Happy Women’s Day – A Short Story

This post is a part of #Storytellersbloghop Season 4, hosted by https://auraofthoughts.com and https://mywordsmywisdom.com

The topic of the Blog Hop is ‘Whispers of Womanhood’.

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“Happy Women’s Day!” Shruti chimed as she walked into the living room. Her mother and grandmother were at the breakfast table.  

“Happy Women’s Day to you, too!” they replied simultaneously. As Shruti was buttering her toast, her grandmother, Lata, asked her, “What are you so cheerful about? Any special plans?”

“Yes, Granny,” she smiled. “My friends and I are celebrating Women’s Day at the spa!”

Shruti quickly finished her breakfast, and as she put on her shoes, she bid goodbye to everyone.

Lata came to the door to see her off. “Bye dear, have fun!” she said with a smile.

As Lata watched Shruti’s energetic form walk away, she leaned on the door frame and thought, “Kids like Shruti are so lucky! Everything is so easy for them these days. But does she even know what she is celebrating? Does she realise that this freedom that she enjoys comes with a price paid by many women before her?”

Back in her comfortable armchair, Lata closed her eyes and let her mind wander back to her time growing up in her village. When she was six years old, her eldest sister, all of fourteen, got married. Lata learnt from a young age that this was what girls were meant to do. Learn to cook, clean, get married, have babies, and look after the household.

When young Lata had begun with her periods, she realised that only women had to go through this. Men were so fortunate. They didn’t have periods, didn’t have to endure pain, they got to continue their schooling, and onwards to earn money and a reputation. They were the gods, and the women folk existed to look after them.

Not one woman in her village was different from this mould created by society. Hence, Lata thought this was how women all over the world lived. She didn’t even question it.

But it was her teacher, Mr Sundaram, who changed her life completely. When he praised her in front of the entire class for scoring the highest in mathematics, she couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t as if she strived to be the topper. She hadn’t even realized that she was good at the subject. But that day, when the class clapped for her, something changed. Lata was excited and proud for the first time ever. And she didn’t want this feeling to end.

Mr Sundaram encouraged and urged her to study further. Lata was genuinely surprised that she was being appreciated for her intellect, that too by a male. This had a profound effect on her. When she told her parents about wanting to study further, they laughed it off.

“What use would be of mathematics when you’re taking care of the household?” asked her father. She fought and cried but to no avail.

When she realised her parents were looking to marry her off, she found the courage to decide to leave home. She knew the entire village would talk nonsense about her and her family, but she had to do this for herself. All she knew was that she didn’t want to end up like her sisters who were trapped inside homes doing thankless chores, all for someone who would not leave a chance to belittle them.

Lata wanted to become a professor in a college in the city, and one night, she left her home and her village to fulfil that very dream.

Lata had applied for a graduation course in mathematics with the help of Mr Sundaram. Since he knew Lata’s circumstances, he also helped her with some money. Leaving home and living all alone in a big city was not easy. Only she knew how she struggled. There were times when she thought of returning to her village. But she stood her ground and continued to follow her dreams.

After settling down in her new job, she went back to her village. Perhaps to show what she had made of herself, or to ask for forgiveness – she wasn’t sure.

She still can’t forget how she wasn’t even allowed inside her home. She can’t forget the shame she saw in her father’s eyes as though she had committed a crime. Her mother did not even come out to meet her.

Heartbroken but more determined than ever, Lata went back and worked even harder. She took some time but married a man of her own choice who was open-minded and kind.

Lata made sure her son grew up with the notion that men and women are equals both in the professional world and at home. She made sure he saw his parents working hard outside and inside the house. When her daughter-in-law came home for the first time, Lata assured her that she would be treated as an equal.

“Amma,” her daughter-in-law woke her up from her reverie. “Your medicine,” she said as she placed a couple of tablets in her hand.

“Thank you, dear,” she replied as she swallowed the tablets and settled down to have a cup of coffee with her daughter-in-law.

Now that she is a retired professor, she tries to keep herself busy with her books and other hobbies. But today, after a long time, her old memories had returned.

Lata was content with her family and the life she had built for herself. She was happy that her struggles, and of the thousands of women like her, had enabled girls like Shruti to enjoy the freedom and privilege that was denied to her.

The world had come a long way from stubbing women to celebrating women’s day. And only women like Lata knew the true meaning of this recognition.

“Happy Women’s Day, indeed!” thought Lata with a smile of satisfaction.