We(o)Men !

This is just another day. She boarded the regular 7 am bus, went to work. Somewhere, one other ‘she’ boarded her 9 am bus, went to work. Every other day she gets on her regular bus, scooter or any means of travel, leave for work! Monday through Friday/ Saturday, she follows the same suit! Meanwhile, she wakes up at 5 am, completes her everyday chores  cooking, sweeping the floors, makes sure that everyone at home has enough water for the day and is certain that her family is all set to face a yet another day.

She is a strong force influencing everyone around; a little sunshine who puts up a smile on everyone’s life; someone who is always around the corner; on whom we can always depend; who have faith in us when we have lost one. Indeed yes! She is a woman! A maid, a home-maker, a teacher, a cop, a surgeon, an officer, a pilot, a mountaineer, a politician, actress... many more roles!

She is a daughter! A princess of her father and an angel of her mother! Oh yes! She is too much pampered! As a toddler, she is the one who cries for every other chocolate, for sitting at the steering wheel with her father or for her everyday bed-time story. She needs her favorite teddy beside her, always! And yeah, she loves to ‘pose’ for the numerous photographs that capture her innocence! When she grows up, nothing changes, except her demands! Everything that surrounds her is fancy and fairy tale like! She matures into a young lady, caring for her family keeping her ambitions alive. Yes, she manages her career and family. Her infectious smile and genuine nature is enough to win over the hearts of all alike! She is a daughter, who don’t even look back to complete the last rites.

She is a mother! The best friend of her daughter and son’s first love! She strives for herself and for her family! Has anyone seen her without any work? No, right? I always wonder how she can always end up doing something even when all the chores are over! Be it home, kitchen or her workplace, she owns it, definitely! If you are a little late to wake up in the morning, she will be the first one to scream out really loud to make sure that you are properly awake, most effective alarm clock ever! Well, she will go on cursing you this whole time and will end up giving you your breakfast right in your hands! I mean how?! A really great cook and the one ‘knows all’ types! If you misplace even one utensil of the shelf, she will know even if you align it just like before! I think she hides some secret camera’s at home! She knows how to adjust; what the tastes of all relatives are, she knows it! She is a support system, a perfect partner of father, someone who is ‘at times’ easy to manipulate but most of the times tough to interpret!

She is a grandmother! The first ever friends and life of the grand kids; most of the times, partners in crime! Whatever you say, the stories that our grannies tell are always so interesting. Their symbolic statement, ‘Amchya weli mahiti ahey ka he asa navata’ (It was different in our time) always amuse us. The one thing that clicks with the grand kids is that – both of them are so talkative! She is the one who will never ever scold us; she just knows how to love selflessly. She is the one waving you a goodbye till you go out of sight and the first one who will always tell, ‘ jate nai yete mhanaycha’ (You should say I will be back and not I am going). Knowingly or unknowingly she teaches so many things. She completes a home. Her presence itself is enough to cheer you! She will encourage you like no one else and will be the most proud one of any achievement, however big/small it might be!

She is a sister! She is a friend! She is Gargi and Maitreyi (well known philosophers of India, mentioned in the Upanishads), Kiran Bedi, Indra Nooyi, Indira Gandhi, Saina Nehwal, PT Usha, Kalpana Chawla, Tessy Thomas, Rani Bang, Sudha Chandran, Laxmi Sahgal, Jijabai or Rani of Jhasi! She is an inspiration, a legend, a fighter and a great guide!

She loves to eat, a lot! Shop, more than ‘a lot’, can even end up buying something when window shopping! Yes, she loves shoes or any romantic novels or movies! She loves to play with her hair and giggle and gossip! She loves to talk, some more talk and yeah again a lot of talk! She loves to be kiddish and at times play dumb! Yes, she loves to be the center of attraction! She will always love soft toys even if she gets old! She is someone who can get angry easily but will always hang around near just because she will hate to lose someone really special! She loves to dance, loves to dress. She won’t even look back to shed a tear because who the hell cares! She knows how to let go and enjoy! She knows how to be brave, strong and lovable at the same time. Little respect and trust is all what she wants. She is a little scared in this wicked world, but she knows she will be fine! Yes, she is a woman! I am a woman!