Here it goes. Hope you enjoy it.
Vision
The cold, dew-laden grass blades brought butterflies to my stomach. I walked in this park every day, but today was different. I felt my way to my regular bench which I always occupied after my morning walk. As I came near it, I touched it with my hand to confirm. Yes. There were some wrappers lying on the bench. I was disgusted with the people who did this. If I could’ve seen them, they would’ve had it from me.
I picked up the wrappers, walked up to the dustbin measuring my steps and threw the wrappers where they belonged. I returned to my throne. I kept my walking stick beside the bench. Just as I was beginning to enjoy the serene morning, someone occupied the bench behind me. It was an elderly couple.
“This park hasn’t changed in the last fifty years.” said the husband.
“The park hasn’t, but its people have changed” replied the wife.
“New people have come. Some old people have left. Some not-so-good people have been refrained from coming here.”
“I miss the Sharma family. They were good company to us. It’s just been two weeks since they went America.”
“And why wouldn’t they? Their son is there. Well educated. Well settled. Earning in dollars. He only called them there. Still the same sanskari boy. Always thinks about his parents first. What else do parents need?”
“Yes. Even I feel Kanhaiya is a very good boy.”
“But we’re doomed for life.”
“What are you trying to say by that?”
“Sharmaji was fortunate to have a son. All we have is a daughter!”
The wife gasped. My heart skipped a beat. What is this man saying?
“Why are you talking like this? That too about your own child? Why?”
“Shruti’s just a girl. In a few days, we’ll get her married. What are we left with?”
“Shruti’s going to remain our daughter forever.”
“But what good will that do? I wish we had a son.”
“Why do you say that? Shruti has been such a good child. She is an IIT graduate. She works in Infosys. She draws one and a half lakh rupees every month. She is in a respectable position. She makes us stay in a posh Worli flat. She has given us a chauffeur-driven car for ourselves. What else does a parent need?”
“What good will that do? The day she gets married, everything is gone. I won’t be able to use all this. It’ll be below my self-respect.”
“Why do you say that? You think a new relation in her life will sever her permanent relations? She will always remain your little Ammo. She will always care for us. She will be a part of our family. How can she go away? I’ve given birth to her from my own womb. I kept her inside my womb for nine months. She also has part of you – your ansh in her. You and I have brought her up to what she is now. How can you distance her, just like that haan?”
The husband took a deep breath. I didn’t like the way he was talking. Nevertheless, I chose to remain quiet and listen.
“My family never wanted a girl. They always wanted a boy. That is why we had to separate when she was born to us.”
“Why do you say that? Boy or girl, it was inevitable. Do you think we would’ve been able to live in that kabootar-khana after Shruti's birth?”
“A boy would’ve made a big difference. Atleast I would’ve been able to hold my head high in front of my family. I was just disgraced by her birth.”
I wanted to kill this man. I felt as though someone drove a sword through my heart. I clutched the hand rest of the bench tight. Something moved in my stomach. Why isn’t his wife retaliating to him?
“Disgraced? You say that my daughter disgraced you? Shruti won the inter-college dance competition at the age of seven. I think that disgraced you. She won the national level swimming championship at the age of sixteen. I think that disgraced you. She scored 99.90 % in her boards and topped India. I think that disgraced you. She got 98.73% in her 12th standard boards and topped India again. I think that disgraced you. She got 200 marks in her CET exam and 400 in her IIT-JEE exam. I think that disgraced you. She was recruited by the NASA in her third year and was asked to come to USA but she didn’t go as she wanted to be with us. I think that disgraced you. Infosys gave her the top post in their organisation. I think that disgraced you. Today she drives a BMW. I think that disgraces you. But a son would not have disgraced you. See what your elder brother’s son is doing. He failed in his 10th boards. He bought his way to an MBA. He has ruined your family business. He’s a smoker, drunkard and a druggist. He need no excuse to throw a party. He kills people when he drinks and drives. He’s a serial womaniser. He’s been divorced twice. He’s been to jail for cheating his own company. He almost killed your brother a month ago to inherit what was left of the property, wealth and business.”
The husband fell silent. Yes! I told myself. I felt sorry for the husband, but I felt happier for the wife.
“I ought to say something here. I know I wasn’t a part of the talk, but I want to share something. Your view that daughters are not equal to sons is very wrong, at least in these times. What your wife says is absolutely right. The achievements of Shruti are fantastic. Wish I had another daughter. If so, she would’ve been Shruti. I’m blind. But my daughter is my vision. She’s made all arrangements for my comfort. She loves me a lot. She spends a lot of time with me. In fact, a week ago, when I fell ill, she left her work and came back to India to help me recover. Though I recovered in three days, she stayed till six days and went back last night. You might’ve heard of her. She’s Aamna Shah, the actress who’s starred in many movies. Recently, when she went to receive an award, she took me on stage with her. She’s opened an orphanage in my name. What she has done for me, I don’t think a son would’ve ever done for me.”
I stood up, picked up my stick and started to walk.
“And remember, a son is a son till he gets a wife; but a daughter is a daughter for her whole life. ”
I smiled and started walking. Though I couldn’t see, but I knew that both of them had turned back and were staring at me. I felt the warmth of the rising sun directly on my face, which meant I was facing east. What a view it would’ve made.
As I walked back home, feeling content, I remembered an incident which happened with Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.S.)
A man asked the Prophet, “What does Allah do when He is happy with us?”
The Prophet replied, “He sends rains.”
The man enquired further, “What happens when He is happier?”
The Prophet replied, “He sends guests.”
The man further enquired, “What happens when Allah is happiest?”
The prophet smiled and replied, “He creates daughters.”
-AliShahbaz Halari
SYBMM-A-22
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