This is a conversation between a mother and her child who is only 9 years old ,in the village ,and too young to understand about the way the world works and its mentalities. She is intrigued by a certain point which has always been my question too when I was young. Sometimes I think that I still don't have the answer and sometimes I think that I got it. This conversation is in the form of a poem and I have tried to put as many unsaid things into it as I can.
***
Daughter-
" Mama why do people always need boys?
Mama why do they want to love them?
Mama why do people hate us so much?
Mama why were they sad when we came?"
Mother-
" Daughter, a boy is the pride of society!
A boy is the answer to all our questions!
A boy is strong and a boy is right!
So obviously girls are a misconception."
Daughter-
"Boys are great but what is wrong in us?
Mama I do not understand at all
Mama is it something to do with my brain?
Is it because I play and I always fall?"
Mother-
"Dear, boys never fall ! They never cry!
Boys are intelligent, so they should study
Boys should be sent to school
And girls do the work they are nobody"
Daughter-
"But Mama!I am somebody because I talk!
Mama I can think and speak too
Mama I also want to study and read
If you let me I can prove I am no fool!"
Mother-
"Now,now don't be so stupid dear
Girls are not the ones who read and write
Only the boys do that sort of work
They have incomes,they defend and fight"
Daughter-
"But Mama then what do girls do?
They cannot study, neither work
They cannot fight, they cannot play...
Then Mama what do we do? Only shirk?"
Mother-
"No dear we have important jobs as well
We cook and clean and wash and wipe
When we are get old we are married off
Then we serve, have babies and they chive"
Daughter-
"But Mama what if I don't want to marry?
What if I like playing and not cooking?
What if I can't sweep and wipe and clean?
What will I do if I want book and ink ?"
Mother-
"Don't you dare say such things now
Of course you will and you have to
Girls are born for these things you see
Otherwise what is our use?"
Daughter-
" I don't know and I don't understand.
Mama then where am I a burden
I do all the dirty work and am quiet
I only jump these problems like a hurdle!"
Mother-
"We are a burden dear even if we work
We cost so much and don't look good
We are this and we are that, a fault
We don't deserve, only do motherhood "
Daughter-
"Mama you say we don't look good
But boys don't look dashing as well
We are so cute! And see I can think too
And boys are not free they even smell!"
Mother-
" I cannot answer you dear not really
This is why I have never been a dancer
I am told it is true and to believe it always
And believe me dear , to your question I finally have no answer. "
©AkshayaGadre