If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
"Tell that Maharani to wake up and at least help in packing the lunch boxes for the girls. In another half an hour, the girls would be here." Anju shouted for her daughter in law.
“Tell that Maharani to wake up and at least help in packing the lunch boxes for the girls. In another half an hour, the girls would be here.” Anju shouted for her daughter in law.
The kitchen had been cleaned the night before. Next morning, food would be prepared for the ‘Goddess, Durga Ma’.
They had fasted for all 8 days for the prosperity of the family. No onions or garlic were touched for the 8 days. Anju had convinced her husband and son not to touch either alcohol or meat in these days. After all, it was important to be in the good books of the goddess.
She woke up at 4 am, took a bath, dressed in a clean red saree and took charge of the kitchen. As she prepared the halwa, the delicious smell could be detected even 3 flats away. Then she cooked the choley and puri.
In another room, Seema, her daughter in law, was trying to sleep, drenched in sweat. She had had a fever since the last two days. No one had come to ask her if she wanted even a glass of water. For them, she was nothing more than a glorified slave. Her parents could never provide the chosen gifts to boost their egos, and she was not smart enough to balance work and home, so she had not been able to please them.
Soon, it was time for the puja, and young girls dressed in their best traditional attires could be heard talking excitedly about how much they would collect today. It was the only day when they were so much in demand. ‘Kanjak’, the mini goddess, as they were called on that day.
Tia had worn her pink lehnga, matching pink and white bangles, and even worn trinkets. She had put on a small bindi, and she was looking adorable.
Seema slowly dragged herself off the bed. She wobbled a bit, but she had to stand up, or else she would be reminded for days that she was useless, and her parents “didn’t teach her even basic manners.”
Her hands were trembling as she slowly started packing up the giveaways.
“Look at her speed. Even after the night’s rest, she can’t do anything properly.”
Seema had tears in her eyes, but she did not dare to look up. It was a holy day and she did not want another fight in the house. She did not have any energy in her body as well to tell them about her condition.
Soon, the little girls started arriving. Tia was fond of Seema, and she would say, “Seema aunty is the most beautiful.” She never needed an invitation to come; the moment she spotted Seema back from work, she would come and chat with her. Tia’s mom would tease her that Seema aunty is your second mom.
The moment Tia entered, her eyes started searching for Seema. She was not interested in her feet being washed, or the goodies she was about to get. She spotted Seema and hugged her.
“Seema Aunty, you are so hot. When I’m this hot, mummy tells me I have fever.” She ran fast to call her mummy.
“Mummy, come fast, Seema aunty has fever.” Tia was shouting, so that her voice could reach her mother before her.
Up in heaven somewhere, Goddess Durga was laughing at the irony of her younger avtar being prayed to, and the older one being loathed.
Image source: By Arindam Mitra from Kolkata(Calcutta), India – Color of Joy…., CC BY 2.0, Link
A vagabond ! A lost soul ! A blank page trying to write my own story! By profession, I am a Pathologist ! A doctor behind the scenes. By passion, I am a blogger. I love reading, writing, read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Rajshri Deshpande, who played the fiery protagonist in Trial by Fire along with Abhay Deol speaks of her journey and her social work.
Rajshri Deshpande as the protagonist in ‘Trial by Fire’, the recent Netflix show has received raving reviews along with the show itself for its sensitive portrayal of the Uphaar Cinema Hall fire tragedy, 1997 and its aftermath.
The limited series is based on the book by the same name written by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost both their children in the tragedy. We got an opportunity to interview Rajshri Deshpande who played Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the woman who has been relentlessly crusading in the court for holding the owners responsible for the sheer negligence.
Rajshri Deshpande is more than an actor. She is also a social warrior, the rare celebrity from the film industry who has also gone back to her roots to give to poverty struck farming villages in her native Marathwada, with her NGO Nabhangan Foundation. Of course a chance to speak with her one on one was a must!
“What is a woman’s job, Ramesh? Taking care of parents-in-law, husband, children, home and things at work—all at the same time? She isn’t God or a superhuman."
The arrays of workstations were occupied by people peering into their computer screens. The clicks of keyboard keys were punctuated by the occasional footsteps moving around to brainstorm or collaborate with colleagues in their cubicles. Most employees went about their tasks without looking at the person seated on either side of their workstation. Meenakshi was one of them.
The thirty-one-year-old marketing manager in a leading eCommerce company in India sat straight in her seat, her eyes on the screen, her fingers punching furiously into the keys. She was in a flow and wanted to finish the report while the thoughts and words were coming effortlessly into her mind.
Natu-Natu. The mellifluous ringtone interrupted her thoughts. She frowned at her mobile phone with half a mind to keep it ringing until she noticed the caller’s name on the screen, making her pick up the phone immediately.
Please enter your email address