She is the Woman!
By Debjani Goswami
She is the woman,
Who shares her chocolate
With her male sibling,
Always keeping the bigger half for him
“Aren’t you a big girl?” people said.
She is the woman,
Who tries to stop her dad
From beating up her mom
In spite of being pushed aside repeatedly
“Aren’t you a kid?” people said.
She is the woman,
Who cleans up dishes
From the dining table
Where she has eaten with her family
“It’s a ritual for a girl” people said.
She is the woman,
Who helps her mother at home
Helps her brother at study
And yet scores the highest in class
“It’s because of the good school
You have been admitted to” people said.
She is the woman,
Who watches her brother study further,
Go to the college she had herself dreamt of
While she stays back lending a hand at the kitchen
“She will soon get married off!
Why should she study that much?” people said.
She is the woman,
Who sells her body to the rich landlord
Since there is no food at home
Since her brother demands money for his liquor
“She has no other option!” people said.
She is the woman,
Who is sold off yet again,
To a man almost double her age,
At the cost of her mother’s jewellery
And keeping their house on rent
“She would not have got a better husband” people said.
She is the woman,
Overjoyed at her first conception
She knows it is a girl
And dreams of bringing her up differently
But to her utter horror,
Her dreams are killed at her womb itself!
“What’s the use of a girl child?” people said.
She is the woman,
Who after several such shocks,
Gives birth to a boy
Who’s rarely allowed to stay with her
“What does she know of caring a child? people said.
She is the woman,
Who fights all odds
Saves and guards,
To bring up her boy differently
“How far can a boy from such a family go?” people said.
She is the woman,
Who mops, sweeps, cooks for others,
To make sure her boy studies.
And when one-day he comes home as a doctor,
“He had always been a brilliant student!” people said.
She is the woman,
Who smiles for her boy,
Never regards any credit for herself
“You should be proud,
You have a son like him!” people said.
She is the woman,
Whose son buys a house for them,
Brings in a daughter-in-law,
Then in a few months turns his mom out
“She does not suit in such a big house
The road side is a habit to her” people said.
She is the woman,
Who sits begging
In front of her son’s “big house”
“O God! He is still a kid,
May you forgive him
And keep him safe and sound!” yet she prayed.
Sometimes she is herself killed at the womb,
Sometimes her identity is killed at some stranger’s bed,
Sometimes her dignity is killed at her in-laws,
Yet she has strength enough to bear and suffer silently,
Yet she has strength enough to wish good for her enemies.
She is the WOMAN!
