It had only been four months since the country got independence from the colonial rule and the only freedom people had conquered was the freedom to form a Nation and that too happened in the most inhumane way. Freedom for the unfavorable gender was unfortunately imprisoned in the constitution. I would rather call it unfavorable and not the weaker gender because I believe centuries of civilization have proved that it’s the other sex which has embarked this trait within themselves. The girl was still a burden, still unwanted and still being killed before being born. That was the time when she was born, not alone but as an unwanted and unexpected twin to her brother. As ironic as it could be was that the same gender, her own mother hated her the most for dimming her glory of having a son by following him along. Instead of hugs, kisses and warm love from this world, when she opened her eyes she was greeted with disgusting indifference and shunned away to a barren couple to whom she then became the jewel of their lives. The childhood was filled with discrimination, hard labor and responsibilities that children of her age couldn’t even imagine of. It was one of those chilly February mornings in Amritsar, when children used to wake up with fears of their final terms. She too had her exam at nine in the morning and had been living with the mother that gave birth to her for the past one week so that she wouldn’t have to travel long miles from the village. She was woken up at 6 am and handed over a full load of laundry to hand wash before leaving for the exam. Without a word and with no choice she sat down with the soap in her tiny hands as she watched her other sisters and brothers being served hot milk and breakfast on the dining table. Maybe she would get some hot tea too if she did the job right or maybe another stick on those trembling hands for being distracted. Crying at times, playing with the parents who had happily accepted her as their child she made it through her childhood, perhaps lived through the years with the dream of giving the real childhood to her own children.

With scarce resources but a strong will, she established herself as a teacher not to the liking of her mother for whom her every success was a thorn in the flesh. Even when it came to getting her married off, her real parents did not leave any stone unturned to find the least sought after groom and cunningly tied her knot to someone who didn’t have a job. To their dismay he turned out to be a real gem at heart. She took those moments positively and began the tedious task of building a family from scratch. Brick by brick and moment by moment both of them sacrificed their desires into the best available for their children. This part of life brought along hundreds of challenges, from long days at work, taking care of three elderly persons and four kids to betrayal in business and more hardships by her real parents. Dragging the blistered soles and achy muscles, both of them gave everything possible to their children, from shelter, education to freedom to live and choose.

Today, into the seventh decade of her life she wakes up at 5 each morning to offer morning prayers so that her family sleeps in peace. This is followed by a visit to the temple to reinforce the same and then rest of the day passes by in cooking for the whole family and keeping the house clean. By the time she retires to bed each night, everyone is well fed and all chores have been taken care of. She is still the first one to wake up and last one to fall asleep even after retiring from teaching five years ago. Her desires unknown to everyone probably have decayed in some place in her heart but she is full with joy when she sees us happy. I am glad there is a day to remember her, a day to ponder over what your mother has done for you, a day to appreciate her sacrifices and a day to commit our love to her. Even though her face is full of worry lines, I still find the most eternal peace when I lay my head in her lap.