Storieo

Author: Sapna Mishra

  • Heading Toward Your Dream

    Heading Toward Your Dream

     

    The story sets in a small town in Andhra Pradesh. A family lived happily there. Ram with his wife Riya lived with their son Rohan. They had shifted from a village to town for employment, to earn money, better facilities and education for their son. Their parents lived in a village so Ram with his family visited  frequently in village. His parents lived in their ancestor’s home.

    Ram loved his parents a lot. He wanted them to live along with him in his rented  house in the town but they never agreed. They were happy seeing Ram’s progress but never wanted to leave their ancestor’s home. They had a special attachment to it. They always said that Ram or any of their future generation’s kid will never get to know  the feeling of living in that house. It was blessed and the memories they shared in that house were unforgettable. Ram  understood the same but he thought nothing could be done to the progress of that Village. Every man must go to the town in order to have a  better life.

     

    Rohan was growing gradually. Though he belonged to a middle class family, his parents paid great attention to his studies because they wanted him to  do something extraordinary. They believed in his potential. Since childhood,  he was  very creative. He had his own ways of doing things. He had a great imagination too.

    He made paintings that he visualized, did arts and crafts by learning them from friends  and wherever he could.  He was good at writing too. He could always write what he felt like. His parents supported him in whatever activity he was put into. And the best  thing was he did every work  with dedication.

    Rohan loved his grandparents a lot.  He made beautiful cards for them to gift them on occasions specially grandparents day and visited their house in vacations. He was inspired by the lifestyle of his grandparents. He wanted to improve the condition Of the people living in that village. He wanted that the facilities that were provided  and easily available to the citizens should be accessible to the villagers too so that  people won’t have to settle in big cities and towns. He learnt in the environmental studies about the urbanization and it’s consequences mainly deforestation that is a very big concern and threat to ecology.

    He thought that some step must be taken by him to turn his dream into reality. He told about this to his parents and they were really supportive because even Ram wanted his parents to be happy. He wanted to live with them but the problem was quite clear.

    Rohan topped in his board exams and he got a scholarship from the state  government. That scholarship amount given to him was utilized for the developmental  activities in his village. After that he did graduation in science followed by post graduation.  He had a great opportunity of joining ISRO as part of a research program. He was so good in all the projects that the organization wanted him to be part of their team. This was one of the toughest choices of his life because he had to choose between his dream and success. He had initially thought that he would return to his village and work for best quality of education for children who are the future of nation. It was a very great opportunity for him to earn money and have  a comfortable lifestyle in city.

    In such  a situation, he asked his parents to advice him. They wanted him to go for the project as it was for his progress. He followed their advise.

    He joined ISRO within  a month. While he was getting paid for it, he sent half of  his salary to his parents  for  spending in village development. Ram and his family were proud of him. They opened a hospital where experienced doctors worked. All the medical facilities were available to the people living in that village. The neighboring villagers were

    Also helped by them. Two schools were opened out of which one was primary and the other was for higher education. Rohan visited his parents in the village to check  out the progress in village.

    He was really happy to see the betterment of the village. Ram and his wife shifted to the village. Ram took over the charge of looking after construction work in village. Rohan continued to  work in the organization as it was for country’s development.

     

    He had professional as well as financial growth while doing  work. Rohan after some years was married to a girl living in that area. She was a social worker. Even she devoted her whole life in the service of mankind. The whole family set a great example of selfless service and their efforts must be respected. In a society, one must work towards  the development of their area and hence contributing towards the Nation’s progress. Every  citizen must be inspired to work for social causes and make world a better place to live in for themselves then as well as the future generation.

  • How an Indian woman is meant to behave (V)

    How an Indian woman is meant to behave (V)

    Read part I  

    Read part II

    Read part III

    Read part IV

     

    Naina was living a better life now as compared to the one she was living  for such a long time. She didn’t even remember the last time she laughed with her family. Ritu and her mother in law who became the angels to her life sent by God himself had became an important part in her life. She was happy.

    Ritu’s mother in law told Naina about the satsang- a spiritual discourse or religious gathering that used to take place daily in their locality. Knowing about that, Naina felt really happy after knowing so. She always wanted to be part of it because this gives  positivity to mind as well as soul. First day at satsang was really great. She was introduced  to everyone over there and was surprised to see so many good people together. This was  time she was waiting for in her lifetime. She was feeling as if all of her wishes are accomplished  because she wanted peace of mind and soul, love from people around her and care of the people.

    She got everything she wanted from the company of best people she ever met in her life.

    Gradually, she learned so many new things over there on how to control her emotions, anger, and the feeling of being alone. She was consoled that life is going to be peaceful now as she was in the company of right people. The company of good people all around you is the only sign and the best sign that shows you have done good deeds.

    She was very much thankful to Ritu’s family for being so generous and supporting to her. She felt bad that she couldn’t do anything for them and the reason was her being very old.

    She was getting older and had reached her 70s. Now  The health issues were the major problems and they were more aching than all the worldly problems. She used to travel alone. Whether she needed to meet her boss where she worked and his wife or some temple because his son didn’t have time to accompany her and her daughter in law never cared for her. Except these two and her grandchildren.

    She had none to have blood relation with her. But there were many people who loved and cared for her beyond anything.

    Naina was fully satisfied with all the happenings of her life. She was afraid while thinking that her life would end some day and she would no longer be able to enjoy  the company of those good people who motivated her to live longer and with a smile On her face. Once she was returning from a temple by metro. There, she asked for help from  someone while going through the stairs. She was helped but that man took her through the escalator where she couldn’t balance herself. While  trying to get off there, she got her hand fractured.

    She couldn’t realize it at that moment. When she returned home, she  could feel the pain in her right hand. She told  about that to her daughter in law who took her to the doctor. The doctor asked them for an X-ray after which anything could be done.

    Till then, she was admitted to the hospital. Being so old, Naina couldn’t control the pain. She was feeling very weak. She felt as if her soul is going to leave her body as soon as possible. She prayed to God continuously to die peacefully. She had seen everything in her life and all the happenings of her life revolved in her mind.

    The X-ray report came and they got to know about her fractured hand. It was treated and she returned to her home. She was fine then. Ritu and her mother in law were also worried about Naina. She asked them not to worry as God would take care of everyone. She was recovering from that state.

    Then, everything had become normal. Naina started visiting satsang and meeting her friends. One month passed, Naina was happy with the things going smoothly. One day, she was feeling ill and she kept resting in her room. Her daughter in law went in the evening to ask her about what she will eat in the dinner.

    She saw her  lying on the bed. When she asked her, Naina didn’t reply. She thought  that she has passed away. She later noticed that she was breathing. Naina heard her voice But didn’t recognize her. She had either lost her vision or memory. When her son returned from office, he communicated with her but Naina only waved her hand. She had a tear in her eye and that showed she could still feel the warmth of love.

    She smiled. Ritu’s family also came to see her. When the people of satsang also gathered around her. She could feel the presence of all the generous people around her. All the people sang beautiful songs pertaining to God to make  her soul rest in peace. Her son and daughter in law cried but nothing could be undone.

    Naina’s soul left her body with peace. Her daughter in law still misses her. She misses how she smiled in the company of good people. There were many words that remained unsaid by her. She regret it even today. Life is short. It’s better to love others and be lovable than staying alone. Love the creatures made by God to show Him respect and  unconditional love.

  • How an Indian woman is meant to behave (IV)

    How an Indian woman is meant to behave (IV)

     

    Read part I  

    Read part II

    Read part III

    Naina had seen everything in her life. She had faced all the problems coming in one’s life but the greatness lies in the fact that her belief towards God remained unchanged. She grew, her age taught her a lot and experience as well and the only thing she learned in life is to rely only on God and there’s none to rely upon. Even your shadow leaves in the time of darkness, that’s why the only one to depend upon  is God.

    She had been given a room in his son’s house where only loneliness accompanied her. Her daughter-in-law never sat beside her and talked and this wasn’t enough. She rather fought with Naina and asked not to roam about here and there and complain against her to her husband. Naina was very old but she had a habit of doing her work herself. She never asked her daughter-in-law to do her work.

    She just wanted a peaceful life of her son. She didn’t want his life to be disturbed. This continued and Naina’s life went through the time when her son had become unaffected with whatever was happening with her mother. His heart had love but towards her wife only. Or was the love towards her mother was just replaced by that of her wife? Does this really happen in real life? This was the fact  Naina thought to herself but it is such a complicated thing to get in aa normal person’s life.

     

    This kind of situation is common among people’s life. Anyone may go through  situation where he/she wants someone to share his/her pain in life but there’s none to help you through it. Then a power inside you or some call it the positive energy inside you makes you feel lighter than before. That’s what comes because of God’s grace. Naina was going through this. But whenever she felt so she prayed to God to send an angel that may help her come out of this pain.

    Her wish wasn’t fulfilled yet but she had patience to wait for the best to come. Her life was going the way it was amid various hardships.

    She went to the morning walk daily. When she was returning from there, she saw some new neighbors in her society. They saw Naina as an old happy woman as they could only see the fake smile that she wore to hide her pains and the story of her struggling life from the society. The new neighbors of Naina was a small family including a Lady named Ritu, her husband and their two Kids  who were teenagers along with her mother-in-law . Ritu always saw Naina and greeted her.

    Naina liked the attitude of Ritu. She invited her in her home. Ritu’s mother in law had become Naina’s friend. They were somewhat Of the same age. Naina liked her company as she had none in her life to share her feelings  with. She lacked love in her life. Nobody even cared where she is and how is she. She  realized  that Ritu and her mother in law

    Were God’s angels. She wanted someone in her life to share her happiness, Sadness, and everything which was lost long back when she lost her family After marriage. It’s only said that the girl’s own relations with her family remain undisturbed when she is married but her whole life suffers ups and downs. She Has to compromise every time.

    Naina was happy to know that. There were people in her life who loved And cared for her. Ritu was a very nice woman. She served every passerby and Helped the needy. Ritu’s  mother in law told Naina about Gita and it’s messages.. Naina  listened to the good  sayings to console herself and Be peaceful in mind and soul. She was happy to have such  a good company. She realized how God helped her through all this and put a smile on her face after a very long time.

    Even Ritu’s mother in law was a nice woman. She had suffered a lot in her Life and shared that with Naina. They discussed each other’s struggle in life and shared each other’s pain. Both had gone through hardships in life.

    The only difference between them was that Ritu’s mother in law had her in her painful life unlike Naina. Naina’s son had left her uncared and unloved in a room his home. Now she had angels in life who loved and cared for her. She  slept with a light heart whose pain reduced by sharing it.

  • How an Indian woman is meant to behave (III)

    How an Indian woman is meant to behave (III)

     

    Read part I  

    Read part II

    Naina was amid all circumstances facing the loneliness. Her children were The only one around which her life revolved. She was a true believer of God. According to her, God helped those in trouble. The one who devotes herself/himself in the service of the Almighty Serve His creations whether it is a plant, tree, human, animals or anything. She followed all such Things from the bottom of her heart. She didn’t earn much, just a little to send her children to  school, eat healthy food and save some money for emergency situations. She visited her parents

    Once in a year because she had shifted to New Delhi along with her master.  Now, her brother was married to a girl of their same caste and it was an arranged  marriage. Though it wasn’t as successful as it should be, her brother had to spend her whole life  like that. There was difference in their mentality, way of thinking and the way of living too. She was  a Lady who didn’t want interference from her in-law family members in her life. That’s why a gap  had been produced in between Naina and her family that society didn’t call her home now. Just  because a girl is married doesn’t mean her belongings, her parents and all her relationships  change from what it was since her birth.

    She missed the house she was born in, she laughed in and where she was inspired  by the greatest man in her life who was his father who was no more. He had died some years ago  and she missed her a lot. The reason was very clear. He was the only good man in his life while  others made her struggle in life. Whenever she sat free thinking of how her life had been, a tear  always fell from her eyes which she wiped as soon as the thought of her children came to her  mind. Every woman’s life comprises of such ups and downs. Sometimes she feels like giving up  but she is more serious about the relationships she share with all the people around her and  the feeling of serving them is stronger than the fear of being failed in life and giving up.

    She always gave great values to her children. They were growing young and she was  getting older day by day. Even then she was working under her master. They were helpful to her.

    They asked her to leave the job, take extra money and settle rather than working in old age. Her  daughters were married by the help of them. She thought of engaging her son too so that her  bride may look after him and her. The girl chosen for his marriage was a beautiful girl. Her name  was Simi. She was not from a rich family. She belonged to a middle class family but didn’t get love  in her life because of having a step mother after her mother’s death.

    That’s why she lacked love in her life. After marriage, she thought that she’ll not face  that trouble again. It will no more be a struggling life as she had lived under her step mother. She  was beaten by her step mother for no reason and she really hated her. She wasn’t even given  good food, education and her father didn’t say anything about that. He totally agreed to what she  said. He was blindly in love with her second wife any he didn’t know that she was in love with her  money. When she was married, she hoped to be loved. But her wish wasn’t fulfilled. That was the  reason of her frustration. She didn’t behave in a proper way with Naina. Her husband went to his  office meanwhile Naina wasn’t treated well by her daughter in law and she didn’t expected so.

    After such a long journey of her struggling life, she wanted a happy ending to it. But life didn’t  come  out as happening as she thought.

    That added to one more reason for her distress. She  didn’t want her son’s life to be disturbed by her relationship with Simi. She didn’t want history to  repeat by giving way to domestic violence in her home. She asked his son to be lovable and  caring towards her wife. Gradually he started spending time with Simi. She was happy for the fact  that she was loved immensely by her husband. She didn’t lack love now. But her attitude towards  Naina remained the same. According to Simi, the situation was so because of her mother in law.  She wanted to throw her out of her  home but couldn’t do it because of her husband.

    Naina’s life was passing but she didn’t expected so much pain in her life. She  sometimes thought of leaving her home for Simi’s happiness but the thought disappeared after  something happened in her life. She was  roaming in a park for  morning walk. While returning to  home, she saw a rickshaw driver whose right hand was completely damaged. He was holding the  handle with his left hand. She approached him  and asked her why he was doing so in such a  situation. He could have begged and save money   rather than doing such a difficult work. He had  a smile on her face. He told her that the one who believes in God don’t ever doubt on His deeds.  One should see the positive side in  every situation no matter what come.

    He told her about the incident in which his hand was damaged. He was travelling  from his hometown to Delhi for some work by train.  The train met an accident and many  passengers died. But his hand was  damaged and nothing else happened. He was the only one  who suffered the least damage. That’s why he was grateful to God.

    That made her believe stronger than she had in the one who created this universe and  all of his creators include animals,  humans and nature. This is what she needed while giving upon  Life. She wasn’t sure of what to do next and that’s the reason why she was waiting for the  approval of God. Then she made her mind for never giving up and trying as hard as he she can to  continue her life as God want it to be.

    She loved and cared for everyone. She was grateful to God that she could serve humanity and play her role well in the society. She was living her life God gave her in order to see the best of her life.

     

  • How an Indian woman is meant to behave (II)

    How an Indian woman is meant to behave (II)

    So, let me reintroduce Naina to you. As you have come along with me to such a Long journey, this is really going to  be awesome till the end. Naina already had two daughters. It was the third time she was expecting a baby. This was the last warning of her mother-in-law And she warned her to have a boy this time else she’ll have to be separated from her husband.

    Read part I  

    Naina was really scared. She didn’t have a single idea of what to do next. She told about this to Her parents. They reacted as usual. They asked her to leave it to her destiny this time. She wondered how she could control and get to know if he was a boy or she was a girl.

    She was very disturbed. Then she had no choice but to leave it to the destiny in Order to know she is going to give birth to whom. She followed every rituals, went to saints who Claimed to fulfill her wish but made fool of her and even worshipped God by her heart and soul to Give birth to a boy. Nine months seemed to be nine years to her. But time passes and hence that Long period of time also passed. It was the time when she was left all alone. Neither her husband Nor anyone from the in-laws came along with her. She finally gave birth to a boy. That day she

    realized that she was only hired by her in-laws and husband for their son or someone to carry On their family’s name in future. A woman has to give birth to a boy only and she is left with no choice except this. To a woman, success is believed to be when she gives birth to a boy.  She must give birth to only a boy and that is her biggest achievement in life.

    Naina was happy that she will be accepted by her in-laws this time. She won’t face the World alone now. Her mother in law named him Anil. There was none in her in-laws accept her  mother in law she loved and respected her a lot in spite of the fact that she disrespected her whenever she came across her. Her husband was the owner of a cottage industry. After Anil’s birth, his granny’s health started deteriorating so she was hospitalized. Naina was really sad to  know that. She worshipped to God for her wellness.

    She was recovering slowly. A week passed and Naina had gone to the hospital to Meet her. After meeting her, she realized how nice she was from the inside as she had been  thinking. Her mother in-law hadn’t shown her soft side to Naina ever. And she was glad to know that. She cried holding her and asked to forgive her for whatever she did. Nobody could control Tears on at that’s right. Naina was very happy to see her mother in law that way. She was right in  her mind while thinking of her. Few moments were spent in that atmosphere that something really

    unimaginable happened. Sumit’s mom who was recovering at the hospital suffered from heart  attack. Urgently, everyone was sent out of the ward and taken to emergency ward, an I.C.U. for treatment. The doctors  worked but couldn’t save her. That was a grief for the whole family.  Someone elder and the only one who took care of them had just passed away. Naina and Sumit  lost someone they couldn’t imagine. They hugged each other and cried for their loss. That was the  day she saw Sumit crying. She realized the need of the hour. She consoled her husband not to  cry and be strong in such a situation where a person’s control on emotion is needed. Now he was  the only one the family was relying. He had to look up on her daughters and son. And before all that, the rituals had to be performed after her mother’s death. He realized that and worked  towards it.

    Then everything was going smoothly. Sumit started drinking again. He came drunk  home daily. Naina was really disappointed by this. She could make out the effects of this habit on  her family. After few months, she realized the reason of this habit. The reason was disturbance in  his business. He couldn’t arrange money that was taken by him as debt. Many people came to his  house to get back that money and thus she realized this. She asked her husband to think of the  ways and arrange money for giving them back.  He slapped her hard and asked her to stay silent  in his matters. She cried a lot. She couldn’t think of anything else than staying quiet. She asked for  her parent’s help but they couldn’t help her. They didn’t have enough money. Sumit didn’t do  anything except drinking and coming back to his home. Naina felt sad seeing his condition. She  couldn’t even share how she felt about that. Nobody was there to listen to her and that made her  more  sad than she was. So here comes one more norm by the society for woman. And that is  regarding her views. She has to listen to whatever come across her. She cannot miss out anything  and has to remain quite as often as she came in the male dominated Society.

    She was very stressed out. Then, her phone rang and the person on the other Side was an unknown person. She was feeling a bit disturbed as if something bad has happened. The man on the other side asked her to reach to the city hospital as soon as she could. She felt Helpless at that moment. There was none to console her right then and make her feel  a little light. She left her children to the neighbour living near her. She took an auto rickshaw and went to the hospital. That was the moment she saw her husband lying on a stretcher and a man  accompanying him. He was the man talking to her on the phone. She couldn’t control herself after seeing that scenario. That man told her that Sumit was lying outside his industry at night When all the workers had left. May be he was about to leave for home but I couldn’t make out  because he collapsed due to some health issue that was yet to be diagnosed.

    Naina paid money  to the counter and got his husband admitted to be diagnosed. Then Sumit was taken to the ICU as the condition was really critical.  She called her parents for the help. Her  parents arrived at the  hospital to help her out when she needed it the most. They came with some money and gave  them to her so that she could use it for diagnosis and treatment of her husband. The reports came  after 24 hours. The  Doctors after observing the report told  Naina and her family that Sumit was  suffering from a liver disorder  in which his liver was totally damaged due to drinking alcohol.  There was no chance to save him. Even  his kidneys were also damaged. Naina came back home to take a look at her children. As she reached hospital back, Sumit was no more. Naina couldn’t trust the doctors who said so. She was supported by her father but they didn’t have enough  money. The rituals after his death was done. She couldn’t believe of  continuing her life all alone.

    But she knew life is all about  trouble traveling struggling and passing through all the hardships that  good want us to go through. Life always gives us a lesson to move were even if you don’t want to.  Naina had to continue all alone for her children. The people returned back to get their money.  Naina was left with nothing except that big house and industry. She sold everything to give The money back to the people. She returned that. At least that burden of people who came to her  house and abused her husband was no more. She started working as a maid in a rich man’s  home. They had a big family. He gave her  a room to live in his house because she didn’t  have  enough money to pay as rent. In this way, her life was going in sadness but she was passing each Day with a fake smile on her face for her children who had only her as their life support in such a Big world.

  • How an Indian woman is meant to behave (I)

    How an Indian woman is meant to behave (I)

    India is a country where women are worshiped as goddess and at the same time molested, ill- treated and are forced to go through what is not meant to happen. Sometimes a father, friend, brother or a relative do the same and the one who suffers from it has to continue her life in the same way. The criminal doesn’t get punished but it’s the girl who is looked down upon. Why is it so in this society? Is it what a man taught while getting education in school or is it the mentality that discriminates a gentleman from the whole lot of men in our society? By gentleman, I here doesn’t mean one who is nicely dressed, earns a lot and doesn’t have even the basic moral values. A gentleman is the one who respects all women irrespective of the relation he has with her. He should treat women equally as any of his male colleagues or even the seniors. Just because you are working under a woman doesn’t mean you are dominated by a gender that is inferior to you. Though the situation has improved a lot but there is still a lot to be improved in our society.

    There are still homes in which women suffers from domestic violence. Do you really agree that you will be blessed if you disrespect the lady in your home and worship goddess Durga? Even she wants respect of every girl and Lady you come across. Respecting every women in fact every person on this earth is just a small gesture to offer your respect to the God and get His blessings. It’s the right time to improve upon you if you need to otherwise that time will surely come when you’ll have to regret.

    So let me begin with the introduction of the one this story revolves around. She was a girl named Naina. She lived in a small family of five members. Along with her parents, she had a younger sister and an elder brother. She wasn’t educated because it was the time when the girls were only taught the domestic or household works and none was sent to a teacher to be taught any subject. His brother used to go to school and after coming he used to give basic education to her. Gradually, she learned the basic lessons like reading and counting numbers. This is the basic knowledge one has to have nowadays but in that time it was more than enough for a girl. That’s why Naina didn’t take the next step towards her education. Her elder sister, Renu didn’t have intentions to study even the basic things. She was more interested in doing household works and all such things.

    She lived in a village where there wasn’t good facility of water, transportation and other such basic needs. She was elder of the two sisters thus she was the one responsible for her mother’s help in getting water filled in buckets as she turned 10. She was a beautiful girl. Her inner beauty lies in the fact that she helped everyone who came on her way. She shared her food with the needy people. These were the values given to her by her parents. Gradually time was passing. She enjoyed her life the way it was. But since there is always the  society and the people who give  their views on  whatever come across. And the time had come when society started  speaking of her marriage.

    Since she was born decades ago, she had to go through an arranged marriage in an early age. The age had to be 15 at that time but her father convinced her family members who eagerly wanted her to be married. She was married to a man named Sumit in her village who was rich. He had his own cottage industry. But he wasn’t a well behaved man.

    After their marriage, Naina lacked love in her life. She thought he is a good man but the reality was just the opposite.

    Her life had turned upside down. Sumit was a low a tempered man. He used to get angry on every issue and he suffered from mood swings too. Sometimes he loved her a lot but mostly he beated her.

    He was alcoholic.  He came home drunk daily and do every bad thing  including abuse,  disrespect her and make her ashamed in  the society. Some months  passed and she gave birth to twins. They were both girls. She was happy for  the same but her mother-in-law wanted a boy. Next time, it was a girl too. Sumit’s mother started blaming Naina  for this. Even she began treating her badly. She felt so lonely. She told about this to her parents. Her mother asked her to compromise. Is it something to be done by a  woman only? When we talk about love, compromise has to be from both the sides equally. The society has to understand this. The society is no more male-dominated and everyone has to accept  this fact to proceed  in life.

    She used to cry in her room with her daughters. They were too young to understand the  reason of her tears and Naina didn’t even wanted them to know that. Life was  still going  and she was  still waiting the miracles to happen as she believed in the miracles of God.

  • The blooming flower

    The blooming flower

    It is the story of a girl who turns her weakness into strength and work towards her parents dream to make them come true.

     

    There was a girl named Avni. She was from a rich family. She was born in 1945 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. At that time, girls were not allowed to go to school because they were not promoted as much as boys. But his father was very supportive. He wanted his only daughter along with three sons to be educated and have primary education. She used to go to school and there was no other girl except the daughter of the head of their village. And her mother had died when she was born as she was the youngest. So she didn’t know any household works. She was married in a very young age when she was just a teenager at the age of 14. She was married to an 20- years- old boy Anil who worked in his fields.

     

    She didn’t have any woman in her in-laws house. They were not rich either. His husband lived with his father and two brothers in that house which was her only house as per the society. The society believes that after marriage, a woman’s only home is her in-laws house and that is where she is believed to live the way her husband wants her to be. It was an arranged marriage so they took time to understand each other. She managed everything by herself. She learned to cook, learn doing household works and many such things that a married woman in India is believed to do. Four years after her marriage when she became 18 – years -old, she was expecting her first child.

     

    She gave birth to a boy after nine months.  In that period of time, everyone wanted a boy so that their business is carried forward in the society.

    But Avni was of a different opinion. She wanted a girl as her baby. One of the reason might be the fact that she missed the presence of any woman in her small world and the second was that she wanted women empowerment in her society. Second child of Avni was born after three years and it was a boy too. But she didn’t lose any hope for a girl. She wanted her to be the face of change. But it wasn’t possible with those sons. She knew how women have patience much more than boys.

     

    Third time, it was a girl. She named her Nikita. She was a very gentle child. She was very beautiful, fair complexioned and a little naughty girl in her childhood. Her presence in that home gave positive vibes all around. She was growing up in that home under her parents’ guidance. Though Avni was an open minded lady who wanted progress of women in society, his husband  Anil wasn’t of such views. He was rather against these views and wanted all women in his society to remain under control of the men who he believed to be  stronger  gender than men.

     

    Avni and Anil had spent more than fifteen years together but there was something that started developing in their relationship as all this was happening. As the ideas differed  and so did the  thoughts so one of them wanted her daughter to be treated like her other sons but he didn’t want so.

     

    Anil wanted her daughter Nikita not to intervene in any of the matters that created tension in their marriage life and do what other girls were supposed to do then.

    But this really didn’t mean that he didn’t love Nikita. He loved her more than any of his boys as is the bond between a father and her daughter. This is the relationship that requires deep understanding. Sometimes it’s not expressed as it should be but it is really an amazing feeling to be loved and cared by her father for a daughter. Nikita felt same for her father. And Anil felt the same too but that feeling remained unexpressed. Anil was a good father but he was bounded by the notions of the society. He was afraid of the outcomes of doing something exceptionally great for a girl in a male dominated society.

     

    Nikita was twelve years old and she was in grade two in a primary school. Avni realized that there was something to be done for Nikita’s education.

    She is not as educated as she should have been as per her wishes. Her sister lived in Ranchi. She was Anu. Anu’s daughter, Radha studied in a better school and was about the age of Nikita. But she was more educated than her and was in grade 5. This made a  huge difference to the education of Nikita and her knowledge too. Avni then decided to get her admitted in the same school as Radha. Anu was ready to get her the best education as her daughter was taught.

     

    This created a difference between Avni and Anil. They lived together but their was so much difference in between their ideologies that Anil decided something. He thought of parting his ways of life, maybe this was what destiny wanted from them. He thought of leaving Avni and making her daughter and sons with him. Avni didn’t agree to it. She was ready to leave Anil but didn’t want to leave her children with him. Nikita was really disturbed by the way her parents were thinking. Was it because of her or there was something else that was disturbing their relationship. A relationship that was made about fifteen years back was at the verge of being destroyed for such a small reason. When the decision was confronted before Nikita and his elder brothers, they were really unhappy. They kept on thinking of some way to get out of such a situation. The whole family was disturbed. They stopped talking to each other while dining and didn’t even sit together.

     

    When this decision  came out openly, Nikita and her brothers told their parents that they don’t want to live either with their mother or father after they will separate. And the reason was that three of them wanted to live with both Avni and Anil. They were consoled that nothing would be disturbed after their separation. Those young children were also able to realize that their family will be disturbed. Their life would be upside down. Hearing to such a decision, both Avni and Anil decided to give up the thought of their separation. They thought and talk to each other about why they were actually separating and had come to such a decision. Only the reason of Nikita’s education was their big concern. Then Anil and Avni decided to shift in Ranchi. This  is what Avni wanted. She wanted her children to have good education and have a better future than they would have got after getting education in that small village.

    Anil sold all of his father’s property in the village, got the money and shifted to a rented home in Ranchi. There, he got a job and got his children admitted to a government school. Nikita graduated from a government college. That had very good education. After that, she became part of government college as a lecturer after her higher studies.  She then thought something to herself. After earning money, she decided to take the permission of the government and get a school opened in her native village. She opened a government school in her village and the neighboring villages too. She was happy to do so as she didn’t want girls like her to suffer and compromise for getting education. She became a successful teacher and became the face of change in her society as per her parent’s wishes. The family returned to the village after that and lived happily together.

  • Turning one’s weakness into strength

    Turning one’s weakness into strength

    It is about a woman who manages her husband’s business after his death with the help of her daughters.

     

    This is the story many Indian women may relate to. The story of Ranjana Mehta who was married in one of the richest families of Surat, Gujarat. They had their own company in Gujarat, Ahmedabad. She already had a daughter named Naina. His husband wanted a boy this time as Ranjana was expecting a baby. Their second child was also a daughter. They named her Anu. They wanted a boy so that someone could carry on their business and expand it later. The elder daughter  Naina was three years older than her.

    Both were admitted to a very good school. Naina was an intelligent girl. She was a good speaker who used to participate and excel in every debate taking place in her school. Though Naina being first child was loved more by her parents, she always supported her younger sister as well. She knew that Anu’s performance was always underestimated. She wasn’t as intelligent as Naina. She was rather interested in her creativity. Her potential in arts was appreciated by her teachers but not by her parents.   But Naina always trusted her potential and helped  her a lot in studies. Anu was interested in business as well. In every vacations, she devoted time in watching lectures of young and successful entrepreneurs. She had great marketing skills.

    It was the time of their summer vacation. Naina was in 12th standard and Anu in 9th standard. Their father was returning from his business tour from Australia to India by his chartered plane. The plane crashed due to engine failure. Nobody in the plane could survive. This news shocked everyone. It made headlines in the country. The family went through a heavy distress. Her mother, Ranjana was left helpless all alone in the entire world of mean people. She thought to herself that how could she continue among selfish people without anybody’s support.

    She took help of her brother who was good at business.

    Though she herself had a great knowledge of how to work in the business since she was the owner of half of the shares of her company.

    She helped his husband in the business and had learned a lot in that. Her brother helped her but with his selfish motives. He wanted some of the property from her sister’s wealth. His greed increased gradually. It was time to throw him out of the business. Ranjana did the same. She took over the business and became the head of the company. She started doing the business in her own way. It was too difficult to manage home and the business at the same time.

    Anu had great knowledge of business. It was what she took interest in when she had been to London. She had the entrepreneurial aspect in. She always observed how her father did that and manage everything without any faults. Seeing her mother helpless, she started helping her in business. Naina supported them too and started learning as well as practicing the marketing and business skills.  Anu and Naina became the backbone of the company run by his father some years ago.

    At a point in life when their father died, there was no hope that the company would exist and the business will exist. They just wanted to give up. But it was Ranjana who believed in herself. She worked the hardest to keep up the dreams of his husband and his name still alive by the name of the company which was ‘Mehta’s corporates’. Since her daughters helped her a lot in continuing the business run by his father, the company was renamed as ‘Mehta daughter’s corporates’. It was supported under Mrs. Mehta’s guidance as had been under Mr. Mehta’s supervision by all the workers and the corporate companies.

                        The business continued by the two daughters and their husbands later on made a great landmark in the history.

    The profits were more than double and triple to what company was gaining, all showed signs of progress and both the daughters of Mrs. Ranjana Mehta lived peacefully with each other. The love for each other was stronger than the hatred and jealousy that grows among the sons of a rich man for the property and share in their father’s will.

    The time and society has changed now. It’s not the time when girls used to cover their faces and were believed to do only the household works. They can now manage their professional as well as personal life in a balanced way. A man can only go and earn money but it’s a woman who manages everything with such an ease. Never underestimate anyone for what one blocks. It’s better to motivate one for one’s strength and inspire him/ her work for a better future. One’s knowledge can enlighten entire world want it is once noticed at the right time and in a right way.

    ‘Stay motivated stay inspired.’

  • The love that wasn’t expressed

    The love that wasn’t expressed

    A teenage boy develops a misunderstanding that he lacks love in his life, give into bad habits but improve upon them with family’s support.

     

    The story is about two decades ago. There was a boy named Sumit who lived in Haryana. It was his hometown. He lived in a joint family. Two uncles, aunts, their two sons and one daughter, her grandparents and his parents lived with him in that huge family. He was a simple boy who lacked love in his life according to him though it wasn’t true. His parents didn’t have enough time to spend with him since they were part of their family business. His parents used to work in order to earn money to secure their family’s future.

    He remembered his grandmother telling him how he was brought up by her. But she couldn’t spend time with him as she had to look after other children of the family as well. As he grew up and went to school to study, he was called a brilliant child. He was good academically as well as in extra curricular activities. Whether it was some arts competition or sports activities, he was equally strong in it. His cousins also studied in the same school. His aunts were jealous of him bringing laurels since their children were average students. They didn’t allow him to play with his cousins much. They were jealous of his parents as well since they earned for the family & were given more preference than them by their parents.

    In that surrounding, there were people but none to understand him. He had all kinds of toys but nobody to play with him. He had lots of things to share but none to listen to him and spend time with him. When he used to see his classmates accompanied by their parents in the P.T.M. or some functions, he used to get upset since he was mostly left all alone. And that made him really sad. He felt like he was all alone in his struggling life. He wanted to do something about it because he couldn’t continue his life like that.

    When he turned fifteen, he went through some teenage behavioral changes. He started isolating himself from his classmates. His interest towards studies deteriorated. His performance became that of an average student. He gradually became part of the gang of bad boys.

    When his academic performance deteriorated, he was asked for it’s reason. He didn’t discuss about it with anyone.

    That stress had made him restless. He couldn’t discuss it with anyone because of his weak bond with his family members.

    In his school, he started sitting alone thinking deeply about what he can do to avoid his problems. Those bad boys started taking deep interest in his life. The reason was that they knew that he had money to spend on them. He felt a little lighter while sharing his deepest secrets to them. They consoled him and told him to give the solution to his problem.

    They told about how each of them was undergoing with a similar problem. There were few seniors who helped them sort out this problem. They introduced him with drugs. He was not acquainted with how unhealthy they can become. First time, he tried due to peer pressure. It gave him some relief from the problems & situations he was going through. It was like a mental trauma to him. He started having it regularly. Those boys used to get extra money from him for his drugs as well as their own needs. Nobody actually knew what was actually happening within the school boundary. The seniors used to get the drugs supplied from some smuggler and distribute it to the students who needed in the backyard of the school’s main building.

    Days passed in this way. Sumit felt better with drugs. And he hadn’t yet realized how badly he needed it. Six months passed. Once her mother was looking for her important document in her whole room, she saw the packets with white powder in Sumit’s bag while he had gone for the tuitions. She took one out, teared it to check what was that and found that they were drugs. Was it true what she was thinking in her mind? She broke out. Being a mother, she had the responsibility to express her love and emotions to her son. But that love remained unexpressed. And that was her fault. Lack of time and the weak bond between Sumit and his family led to such a consequence. She called his husband and told everything to him. When he was a back to his home, he was asked about all that.

    He cried and told about how lonely he used to feel. He tried to talk about this but no one listened.

    They informed about this to the school authorities. The seniors were handled by the policemen. And the innocent students of Sumit’s class and he was left for the action of their family. His parents send him to rehabilitation center to get rid of what he was caught into.  It wasn’t easy to do that. But he came back as a person devoid of all the weaknesses of his life. He got admission in IIT-Delhi on the basis of his academic performance. He shares his story with everyone now and realized that love is not just felt by touching or physical appearance. It is even felt when you really care and believe in others. Now he has this opinion and he loves his life more than he ever did. He spends time with underprivileged children and the orphans and shares his love with those who really need it.

  • Journey to My Destination

    Journey to My Destination

    An inspirational story about a girl who work hard to turn every difficulty in her way into her strength.

     

    In 1985, a girl named Surbhi was born in a middle class family.  It was long years back. Time has changed now. But the childhood memories, the teenage love and stress, the adulthood maturity and the childish nature in old age remains the same.

    Surbhi was an intelligent girl. She loved going to school and learning new things in such a small age whether it was making for the first time or playing a new game, it gave equal excitement to her life. She had many friends with whom she played hide & seek, Cricket and many such games.

    She studied in a local school in the colony she lived in. As she grew, she realized about the atmosphere of the school and the crowd of the children studying in the school was not good. She had to do something about it.                            Meanwhile, a boy started teasing her. He followed her with a group of guys wherever she went and passed bad comments on her. It was really  uncomfortable. She was just 8, the age in which one doesn’t know anything  except some games and a few lessons. She gave hints about that boy to her mother but couldn’t say it directly since she was afraid of the reaction of her family.

                          Being so young and facing it for the first time, she thought not to disclose this to any of her family members. She thought he would stop following her and teasing her if she let it go the way it was going. This is her secret even now. She wanted to cry like a small baby in her mother’s lap for the same reason but couldn’t.

    In the next session, she talked to her parents to change the school, an ICSE board school from Haryana board. They were not ready as the fee was very high as compared to the last one. But she managed to get her wish fulfilled by saying that it was a better option, a better school for her to make her future bright.

    The first day to her new school was just the opposite of what she had thought. She thought to make new friends, meet good people there the students were not like that. When she was asked for the introduction and she told them about her, they made fun of the name of the school she came from as it was a local school. They made fun of their name as well. But few of them were really supportive. They became her friends and helped her too in whatever she needed.

    After some days, when the studies began she had to deal with a problem(the biggest problem of her life then). She couldn’t understand English and the teachers always communicated in English only. They asked students to do the same. In the beginning, it was really tough to cope up with so many changes. It was like a different world, a real and bigger world that welcomed her open handedly. Sometimes she thought it was the biggest mistake of her life.

                          She didn’t score well in starting. She cried as she was the topper in the previous school and couldn’t continue it there. But the voice from within said, “you can do it.” She promised to herself to work hard and turn her dreams into reality, her dream of becoming the topper of her class here too in a competitive world. To her, determination was more important than anything. She got second position in mid semester examination and first in the final examination. Thus she continued to top in every class & got the best student award as well. That was the biggest celebration she had for the prize of the best student. The boys who used to chase her stopped doing the same when she took a step to make them understand how she used to feel when they did it. They understood it & said sorry.

    Her dedication and hard work got her what she wanted. Surbhi is now an alumni of that school. She is an IAS officer working for the welfare of women in villages and towns to get the best education and work towards their dreams. She is an independent woman  who do all the  household work as good as managing her professional life. This is something only a girl can do and she was proud of it. Though she struggled a lot in her life, every moment taught her something and brought her closer to her success.

    This story is based on a real life incident. If you work as hard as Surbhi or any of the successful person you meet in your life, you can be a motivating personality. Someone who inspires others more than you.  Your dreams can become true as well and you can work towards making a better India and a better world.