My friend Nandini

My friend Nandini visited our house in late 80’s. My younger daughter was sleeping in another room.

She said “Your house is so quiet, where are the children? Well I answered “The younger one is sleeping and my son is playing home cricket” In the evening he will go out to play.

Your children do not cry? Nandini was seeking quest for truth-------

Yes I replied “They are joyful” I further added “Cheerful mothers have cheerful babies” why what happened I asked Nandini.

No nothing she sighed----------------------------my children whist small have always cried than usual---------------------

I was never happy when I was to become a mother and I remember-------------- she went back to past, when my children, the elder son a few years and the younger daughter a few months old, I was not allowed to give them milk and food till the puja was performed.

“Why” I raised my eye brows in wonder, “Why so” She replied that in her in-laws house they had Narayan shila and until the pandit did the puja no one was allowed to have food even the children. My children used to cry------------------------------

What were you doing I shouted at her? When you decide being parents and have the authority of becoming a mother from the first day you are supposed to look after your child. The baby is innocent just like a wet mud which is being shaped to beautiful pottery.

God says you are parents, you are the mother, you shall look after your children, you shall teach them the right and wrong, you shall raise them up and you shall protect them. When the Almighty has endowed you with so much power, why did you give in to others?

You should have put your foot down, my children, my business, and my life.

Face Nandini, face, face the brutes-----------------------------------------------

You had allowed the shila to be fed first and the living Narayan were unfed-----------------------------------

Alas! You allowed the bad to rule you; you became a slave to the devil.

Often we do not know of our rights, and there is no one to guide us.

Nandini admitted that she lost her identity.

Later I reminded Nandini of the story written below---------------

We all know of Naren, who later was called as Swami Vivekananda. Naren was barely a twelve-year-old boy, and like every child he used to go to the school. Whilst coming back in the afternoon, the road used to be hot and empty, hardly anyone passing by. A group of monkeys used to chase Naren and he used to run till he reached home.

His mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi noticed that for a few days his son used to come home running. One day she asked “Naren what makes you come running at home and you seem so frightened?”

Naren answered “A group of monkeys chase me, and I feel very scared”

His mother said “Naren face the brutes, pick up a stone and face them boldly, they will stop and will not chase you any

We need to face the brutes. Never tolerate nonsense, the moment you do so, the other person takes you for granted.

Minakshi Chakraborty