Thursday 2 April 2015
How I learned a necessary lesson of life?
There
have been a lot of talks about women empowerment lately all around. So, I am
here to share one such incident from my childhood that taught me a lesson for
life and is also connected to the same topic in one way or the other.
I
was 11, or perhaps 12 in age that time. I stayed in housing board colony back
in those days when that life-changing-humor-coated incident took place.
It
was a summer afternoon. And one of our neighbor’s daughter was at our place.
That time it was a jolly environment. Everyone can be found in everyone else’s
house as if they all were family members. Sadly, this thing has changed
drastically over a time now!
Anyway,
she was around 8 or less, I hardly remember except for the fact that she was
very young. And like every normal day, she made a visit to play around that day
as well.
So,
at that time I was having a bath when she entered and wandered around lifting
various things from the house just to end her curiosity. My mom enjoyed her
company and thus never complained or scolded her from doing anything at all.
After
a few minutes when I came out of the bathroom wrapping a towel, and only that,
for obvious reasons, I noticed her playing around with my favorite wind chime.
Wind
chimes were pretty popular at those days. You may end up getting 3-4 pieces as
your birthday gift if people wished to break a tradition of gifting lunch box
and crayons. But this one was especially picked by me on some random occasion
which is hard for me to recall. It looked fancy with a bit of greenish scenery
on the plates of it. Golden chains enhanced its look and style. The sound of it
was sober and felt good to ears. It was my favorite, no doubt. And above
everything, I hated if anybody would even touch it. I was a stubborn kid back
then especially for the things I loved. No sacrifice at all. No it, no but. It
was my rule.
So,
I could see that girl almost struggling to take that wind chain out of the
hook. I got a little angry for it was my nature. But then, there was a question
of humiliation if I went to stop her wrapping a towel and nothing else. I was a
shy kid; very shy. I wouldn’t even open my t-shirt for a doctor to examine me
in case of a checkup. That shy. After all, it was mah body, so mah rulezzz…!
Thus,
I stood at a distance for a while for her to stop doing that by God’s grace
because it was getting into my nerve. But only when I wished for it, she
dropped it by mistake and it shattered after landing on the floor. The chains
were miles apart from the case and the green fountain plate that held every
chain together was on her hand as if wishing to rejoin. Sadly, nothing
happened, the wind chain didn’t join again why would it? It was reality.
Another
reality was that I almost lost my temper on a jiffy. I rushed towards her and
so my mom after the havoc (in my terms) took place. I got first in the race and
as soon I reached the spot, I did not think for a fraction of a second and
slapped that little girl. I was furious and out of control.
My
mom, who came second in the race, saw everything. The little girl started
crying. And I immediately regretted my action. I was a kid back then but if I
ever saw a girl crying I would do anything to stop her from shedding tears. I
still do. And I believe everyone must do too. Not just for girls but for men
too. As men cry as well.
And
that day I could almost see myself crying too. Why? Because my mum was about to
hit me which was evident through her face and actions.
Her
right hand came like a sucker punch on my back and hit me twice. Her left palm
hit my cheeks. And then came the blow that blew everything off. She hit me
again and my towel dropped down. Oh my!
The
girl who was continuously crying all this long suddenly stopped. Why wouldn’t
she? Magic happened and I was exposed. I could see the world watching me naked
and making a mockery out of it, although there were only two people.
Imagining
this situation my eyes filled up. But I could not keep my palm on my face to
hide my tears because something even more important was out open. So, I made
the best use of my little hands and rushed towards the other room and closed
it.
I
cried for the next 10 mins or so. After
all, I was a victim of wardrobe malfunction. I wasn’t paid too for that act.
And, all this hurt a lot. So, I took notes of wearing underwear immediately
after having a bath so as to avoid mishaps that involved genitals or anything
of that importance.
However,
amidst all this drama and exposure, I learned a very important lesson that I still
carry with me. I learned not to hit a girl at all. Doesn’t matter what she has
done, but never hit her. Never let go of chivalry no matter what. Of course you
won’t get anything for it and maybe you would be hurt at the end. But then what
good it is to be a man if you can’t be like one?
