Every year there was a day when this girl waited for darkness to descend soon. She also waited for the house to be quiet and then she cried her heart out, silently, to her pillow. The sobs would not subside till she fell asleep.
She knew nobody is going to empathize with her tears, she knew nobody would even ask what was her problem. She had known that for eight years now and she didn’t expect any words of affection.
The sobs of this little girl would have never ceased if the Birthday fairy had not given her the assurances. She caressed her long, soft hair and sat beside her. She told her very softly that there would come a time when people around her would not forget her birthday. She assured her that this day was going to be the happiest day of her life only if she waits a few years.
This childhood fantasy gave great solace to her, assuaged her hurts and raised her hopes.
The first few lessons she learnt were that a girl can never claim to be equal… that birthdays are only for boys…that girls have no right to question certain norms of her society.
But she also learnt to think positive.
She kept her hopes and expectations to herself. She didn’t want to share them in the fear of getting disliked.
Conflicting emotions churned in her heart and mind, trying to balance out.
Seeing seemed more powerful at that impressionable age but she didn’t let those impressions entrench themselves in her. She took an inspiration from the subjugation and discrimination, which stared starkly at her face.
Her promises to herself kept getting firmer with each year. She learnt new lessons with each put down and her resilience grew to unimaginable heights. In fact it became an invincible part of her personality.
At least she had the freedom of thought, she told herself. At least she had the capabilities to distinguish between virtues and vices. At least she had the opportunities of learning, which many around her were deprived of.
All who live in neglect are not that strong, they have the tendency to drift into negative crevices. They learn to accept all the atrocities calmly.
All are not so positive and imaginative to have met the birthday fairies!
For her, birthday was just another day till she met her soul mate.
Were childhood dreams true or was this just another phase of life? – this question often reverberated around her.
Yes, a day did come when there was no dearth of flowers, cards and wishes around her on her birthday.
It followed year after year. Her husband made this day special for her in all the loving ways. Her friends, her students and her children added brilliance with their smiles and wishes.
Birthday was not just another day now. It ushered in new delight, even the sunshine seemed to be special!
All this could be possible just because she met an open minded man who let her flower into a luminous personality, who didn’t impose his views on her, who didn’t consider her to be another woman of his era but respected her.
Celebrating birthday of all the children of the house is essential as:
- It gives them pleasant memories,
- Makes them sensitive
- They learn the values of togetherness and love
- They grow up into cheerful and confident individuals,
- Happiness of those little moments, which make them the center of attraction, is a learning experience for them,
- Highlights the importance of self-love
We all cherish childhood memories; clutch them all the more as we grow up; they conjure up those moments of delight when we look at a familiar spot or a child we love… and the childhood yearnings return.
Birthdays are those landmarks, which evoke such memories. Some special emotions are attached to them…love, gratitude, respect, admiration, pride and honor are imbibed effortlessly.
Do you have any such memories, which are difficult to share?
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Balroop Singh.
Image credit: http://princesskaurvaki.com
Emotional Shadows 