all sorts of things to make us stronger and healthier. Mothers, in fact, worry more about our examinations than us. They bear pain to complete our school projects leaving all other works behind while we play around with friends or just spend time watching television.
We must apologize to our mother at some point of our lives because we put all the blame on her for our failures. Isn’t it tough to imagine how she must have borne our temper tantrums when we were kids? We may have fought with our siblings, done mischievous things. We must have made her life hard by behaving so rude and difficult. Yet she had been patient at all times and always will be.
In the bible, it is mentioned that “the holy spirit mothers us and nurtures us to lead into truthfulness.” A mother has characteristics of the God. They are comfort and nurturing. When we were kids and even after we reach our adulthood, mothers are like deities to us. They look into our physical, mental and spiritual needs; and sometimes feed us even after we grow up.
All mothers have a pure heart and want the best things in their child’s life whether be it any toy, clothing, education. Motherhood is the best period in life that a woman can undergo. It is worth a lot for a child. Mother’s love is something that you can feel to be there always. It is like a blessing from God. Children or adults who lose love from their mothers are very unfortunate.
It is better that a separate day is assigned to honor this queen of our lives. Mother’s day is observed on different dates in many parts of the country. However, it is commonly celebrated in the months of March or May. But, honoring the idol of our life shall not be limited only to this day. Although much has been said about her for centuries yet a single day is not enough to pay gratitude to her. At least on this day, think about her desires and act accordingly. Strive to make mother’s day absolutely hassle free for your mother and take her duties and responsibilities on yourself at least for a day. Pamper her at least a little on this special day of hers just as she pampers you all the year around.
As she bid goodbye to the guests, Rani kept thinking of the words which Suyaash, her friend, told her at the party – “Girls have no problem, they can easily quit their job and sit at home for 6 months till they find a new job. They have “Helpers” like us to depend upon!!” Of course, Suyaash meant husbands!
As she lay down on her king sized bed, Rani kept thinking who is the “Helper” in her life? Which “Helper” can she depend upon if she quits her job? All the “Helpers” she ever knew of were her parents!! As night dawned, she kept conjecturing how true Suyaash’s words were for her? With millions of contemplations in her mind, her thoughts were interrupted when the doorbell rang. And the love of her life entered, her 4 year old son, Vihaan. And holding her hand, Vihaan said – Mama I love you!
Rani starred at him and the guilt came back again! Did she not allow her son to have a normal life? Will she ever be able to explain Vihaan why she did it? Rani’s thoughts flew back to past one year when she decided to move away from the shackles of a loveless marriage to a new life. She very well knew it would be a stigma for a small town girl. Parents, relatives, friends, how would she ever explain to them that she chose not to fake the quintessential way of life by choosing to stick to marriage just for the sake of society? How would she explain that she doesn’t need a “Helper” in her life and had the courage to live life on her own terms?
Single mother, single working professional, single one stop solution to all needs; her significant others told her that this decision of hers to walk away from marriage won’t fly. Questions were raised by closed ones – those people in society for whom marriage was a legally recognized social contract between two people where you are not allowed to deviate. Even after a year, those questions were still afresh – Won’t you need a companion? Will you be able to pull this with a 4 year old kid! Adornment of Bangles, Bindis, Bicchiyas became more important, but having the courage to walk away from what didn’t make her happy seemed not to go well with lot of her near and dear ones.
As she looked at Vihaan, she reminisced her time with Abhay before they got separated. All those times when she had enabled Abhay’s laziness were vividly flashing before her. Fitting everything into those 24 hours, was not easy for Rani. From managing work to paying her bills, from managing Vihaan to ensuring that Abhay never missed a meal of the day, from being a high achieving professional to bearing the C-section scar proudly, from being the only child of her parents to being a responsible daughter-in-law, she never complained when she did all this without any help. Sometimes she would hear from Abhay – but I never told you to do all this!
Rani remembered those years of marriage with Abhay, those lack of conversations, those times when there was no energy left to revive the relationship, when she and Abhay looked at each other only to be sure it was not working, yet adorn that fake smile on seeing any additional soul, that physical affection going out of the window, those subtle undertones where they knew they had nothing to talk but had to stay under one roof, that underlying and unresolved feeling of why “us”, that time when they knew it was not a rough patch but a permanent loveless marriage. Did they sign up for this life?
Whom could she explain this to? Because nobody would understand. The reason nobody would understand is because there were no visible scars outside. She had heard people tell her – oh your separation was an easy one, there was no toxicity! Really! Rani believed that physical scars can be erased but when life throws emotional scars at you, it does take time to heal. Those are wounds that never show on your body but those are deeper and more hurtful that anything that bleeds. But who would ever understand that?
But not anymore! Finally Rani realized that there is another world possible and time has come to explore it! And it was a mutual decision, but of course, society thought Rani could never make it. The guardians of society questioned her time and again with 2 of their favourite questions – First, Rani, what exactly went wrong because we didn’t see anything? And second, how will you handle Vihaan?
Rani normally never bothered to answer the first question because she was never a conformist to principles that only existed in the mind. Those emotional scars in those 9 years of marriage were only for her to see and she wouldn’t bother making a propaganda of it. Rani realized she and Abhay didn’t fall out of love, rather, they were never in love. It was a hasty transition to marriage which could never garner companionship.
But the second question bothered her! People asked Rani, don’t you think Vihaan would have been happier if you and Abhay were together? He needed a father as per society! But society never realized that when Rani and Abhay were not in it together, how could they ever keep Vihaan happy? All in all, society wanted her and Abhay to “stay together” but “not stay happy”.She still remembers when Abhay had questioned her in the first month of pregnancy – do you want to keep Vihaan because this relationship won’t work? You and I can never make it in life! But, Rani, chose to keep Vihaan because she knew she could!
She felt as if she and Abhay were leading two invisible parallel lives, unable to relate to each other. She had self-sabotaged her relation with her own self and others; that blistering feeling of whitewashing the entire institution of her marriage with Abhay and be happy again never seemed to end. Those stares at other couples when they walked hand in hand, that slow piling up of annoyances, pain and bitterness, that feeling of loneliness on losing oneself, that gut and that instinct which told her it isn’t working. Wanting to stay, wanting to go, she realized that truth won’t go away if she refused to face it.
Finally she chose to be free. She chose to be free from a man whom she had known for 14 years, but perhaps just “known”. She vividly remembered the fresher’s day in college when she saw Abhay walking the ramp for the fashion show, oozing loads of confidence while the entire crowd was cheering for him. He won the fashion show competition, elocution, quiz, mimicry and came out of the classroom with flying grades. Yes, her heart did miss a beat for him! But was it love, was it a hurry to step into marriage, or was it the fact that it was just not meant to be? Keeping aside those ifs and buts, it was time to move on. She realized taking charge of her own happiness was far more important than de-stigmatizing annulment of the legal bond which society calls divorce. At 40, she wanted to choose another world!
Perhaps one day Vihaan would understand why she chose to take the step! Taking Vihaan in her arms, Rani wanted to explain him that his mother did not give up on life but simply knew when to walk away. Deciding to separate in no way meant failing the relationship or that the relationship wasn’t important. It just meant that it has run its course and has little more to offer either of both. His mother took the brave decision to walk away knowing very well that separation isn’t an isolated event; rather it unfolds over many years. Still, she chose NOT to be part of a couple who were unhappy but still decide to stay married “for their children’s sake.” She was clear – unhappy parents do not tend to raise happy children.
Today after a year, there is no looking back for Rani. She co-parents with dignity, looks and feels happy, takes care of her own self, goes on solo trips, pursues her passion for writing, holds Vihaan in one hand while climbing the corporate ladder with the other and most importantly, Rani is on the greatest path of emotional recovery with happiness at her doorstep. She is now ready to turn the previous pages of her life for a new chapter. Rani believes that everyone deserves infinite chances at happiness. Her self-guarded sheath finally began to melt. The survival mechanisms that she had activated after being hurt and the armor of self-protection that she had built for anything that had the potential to hurt her again seemed to fade. As she looked at Vihaan, she knew that she had taken the right decision and will never let it affect Vihaan.
Today people tell her, Rani, you have changed! Only Rani knew from within that she had not changed, rather she had outgrown herself for the better. She was not the same soul because a lot had changed her and the previous version of her no longer existed. She discovered her wings to fly. She still doesn’t conform to society’s norms and society also doesn’t cease to tag her. Honestly nothing matters now, because Rani is happy and more importantly can keep Vihaan happy. Rough waters have taught her strengths she never knew existed within her.
When she looked at Vihaan, cuddled and sleeping in her lap, Rani knew that being a single mother takes more in life and she was ready for it. Her emotions came to life, sparks which were latent for 14 years flew again, that magic which was dead suddenly revived, happy kind of nervousness flowed as if someone had lifted an unknown weight from her shoulders. Rani knew she would be able to keep Vihaan happy and Vihaan would understand the story of her life!
At 40, Rani chose another world because she knew it was possible! For her, choosing to be a single mother wasn’t a tragedy, it was a happy ending and today in this new world, she is her own “Helper” and happily ever after is no longer a fairy tale for her!
She knew it felt right!
And as Rani always says – I am a single parent – what’s your superpower?
I was always amused at the way my dad did everything for our family, his skills of managing finance was the most I admired. Like any corporate employee he was stressed at work, but that made no difference. He never made compromises when it came to checking our studies and giving us most important advises. He was visibly always by our side through thick and thin. It was more than twenty long years of pride and delight.
I still find managing finance and making decisions, too tough a task. I look up to everything he gave us in life. But now when I am twenty-four and married, everything has changed, not that I don’t admire him any longer just that I am now my mom’s fan. In the past, I had thought, my mom always lamented for non-existent matters. For instance, when she served everything on the dining table, she immediately want us there, otherwise, she won’t spare us! But now I know, when I prepare some dish with so much passion, I wish it was enjoyed and chumbled hot, I feel dispirited when I find my cooking left unattended even though it’s some minutes matter. That’s just one of thousands!
To choose a career we undergo some exceptional training, either internships or challenging tasks at our college itself, in short, we are taught in advance to face the circumstances. That makes me wonder, how well I got into the role of a wife, sans any theory or practical classes. It was all made easy by my mom. She never explained how it all was, she lived the way it has to be. I miss her the most. I became twenty-five this month; I miss the cake and payasam she used to prepare for me. She didn’t have a career to chase, just us. Maybe she had career dreams, which was abandoned at some point.
My mom had made so much of sacrifices which I never caught sight of, until today when I am myself in her position. When I spend my days at home waiting to hear the knock on the door, just like how my mom used to wait for me and my sister come back from school, I know how difficult it must have been for her to spend time with furniture and utensils. I felt, it was easiest for her, I believed she had so much time to relax after her work. I now understand, I wasn’t realizing how soul-destroying time can be, when one is alone.
I am glad she looked brave to me, though she must have been broken inside, some days. She made a demanding task look so undemanding, giving me all courage to take the responsibility of a wife. I am happy with what I have now in my life, because she was happy with what she had in her life. This is a life where happiness is about keeping YOUR PEOPLE happy. And that is the life of a WOMEN. I know no other finer creation of God.
Writer: Amal Farhan
Photographer: Priyanka
The Photography is brought to you by Nations Rock Beat (NRB): Photobeat
I have often been asked how so many of my short story submissions have been shortlisted among the top 10 for the TOI Write India Contests which have been on since 2016 and are now in the third season.
Truthfully, my responses have flitted between a modest ‘Oh, I got lucky I guess,’ to ‘I really don’t know’.
So, I did some soul searching and here are my assimilated learning from the contest and my submissions. No pious platitudes, just my beliefs with a disclaimer to all readers- “Accept and adapt at your own risk!”
Also, this is freewheeling, and enumeration is only to segregate every idea or building block. Each is equally important and complements the other like the pieces of an orchestra to create a cohesive philharmonic.
First, the characters in your story. Often, more important than the plot. Have only as many as you can properly flesh out. Your central character at least, (and I eschew the use of “protagonist” for s/he could be the “antagonist” too) must have a conflict, preferably internal or external or both. The more complex and/or nuanced your central character, the better. Very often the internal conflict drives the plot.
Second, the setting for your story must be credible to draw in the reader. The more unfamiliar your setting, the more you need to research to make it believable. The reader must feel that s/he is there. If readers don’t trust your honesty with your craft, there is little chance of them immersing themselves into and buying your story! A word of caution here. No matter how much you have studied the premise and enthusiastic to bleed your knowledge on paper, don’t take too long to move from premise to plot. This is a temptation I have often agonised over before letting go. Get to the story quickly. Remember, you have a maximum word count!
Third. Sure, have a plan of the story for you will need to fit in all the elements (and more) of what we are discussing here within the confines so many words, but don’t fret if you find the plot leading you on, rather than your plan.
Fourth, if you can manage a new or unique style, layout, or structure in which you deliver the story, great. When you move out of your comfort zone, the possibilities are endless, and you may discover your mojo. To be honest, this is an area for my personal improvement.
Fifth, never doubt the reader’s intelligence. Keep the mystical element at the back of your mind. Let the reader’s imagination and thought process guess what will happen next, rather than your spelling it out all. Less is more. This will help in the word count too!
Sixth, the end must surprise. The unexpected twist in the talemakes the story memorable. Your writing style, language, plot, character, setting, structure are all important, but this is key.
Seventh, edit, edit, edit. Revisit for inconsistencies and infractions. If you keep coming back because you are unhappy with one or more elements of the story, it’s a good sign.
Eighth, if your story has a prompt (as the Write India stories did along with other author specific rules) ensure that the use of the prompt is germane to the main plot and not a sub-plot.
Ninth, give your story a title that grabs the reader. It is your first hook.
A story within a predetermined number of words lays bare the writer’s virtuosity or otherwise.I believe that it was Sarah Dunant, the famous British novelist who said, “There’s no place for the writer to hide in a short story, no room for failure, for sloppy writing or muddled thought.”
Finally, we always remain an apprentice in this school of writing. There will always be a better story than the one we spin. And even for the one spun, which we believe to be the finest example of our craft, an improved version.
The ruthless mother who left the baby inside the dustbin, Without even once looking back with pity; Later saved from the clutches of the wild dogs.
I never wanted, what I got. The deceptive love of a matured man During my teenage days, Underneath the table, dishonouring my body. Later pushing me away in disgust.
I never wanted what I felt. The toxins who are never allowed In marriage rituals or religious ceremonies, Society stamping them as plague, Yet detoxing themselves in their secret beds.
I never wanted what I do. Standing in the middle of the streets Knocking every car window, Begging for money from those people, Whose hostile eye as of my progenitor’s.
I want what I am blessed with. The body of my own, to do as I want. The mind of my own, to think as I want. The heart of my own, to love whom I want. The soul of my own to surrender To the universal spirit, The Almighty.
At least I am independent. At least I am alive with uniqueness. The society cannot burn me, into their compartments of clashes in between religious intolerances, or sexual differences.
!!Spoiler Alert!! For your kind attention please, listen to the rules that you need to abide by for the rest of your life.
Don’t be out of your house after 7 in the evening. Don’t speak loudly. Don’t sit with your legs spread out. Don’t speak with everyone. Don’t give any opportunity to the people to speak about you. _________
Do’s and Don’ts are probably something every girl need to hear each and every day. Girls of our society are judged more by outside people than by their own families. You speak a lot? Oh you have a personality problem. You speak less? Well, you must have a lot of attitude. You are too thin? Oh! Do you suffer malnutrition? You are too fat? I’m sorry you’re so ugly.
In a country where a girl-child is killed even before she could take her first breathe, where women cannot go out of their house feeling safe at night, where it takes more than 7 years to get justice for girl who is raped brutally; can we really say that the women are the pride of that country?
Even though we speak about equality in gender, there are still some group of people who think that girls are so vain. It is true that in the fields of jobs women are given a change. But hardly few know the hardships they go through out there. Being abused by the boss or the male employees is something many women have to bear. In some families, the girls are not even allowed to continue higher studies just because of their gender.
There are still some remote areas where crime against women is practiced and there’s no one to help them. Domestic violence is one of those major crimes. Domestic violence can be seen in several forms such as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, etc. Domestic violence can be physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual abuse. Domestic violence can be subtle, coercive or violent. In India, 70% of women are victims of domestic violence.38% of Indian men admit they have physically abused their partners. A woman is beaten everyday every night and all she does is keep quiet; because she knows no one will ever fight for her. Bruises, scars and tears are all what she gets for sacrificing her own life. The man loses his job or dies; it is the woman who is to be blamed. Raja Ram Mohan Roy abolished the practice Sati, but did that help? Because even if they are not set on fire, the bitter words that the society throws at her burn her alive. She dies even while breathing.
The practice of child marriage was abolished a long time back by the government but still in some areas the crime of child marriage is still committed. Girls, who are married before the age of 18 and are made to leave school, depriving them of their right to education and be independent, are more likely to experience domestic violence. Also, young married girls who conceive while still physically immature are at higher risk of dying from pregnancy and childbirth complications; and their babies have a less chance of survival too.
When a girl is raped, everyone blames the girl. Did she wear short clothes? Come on, when a girl of 4 years is raped, would you still give the same excuse? There are thousands of cases when women are teased by men using vulgar words. It’s nothing but the mentality of the men of our country that needs to be changed. Women mostly do not receive justice for their rapes cases, because the police often do not give a fair hearing, and sometimes the medical evidence is also unrecorded which makes it easy for offenders to get away with their crimes under the current laws. Women trafficking and forced prostitution is also a heinous crime committed against women that is practiced secluded from the views of laws and very less people get justice in this case.
Acid Attacks are one of those crimes that are able to destroy the life of a woman. People commit this heinous crime either out of jealously, or on being rejected. As a result many women lose their sight and are often kept away, looked down upon just for their damaged face and lost identity. Several victims commit suicide not being able to tolerate the disrespect they get and the pain of being cornered.
A woman being a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister does a lot of works. From office work to household work she never fails to fulfil the needs of her family member. If in this whole world there is someone who works with love and care without being paid but instead served with disrespect are the mothers, the wives, the women. So why do we need to set rules for them to live by? Why do we need to judge them for each and every action? Why can’t we give them the freedom to live their life by their own rules with total respect?
Let us all take a step forward. Let us change the way we look at the women. Let us change our perception. Let’s create a country where no child is denied its entry into this world just for the mere gender. Let’s create a country where the women don’t feel unsafe going out of their houses. Let’s create a country free from crime against the women. Let’s create a country where everyone lives peacefully.
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