One fateful Evening...

'What the hell is going on between my husband and that bitch?' Maya's patience was at its lowest ebb and she was ready to burst.

Sanjay knew that she was serious. 'Look, Maya. There is nothing going on between the two of them. Just over-possessiveness or Insecurity, I'd say.'

'Possessiveness? Or Insecurity? Really Sanjay . . .' she rolled her eyes in disgust. 'That's what you men call it? There is nothing healthy about insecurity or possessiveness, Sanjay, not for a married man.

Insecurity or Possessiveness over a married man by a friend has no meaning.' She got up from her seat and walked around the room gesticulating and muttering something to herself. Suddenly she stopped, kept quiet, waited for Sanjay to speak. When she dint get any response from him, she asked, 'Did my husband have feelings for her or did she have feelings for him? You are his friend. Did he ever tell you anything about it?'

Sanjay tried to pacify Maya saying that they were colleagues and good friends. Nothing more than that. Yet she felt that something was amiss. Can a friend have as much hold on a person that he fails to give time or value the bond shared between husband and wife?

After disconnecting the call, she stood there with tears streaming down her face in the darkness.

Later as she lay on her bed, contemplating on the day's events and what led to the argument, her thoughts drifted back to the day Manav had first mentioned about 'her' saying she is a good friend who stood through his thick and thin. Being born and brought up in a City and a broad minded person, she had accepted the 'friendship' which she failed to realise could be something more. 

All that started was a message from 'her' asking her to scold Manav for eating her share of the snack which led to another message sometime later saying she could have her husband to herself and would not come in Maya's way. After a while, Manav had given her a call asking her to apologise to 'her' which had led to heated argument that he was even ready to divorce Maya if she failed to do as instructed. This had forced Maya to call Sanjay and seek his opinion as he knew his friend better. Yet there were no answers to the innumerous questions that were floating in her mind just like the stars over the head at times of confusion and uncertainty

 She drifted off to sleep after what seemed like ages after waiting for Manav's call to apologize for his rude behaviour which never came.

I am cursed, do you know why...

... Because i am a woman...

Her ill-fated luck starts the moment she is born. Rather than being treated as a good fortune or luck to the family, she will be looked down upon as a misfortune which has dawned upon the family.

She is treated as a debit to the family while the brothers who have been born before or after her are treated as credits..

Is it her fault that she is born a girl? Why do people, even though in 21st century still believe this?

Where do the talks of 'women empowerment' and 'beti bachao' andolans end up? Though years have rolled by and literacy percentage has increased, why has the temperament of people not changed?

Yes, i do agree that males carry the dominant genes from a family and that is one of the scientific reasons why it is necessary to have a male child but isn't the girl child carrying a part of your genes too (which may or may not be recessive)?

In a country like India with its vast geographical area and a place where goddesses are worshipped, there is a highly dominated patriarchal society and a recessive matriarchal society. Where do we stand in terms of gender equality?

We all want to make the world a better place to live in. What are we doing to the people who are trying to educate and bring to light the atrocities against women?

In recent times, we all know that the documentary pertaining to the rape victim (Nirbhaya- 26th December 2012 case) that was aired in UK and subsequently available on the internet was removed following the objections by various people. Where is the right to speech?

Is there going to be an end to the gender discrimination or do we have to silently continue chanting - 'Naa aana iss desh laado! The time has not arrived for you to get the respect that you deserve nor is your value understood'.

Honesty!!

We have studied in our moral science classes that 'Honesty is the best policy'. 

How far is it true or does this even hold good in today's world?

Or has the time come to rephrase or reconsider our views?

From the lessons i have learned in life, especially since after marriage, i have come to understand that 'Honest people are like straight trees which get cut first' as was told by my ex-boss who is no more. I hadn't understood his words then but today when i look back at the happenings of the past week, i completely agree to his words which have struck my mind like lightning.

Sadly, i wonder if the values that we impart our children are of no use in this world which is filled with people who are self-centered and opportunists. Earlier it was a matter of competitiveness to support the Darwin's theory- the survival of fittest, Off lately its jealousy and the tendency to pull the other person down in order to reach the top that is strengthening Darwin.

Will there be a change of time such that history repeats and people turn out to be as they have been earlier or is the world entering the black hole or into the nothingness that whatever we give doesn't get recognized let alone acknowledged.

Dear God.. This is my sincere prayer to you to make the world a better place to live in. Please.