Category : Articles

Sub Category : N/A

"Amma,  I want a teddy bear", Anna cried. Anna was  7 year old then. 
"You already have toys,  then why do you want a teddy bear?", Her mother said. 
"But amma,  most of my toys are broken.  And also,  I don't have a teddy bear. " 
Her Mother was getting angry as Anna was disturbing her while she was doing an important work. 
"Anna,  go. Play with the toys you have.  I'm getting a headache.  "
Silent,  Anna went to her room.  

A few months later,  Anna had something else in her mind.  
"Amma,  my friend joined for a drawing class. You know that I love to draw,  please can I join too" 
"Yes,  I have heard it.  But Anna,  its far away from here.  For her,  it may not be a problem.  But I don't want you to travel this distance for this"
"But amma,  I love drawing.  And I want to learn it.  Please let me go. "
"No,  Anna,  what I have said is the final decision. "
Silent,  Anna went to her room. 

A few days later she heard that a violin class was starting at a nearby place. She wanted to learn it.  
"Amma,  can I go? "
"I don't think there are much students there. It may not be a good class.  And also,  why waste money buying the violin? After the classes are over,  you will not be able to continue it. So,  I prefer not to go.  "
Silent,  Anna went to her room.  

A few years passed.  
Anna was 15 then.  
"Amma,  its my friends birthday. We decided to go out.  Can I go? "
" No,  you know your pappa won't allow. "
"But amma,  if you ask him,  he will allow. "
"No Anna,  tell your friends you're not coming. "
Silent,  Anna went to her room.  

A few days later, 
" Amma,  can you give me some money? "
"Why? "
"Amma,  I love reading books.  I would like to buy some. "
" There is a library nearby,  you can go there and read"
"But Amma,  I searched. The books I want is not available there.  "
" Why are you wasting money buying books? 
After you read it,  then what will you do with your book?  Just keep it somewhere until it is torn.  After that you just throw away them.  "
" No amma,  I love books. I wont throw away. "
" No,  Anna,  I said no.  Don't argue with me. "
Crying,  Anna went to her room.  

One day,  Mother came to her room.  She was shocked seeing the room 
"What  is this Anna? "
" I decorated my room,  I did all this by myself. Isn't it beautiful Amma? "
"Yes it is beautiful.  But why are you wasting your time doing all this?  And look at the walls,  you're destroying it. "
"No,  amma I won't.  "
Amma left.  Anna wanted her mother to say something good about the work she had done.  But all she heard was this.  It was not the first time.  Last time when she drew a picture,  instead of giving a 'good-job' , all she did was finding the fault in it. But Anna didn't complain.  She knew she loved her mother and her mother loved her.  

Anna turned 18. 
"Amma,  I want to become a fashion designer."
"Oh,  is that so? "
"Amma,  I'm not joking. I'm serious. "
"No Anna it's not possible. "
"But why,  amma? "
"Anna,  why can't you understand?  It's not a good job.  You are a girl.  You will have a family to look after.  And being a designer you can't handle job and family together.  And have you heard about that newly married girl in our neighborhood?  She also learned fashion designing.  And now look at her,  she have no job now. After marraige,  girls have to stay looking after her family.  And I don't think, you can do it.  So Anna,  find a job that suits you and our society.  "

Anna never spoke a word against her mother.  She knew arguing won't work. And she doesn't want to do anything against her mother.  She learned to say,  "I'm happy", whenever her mother asked.  She never complained about not celebrating any of her birthdays.  She never complained.