The long awaited cry! They heard it again.

Yes, the wait was over.

The nurse said it’s a ‘Baby girl’; no it didn’t sadden them at all.

Although, they hoped for a baby boy!!

A boy, who could relive their lives,

But, it didn’t sadden them at all, she was a girl.

She has to be ‘accepted’ and ‘approved’ to live.

Yes, she was a girl. For she can’t be move freely like the spineless boys running around the streets,

She can’t fight or take a flight, she would be then, remained of values and that, she is a girl.

They say, a girl has to behave in a particular manner! Yes, she was a girl.

She can’t explore the world, for she is confined to the walls.. they say the world outside is not meant for her. Yes, she was a girl. She was mocked at, laughed at, restricted, belittled and ignored.

But, they came to her to gratify their needs. She was now, needed! Yes, she was a girl.

They forgot, she was a girl..

She tolerated it, it happened in the name of culture and values. She had to behave.

She grew, she was married and sent away.. she hoped for a new life. A dream that, she dreamt as a girl.

No, it didn’t shatter. She was now a woman and like a lady she did what she had to do, she was a diplomatic and tolerant wife. Yes, now she is a woman.

She says it is not all that beautiful to be a woman; they make it ugly for me. She felt captivated; her life was changed for good or bad?

She was now growing restless day by day and now, she wanted to break the set boundaries.

Like, the flowers in the backyard of her place she wanted to bloom again and this time she wanted to be at the receiving end.

She was a selfless mother for years, she made sacrifices!!

Every morning she woke up but, her eyes now bore no dream to fulfill,

Whom should she live for?

She was now, with her man alone.

Her children had fled away..far from her..

Yes, now she was a mother!

They couldn’t help her. She was now, alone.

She sipped on her morning tea, sitting alone and looking at the rising sun!

She smiled and was lost in thoughts..

It was a chilly morning, but she could not feel the coldness, she was numb.

She was so accustomed to coldness. She didn’t know how it feels to be warm.

Yes, now she was growing old. She was left with no dreams to dream.

Yet, she rose with the rise of the sunshine. But, now it was too late.