But was it fair work with equal wages? Not at all! Not surprisingly, they did not receive the same pay, neither were their work conditions in any way, equal to that of men. But there was a strong resistance from these working women.
As Titi stretched her hand to reach the stacked tea trays the shawl slipped from her shoulder exposing her back and arms – bare, save the straps of her nightdress, the one Sohini had assured her would not look daring in the confines of the bedroom.
The truth stands that while we read an inspirational story about women empowerment every minute, some woman somewhere is awaiting the monochrome imposed upon her by a
society that celebrates the flying colours of women on a day dedicated to Her – International Women’s Day!
My grandmother muttered something in Tamil shaking her head in disbelief and
went inside. My aunt smiled and patted my father signalling, she is all yours. When both
of them were out of the room my dad laughed out loud.
Their first meeting had been at a bloggers’ meet. He was fresh, and vivacious, and happy. Now, they would occasionally sit in a cafe that smells heavily of coffee beans and cheesy garlic bread, and buy one another coffee, looking into one another’s eyes. He was never tired of her, of listening to her pain, her unfulfilled desires, her midnight tears. Even amidst a crowd, he would find her. He could never miss her. His eyes would wade through even the most dingiest of places, thickly crowded, to her.
He was exceptionally witty and upright just like her own father but was more friendly. Perhaps that was because he had to bring up Ria without a mother. He connected exceptionally well with the young. And he could make Ma laugh again.
While the rest of India observe Shivratri on the 14th day (Chaturdashi) of the Hindu lunar month of Phalgun, Kashmiri Pandits generally celebrate herath a day earlier. But preparations to welcome Shiva-Parvati home begin at least a week in advance
That struck hard on Laalima. She couldn’t decipher her state of mind. The confusion between real-life setbacks and something which is waiting to happen.
Is the sanctity of holy matrimony still more important than the consent of women in India? It all sounds terribly like dark comedy. I mean what sort of a marriage is this, where a grown man doesn’t even know/understand something as basic as consent, right? Well, many marriages work this way. But that’s a story for another day.
She can’t find her own reflection anymore this time, as there stands a man dressed in a shirt and a pair of pants, all set for office. With head hung low, Neel proceeds towards her office with the burden of being born in the wrong body.
