True Story - wings of fire

*********************************************************************************All characters appearing in this story are taken from true life. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely intentional. If you can spot yourself amongst the characters, be assured that it is you
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Once upon a time , not so long ago there was a  Scarlet Macaw. She was a very beautiful Scarlet Macaw. She was so colorful and full of life . She had an incredibly bright plumage in colors ranging from the scarlet , through to light blue, yellow,with metallic gold iridescence, and even some green in the wings. Though Native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics, this beautiful bird had flown down to Bangalore after getting married to the most handsome Fire-tailed Myzornis . Our Scarlet Macaw was a beautiful and brave woman who was equally kind and compassionate. All through her childhood her dad had treated her like a Princess and told her she was no less than any boy if not better.  So after marriage though she loved the Fire-tailed Myzornis very much she was very very cautious. Cautious about what ? Cautious that Fire-tailed Myzornis should not treat her as a mere female. After few initial hicupps she realized that he did not actually belong to the enemy camp but was one among what you called as "real men" shown on televisions.  Soon they were blessed with two beautiful children who thankfully had the best of features of both the parents.
They were both taught the right values. While the Jr Macaw-Myzornis who was a boy respected every living being baby Macaw-Myzornis was full of life and radiated confidence .
The Fire-tailed Myzornis helped with dinner and also advised the Scarlet Macaw whenever she faced any problems as work place. The Scarlet Macaw was highly respected at the work place .She shared a good rapport with her manager as well as clients. There was a time when her client had sent her flowers all the way from the dense rainforests of Melbourne !
The Macaw wanted to something more . She looked for other options in the same organization and soon got a good role in one of the happening teams.
As always she worked hard . But this time her supervisor - the Harpy Eagle was not so impressed. He kept different types of competitions to judge his team and finally when the results came our Macaw got a shock of her life ! But why ? she asked.  "That's because of relative performance " pat came the reply from the Eagle.
"Can you swim like the fish? " He asked
"N...no " she replied
"Can you crawl into a hole like the snake ?
"No I cannot " she replied
"But I can fly ...and I flew so high ! "
"Anyone can jump into a plane and fly " He replied.
I will take it up at the next level she thought. Definitely my skip level who resembles the guy out of Mani Ratnam's movie Roja will help . So she went to the Lappet faced Vulture's cabin.
"Relative performance" he replied without bothering to look up. Learn to swim and crawl and we will see next year what happens" and he dismissed her with a mocking smile.
The Scarlet Macaw came home to find the Fire-tailed Myzornis' shoulders ready for her to cry. After she was done with crying she asked him for advise. He looked a bit surprised. "Ofcourse you fight " he replied. That was all she needed. "This is going to be your fight. While I will always be there right behind you , to hold you , to give you support, its going to be your fight entirely. And when you come back from the battlefield I will be right at the doorstep with a bottle of champagne...  either to celebrate the victory with you or to drown the sorrow. Just go ahead and fight!"
So with these encouraging words our  Scarlet Macaw went straight to the battlefield and called the Vulture and the Eagle for a fight. She had no idea if she would win or loose but she knew in her heart she owed it to all the females in the world - birds , animals as well as humans.  She owed it to her dad who taught her to fly so high. She owed it to her husband who took leave to look after the kids while she attended her meetings. She owed it to her daughter and even to her son who looked upon her. And above all she owed it to her mother who prayed during her exams , who was by her side always, who readily took care of her kids while she worked. More than winning or loosing what mattered was that she stood up for something she believed in.
And thus the fight began.....The Eagle and the Vulture were powerful ...very powerful but our  Scarlet Macaw had so much of strength in her that even she was surprised.

As she opened the champagne bottle that night for the first time she felt her life was worthy and meaningful.

Note : I had decided to fight  , to raise my voice against something I totally believed in . I fought ...fought hard and I won. Even if I had not won it would have given me the satisfaction that I at least fought ...fought with all my might. 





Take Care,

Serendipity

Broken string of pearls
fall down my lashes
turn into rainbow

Take Care,

Equality

They were both best friends. "Best...est friend" in his language. Though there were other kids in the orphanage , he always called her to hold his tiny hands when he wrote the alphabets. She always gave him her share of desserts on Sundays knowing well that there would be no second serving. Age , gender, color  nothing came in between them. To him she was his world , someone who would hold his hands when needed    and guide him in this big bad world. To her he was the little angel who needed lots of love and care.

"You can't be with her for long" they said
"Why?" his innocent eyes asked
"She will play with dolls and you will play with guns and trains" they explained
"So what ?" he asked again
"She is a girl and you are a boy" they replied again, this time loosing their patience
He didn't understand how that mattered but didn't have the courage to ask anything else .

One day as they stood hand in hand waiting for the Aunty and Uncle to check them out , he could feel a tiny squeeze on this little finger. What was his friend afraid of ?
The Aunty looked at the girl and smiled. "Lets take the girl. The other one is a boy after all" she whispered into her husband's ears.
The Madam immediately came forward , disentangled the tiny finger and handed over the girl to the lady.
"Yes take the girl ma'm ...You will do good to the society"

That day he understood that girls and boys were not the same. 


Today a rep from World Vision contacted me. They are finding it difficult to get new sponsor for the kids .  He had brought with him handful of profiles for me to select. Select ? How could I do that ? It just broke my heart. 
I am a mother of two - a girl and a boy who need me equally.  Be it a girl or a boy they are the same until the society (including parents) starts differentiating them. I am all for women's equality and women's rights but before that lets at least try and give our children a chance at growing into educated and responsible citizens irrespective of their gender. 

http://www.worldvision.in/

With our busy life lets at least try and support organizations like world vision and others in their endeavor. 

Take Care,

Sisters ...

There is a look of worry in her eyes
As she held against her chest the teddy bear
"Are you sure mommy is not coming back ? "
She asks her big sister holding back a tear

But who will feed me and bathe me
who will take care of me
Oh I feel so frightened
Now is it just really you and me ?

Have you heard of orphanage
that is where they send little girls
whose mom and dad leave
and big sisters refuse to take care

Will you take care of me ?
she asked with eyes wide
You can have my share of chocolates
and your books I promise will never hide

Alright I will take care of you
After all I happen to be your big sister
Now let me help you to go to bed
tomorrow we will see how we can pick up the thread

The big sister goes and picks up the phone
"Yeah mommy the little one is already in the bed "
Enjoy your movie and don't forget
My gift for babysitting and the KFC Bucket !

This one is for my dear sister . We had a wonderful childhood ...she was the one who taught me the facts of life ...introduced me to the world of books and the world of threading and waxing ...gave me tips on bunking , enjoying college life ... the list is endless . Thank you dear sis for making my childhood so wonderful !
There is no one quite like you ...and dear people who usually see the halo on her head let me tell you , I have seen the horns behind :D



Take Care,