A Woman can do More than Marry and Stay Home!

One evening, Amani rushed into her house, calling out to her mother in a loud excited voice, "Ma, where are you see what I have in my hands!" Her mother Archana was in the kitchen. Hearing her daughter's voice, she walked hurriedly out to meet her, saying. "Beta I am here, coming—" Interpreting her, Amani said, "—Mom, I won I am the new district-level champion!"

Joyfully her mother came into the hall to meet her daughter, who called out to her exuberant with joy. But as she caught sight of her daughter, she left out a gasp and stared at her with her mouth open, "Who did that to you?" Archana was so disturbed by what she saw that she didn't notice the trophy in her daughter's hand.

"Did what Ma," Amani asked her mother. "You face is swollen and all black and blue, tell me who did that to you?" 

Amani told her mom, "Mom, I had a boxing match today, and it was a district-level championship and qualifier for the State-level championship." Closing the distance between the two of them, Amani put her arm around her mother's shoulder as she gave her the trophy saying, this is for you, Ma."

But Archana was too disturbed even to congratulate her daughter. The trophy did not give her any joy; she could only see her daughter's face, which looked horrible.

Meanwhile, Amani could not stop talking. "And you know Ma, my coach was thrilled with my performance, and he told me that his decision is made—"  

"—what decision Amani," Archana asked her. Her daughter continued saying. "He picked me to represent the state in the State Level Boxing Champion!" Although Archana should congratulate her daughter for such an impressive fete, she could not. Even though she never said it aloud, her mind was made Amani was not going to box ever again!"

Unaware of her mother's thoughts, Amani went on to tell her that the State Level competition was only three months away, and she had to begin practising and prepare for it in all earnestness.

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Both mother and daughter waited anxiously for Amani's Dad Surya to return from work, but for different reasons.

A few hours later, Amani heard Surya driving into the front porch of their home. In a split second, Amani was by her Father's side, and he had not seen her, and she almost startled him as she called out, "—Dad." 

Amani was her Dad's pet; they got along well. "Dad, I won the match!" she said. Surya was the principal of a well-known college, and he was intelligent, and he rarely missed anything. He looked at her bruised and swollen face and said, "you got hit!"

"Yes, Dad, But it was worth it, for it only motivated me to fight harder. Meera (Amani's opponent) scored one blow against me. But that trigged me, I gave her left and a right and left and won the match!" "—you won!" Surya asked his daughter, and she was smiling and, nodding, says, "yes, yes, yes Dad. You are looking at the district level champion and—" Surya hugged his daughter as he said, "Congratulations, Champ, you are the best!" 

"Dad, there is one more thing—" "—yes, tell me beta, what is it?" her Father asked. "Dad, I am selected to represent our district at the State Level Championship!" "Wow! That is amazing—" her Father said as the two entered the house where her mother stood with a look of disapproval on her face.

Amani and Surya spent the rest of the evening together, planning for the next big match as Archana engrossed herself in the kitchen cooking dinner. She could hear all that the Father and daughter spoke, but she did not join in or contribute to the conversation. But Father and daughter were too engrossed in the newfound success and did not notice her unusual silence.

Archana, too, was well-educated, and she met her husband Surya when they were working together in a school. But Archana had given up her career to care for Surya's elderly mother and raise Amani. In short, her marriage cut short her career, but she did not mind that. 

As soon as Amani went to bed that night, Archana asked Surya, "are you happy with Amani's achievements in Boxing?" "Yes!" Surya said, "what an achievement that is, district level champion." he gushed as he glanced up at her face to see her frown. "What happened Archana? You seem upset," he said as he walked towards her. 

"I am," she said. "What about?" Surya asked. "About the same things that the two of you are so happy about," she said. "The championship?" Surya asked. Archana nodded. "Why? We both agreed and consented, right?" She nodded again. Surya continued saying, "then what is troubling you now?"

"Her swollen face!" she said and continued saying, "I never thought that it would be so bad!" "But that is a part of boxing," Surya said.

"It just struck me now Surya, Don't you understand, she is a girl and what if he face gets disfigured?" Archana asked her husband. "What about her marriage? Who will marry her if she is ugly?" Archana asked in a low voice.

Surya walked towards his wife and took her hands in his. "Archana, I know that you gave up your career to take care of my mother. And you did it all so well. Even after Amani was born you decided to stay at Home and take care of her. Well! That was what you wanted to do and that's what you believed the life of a woman should be." Surya continued saying, "There were times when I told you about temporary and permanent openings in our school. I did so to give you an opportunity to get back to work until I realised that what you were doing made you happy and you did not want to pursue your career." 

"But that is what a woman must do", Archana wailed.

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But Surya Said, "No, Archana, that isn't true. There is much more a woman can do." She looked at him confused as Surya continued, "a woman must be independent, and if you wish to pursue your career, I will even today encourage you. But you must want to do so." he finished.

"So you won't stop Amani from participating in the State level boxing championship?" Archana pleaded. "No, I won't. Instead, I will get her the best coach and help her get better opportunities to continue to do what she loves to do and win laurels. Surya then looked into Archana's eyes as he said, "Archana, it is Amani's dream, and I will do all in my power to help her achieve it. Please support me in this. It is not right to stop her from realising her dream." He then took a deep breath as he finally said, "about her marriage, we will cross the bridge when it comes."

My Thoughts

I dread to think what would happen if Surya had supported his wife and cut short Amani's career!

We love our children and want the very best for them. We are the elders and wise to choose the best for them too. We are generally suitable in our decisions concerning them, except when will let our emotions get in the way.

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