It is about Gouramma, who spent her life for other’s happiness.
Gouramma helped clean the backyards of the houses on
our campus. She was nearly 60, judging by the wrinkles on her face. Aayi would
offer her tea and, she would sit on the plastic chair and share her stories
with us; how she was all alone, her early marriage, her husband’s early demise , and
many more stories like that. It is still easy for me to recall those red
bangles she wore and her smile after every sip of tea she took while she pulled
her saree over her head with her other hand. She always shared her story with a
smile, as if she had faced the worst and life couldn't hurt her anymore. All
the helpers here gathered around her every evening after work to share what was
going on in their own lives, and Gouramma being Gouramma used to listen to
them, share her stories, most of the times amusing stories to make them laugh. With
a big bindi between her eyebrows, a silent smile on her face, she looked as if
she was about to transform into a goddess at any moment. As I mentioned earlier,
she had spent her life for other’s happiness, when she was young it was for her
parents, she sacrificed her life getting married early in her life; after marrying
it was for her drunkard husband, she sacrificed her happiness, worked in other’s
houses to run her household and continued to do so. Thereafter, she was all
alone, accepted her life the way it was, and kept a smile on her face no matter
what happened.
We all have a Gouramma in our lives in the form of our
mother, sister, wife, friends and colleagues who have sacrificed their
happiness, their career, and a peaceful life for us. On this Women's Day, let's
remember to appreciate them for all they have done for us over their lives and
not stop at a single day.
Happy Women's Day to all the incredible women, ladies,
and girls in my life - two days early, but every day is your day.
PS: On the 6th of last month, it was another normal
day filled with birds chirping, monkeys bouncing around and leaves from the
trees falling in the backyard, but this day didn't have Gouramma in it.
