Afreen

            Breathing in her womb, I was growing like any other expected human baby. Wondering what the world is, how it looks like! How would it welcome me? Just few months ahead and I will see them all. It was an open dream. Living in her womb for months is how I know her. So close, I’m connected to her. I can feel her heart beats. Sometimes she is very relaxed and sometimes stressed. She is my Mom. Soon she will hold me in her arms. My Dad will kiss her for the beautiful angel into their small world. Life is like never before. My cries, my smiles will keep them happy ever. I can’t wait to see their excitement. What would they name their baby Girl?

         Hey it’s Afreen. Nice name isn’t it?  You must have heard my story. If not I will let you know. I was killed. Beaten bitted brutalized. I fought to death for a week and then gave up. I was just three months old baby. Oh sorry! Girl baby. My mother kept weeping there for seven days. If I was survived one day I would make her feel proud for what she did for me. My father wanted a boy child.

            So much I had to say him and to all who said I was girl. How could I fight for my rights? How could I say him please let me live? How could I stop him from killing his own daughter?

            Let me take a chance. Let me tell you something I wanted tell my dad and entire world. May be I could have proved, if I was given a chance.

            All of you might have planted a tree. You dig a hole, keep the plant in it and put some soil. Give some initial support, feed some water. After some days you don’t even know how far the roots have spread out over soil. How the plant turns a tree fighting against the rain, the wind and the storms. When it turns a tree it becomes a house of hundreds of birds, shadow to the passerby and balances the environmental health.

            Afreen also wanted only so much. Happy faces on my arrival, celebrating hearts, welcome songs. All I wanted at my tender age is love affection and care. Mom’s nonstop watch over my every single move and dad’s big heart to play with me when he reaches home from his workplace. I couldn’t call Ma or Paa but every time you called Afreen I’d a wide smile. You knew I wanted to respond. I hugged you. I pulled your hair and caught you tight in my small arms. That’s how I could show I love you. That’s how I said thank you for bringing me into the world. That’s how I said I’m your Daughter.

            Sad! Dad, you never got it. You wanted a boy. You thought only a boy could take care of you. Only Son can support you at your old age was your believe. Look at the world around, why you see only clouds? Haven’t you seen the rains after them? No girl has been proved in this world that she can be independent; she can take care of her parents? A girl can be a great mother, she can be a loving wife but why not a Daughter?

             It would have taken some years I agree. But then I could have been something great. May be CEO of a MNC like Indra Nooyi or may be like Kalpana Chawla and step into the Moon. If not like them I would atleast be your loving daughter to support you. If you had allowed me to touch your fingers catch them and learn walking, I would have given my shoulders at your old age. If you had given me a chocolate today and hugged me, Dad for your love, I would have counted the stars whole night, when you fall sick and get no sleep. You know what dear dad you could see it my little eyes but you never observed all these.

            If you’d educated me, you wouldn't lose anything. But you would have educated the world around me. If you’d given me a good life you wouldn’t be a loser. But a winner. Dad, Just imagine in school if I had given with a topic ‘Your Dad’ and I explain how big hero you are for me! Nothing like that happened in both of our life. I have not seen what schools are like and you have not given me time to be eligible for school age.

            When I was born I had dreamt you will accept me as biggest gift in life. Not really! Gift will be worshiped by you only if it’s a boy. When I was born I wanted you to protect me but you were so busy in estimating the dowry that should be paid at my wedding!!!

           Lastly, You blessed me with a beautiful name. Afreen. Does it mean Lucky, Dad? Was I really Lucky? Wish I could be one.