The Young India- this and then that....

I happen to be talking to my mother's maid who has this extremely sauve expression.

She didn't speak without prodding that she is of all 20 years young. On prodding more,she shares she doesn't eat anything in the morning and doesn't like been given anything to eat.

She survives an 8 hour day on a cup of tea and she is a mother of a grown up 12 year old and a two year young boy. Should I even shudder at the thought that she must have married when she was merely 13 years and would have had child by then.

She wears the symbolic white and red bangle so I know she is Bengali. While we are continuously talking about women not wishing to compromise in marriage and opting out of them, we still have many such young women who don't even know what a choice in life means.

And then there was this case of extreme brashness of a Jat girl who today early morning hours, decided to barge into a senior citizen's queue saying, "Side ho jao, paise nikaalne hai.' ' Aree pur ladies queue hai hi nahi' , said the whole janta standing their gaping at her atrocity. Lady in question, 'Aree Biloo jarah aage aakar in budho to batana to.'.... The hulk came in front but what next happened left me amused even further. He spoke out the most humble words, "Wasn't I telling you to just stand like all are standing to wait their turn? And anyway, you wanted Rs. 1000 note. They are dispensing Rs. 2000 some. Stop creating a scene!"

There is exposure to city life that goes wrong in the head for many young girls who come in from the villages or small towns. And then there are the one's like my mother's maid- quiet and calm yet angry with her fate, but holds such dignity and strength that I am surprised at this juxtaposition.

One thing is clear- like men, women are now showing it- we have the right to be different, each one of us. You cant put us in a silo and say- "She is a woman, this is what she is meant to do!"