The Story Of A Working Mother

I was 16 when I got onto a train with my Ma from Jamshedpur to Pune.I was born and raised in a city. Where every third house had a friend, or a friends friend or family. I lived in a city where, riding a two wheeler was limited for girls post 8 pm and most of us learnt to ride making sure no passing boy on a bike can access your breasts. We infact mastered the art of walking with eyes on the back so people could not smack your butt on the road as you walked home. Having said all that, it remains the warmest and safest place ever.

When I started staying alone in Pune I was 17, dint feel sure about walking alone, dint know how to shake hands with a guy, learnt the meaning of many abuses after having them hurled at myself by roomies, made friends who tool me to the hospital when I was sick and some who stole money and belongings.Yet, I maintain this city has made me everything I am today,i came here to get my qualifications but,i got a learning.i became who I am today,has taken this city 13 years to make me this way, and I am proud and humbled by every bit of who I am.

I am a 31 year old mother, daughter and wife.These three roles define who I am.These three roles make me chose the life I lead. I would never want to sound like a woman who wakes up at 6:30 and lets her back down after 17 hours, there are millions like me out there. I travel hours a day and then spend another 8 in office dealing tempers, egos and demands, just like so many of you.But when I get back home, I cant carry any of that with me, I am a mothers and mothers don't get tired, they work..in silent, sometimes obvious ways, they are planning dinner, thinking of paying bills, contemplating on opening a bank account instead of buying gold..etc etc.I am the happy cheerful loving wife who welcomes her man back home and quickly goes in the kitchen to whip up tea and something to munch one.I continue in there till the daughters dinner is cooked and our menu is dictated to the cook.Here again I am among, those many luck people who have maids and cooks to do some jobs.

I would  like to think I pretty much manage to strike a decent balance,  not because, I have help and aid but because I love this life. It thrills me to speak to a group of people on the national budget, its endearing to hear people admire my knowledge of the local government issues, its an honor to get an opportunity to meet heads of states and countries. And I come back home happier content satisfied that the sacrifice my parents made, I might just have made them a little proud.I come home knowing there is a man with whom I share my hopes and ambitions,i come home to get the love of a child who will acknowledge the battle I fight every day and come out victorious.

I wish hope and pray we continue creating a world where every child is proud of its parents, where every woman is empowered to work, to create her own identity and be proud of it.