The city was beautifully filled with lights from 13 storey buildings, vehicles and families returning home after enjoying the weekend. The source of noise from outside was blocked by the casement window while the voice of Shin-Chan filled the living room.
Anu was working on her laptop wearing her rose gold rimless reading glasses which reflected the light and was surrounded by piles of case files and books while her husband, Gautam who was cleaning the kitchen earlier was talking to his colleague on the phone. He put the call on speaker and continued his work.
Gautham: Yes Sachin. You can continue now.
Sachin: Did you see Rahul? The new intern?
Gautham: Yes. What about him?
Sachin: I asked him to do my work just because he could learn something. But you know what he said? He said that we are paid to do our own work and can't do the works of people who are lethargic. How can he say something like that? Huh!!! All the people from his caste are the exact same!!! Shitty People!!!
Anu who heard this cleared her throat. *Mkkrrm*
Gautam: You want water?
Anu: No.
Gautham: Then what does that mean?
Anu: That means no one should talk something like that. It means no one should allow anyone to talk like that. It means that I hate a person talking something like this. It means that I hate Pooja hearing something like this.
Gautham at once hung up the call and responded to his wife.
Gautham: What am I supposed to do if he says something like that? It's his opinion. I can't barge into it.
Anu: No matter what, he can't say something like that about someone Gautham. And you can't just sit and listen to him badmouthing someone especially based on their caste. What you're supposed to do? You're supposed to tell your friend that he's saying something wrong and if he doesn't listen, you're supposed to draw a line between you and him right there.
She raised her voice a bit when Gautam was trying to interrupt her in between. Their 4-year-old child who was earlier watching TV flinched looking at her parents.
Anu's eyes which were earlier glaring at her husband softened seeing her child. She bent down to her daughter and grinned.
Anu: Pooja baby!! Why do you look scared da Kanna (endearment)? Amma and Appa were just talking.
Pooja: B-but... You shouted at pappa... You both were fighting...
Anu: Aww...Why would we fight darling? We were just talking. Now... If you and your friend have different opinions, You guys would reason out, right? At that time, you guys would raise your voice a bit. Am I right? We were doing the same. Okay, come. Let's go and sleep. I'll tell you a new story today.
She picked up her daughter in her arms turned back to see Gautham and whispered, "We'll continue later."
She tucked up the little figure of Pooja under the quilt and started telling her a story.
Anu: Anaganaga Oka... (Once upon a time, one...)
Pooja interrupted her and whined, "Amma! Stop it ma!! I've heard your anaganaga oka raju (Once upon a time, there was a king) stories very often. I'm so bored of them. I want to hear something new."
Anu smiled at her and replied, "Listen to me fully darling! Once upon a time, long long ago... People used to degrade others based on their jobs and called it caste. They would judge people based on their job and not on their personalities. And this continued for decades. One day, a small boy of your age noticed this. If he goes to school, they made him sit on the floor. When he went to temples with his mother, they were only allowed to see the temple and worship the god/goddess from outside. He was puzzled by these incidents. If you're confused, What will you do darling?"
Pooja thought for a while and said, "Umm... Go and ask papa."
Anu: 😳GIRL!! Can't you say that you would ask me at least to make me happy? Thankfully, our kiddo was not like you without love for his mother. He went and asked his mother why they were treated like this. His mother said that they belonged to a lower caste and because of that they are not supposed to go before people of higher caste or act as if they are equal to them. This irked him. He didn't like this. He didn't like people getting treated this lowly. According to him, everyone was a human being and that's all. So, when he grew up, he put together a set of rules on how everyone should behave as a part of society and how one should treat others equally no matter what they do or what caste they belong to. So, if there are rules, there would be punishments too if you violate them right? He has given them too. And this set of rules is called The Constitution Of India. And the kiddo who wrote that is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Did you like the story?
Pooja: That's all? I want to know more about him, amma. Can you tell me more about him?
Anu: Of course darling. But not now. You've school tomorrow. Sleep first.
Gautham entered the room making the mother-daughter duo turn around stopping their conversation. He smiled at them and sat beside Anu picking up his angel in his arms who started to jump on his lap.
Pooja: Appa! Appa! Amma told me a new story today!!!
Gautham: Oh really? What was it about?
Pooja: It was about a boy called Ambedkar.
Gautham: Woah!!! ok then, tell me what you learnt from the story.
Pooja: Ummm... No one is above or below anyone. Everyone is equal.
Gautham who felt overwhelmed by hearing this from his 4-year-old hugged her and kissed her forehead passing a contented smile to his wife.
He then made her sleep and exited the room along with Anu.
They both stood inside their bedroom which was darker and colder than usual. Only the sound that could be heard was of the metals hanging getting swayed by the cool night breeze.
Anu initiated to talk thus breaking the silence.
Anu: I'm sorry Gautham. I shouldn't have shouted at you in front of Pooja. I just got annoyed and tensed hearing a comment like that from your friend. I'm sorry.
Gautham: Hey!!! Don't apologize!!! You did nothing to be sorry about. What you said was the truth and no one has any right to talk something bad about other people in particular not based on their caste. I am happy that you taught Pooja about Ambedkar. You are teaching her about great people and good values right from this age. And I love you for this Ammu. Come here...
He opened his arms and signalled her to come and cuddle him. Once he felt her warmth next to him, he picked up his phone and played Ilaya Nila Pozhigiradhe. Both of them closed their eyes in bliss listening to the song, while Anu reminisced about how she learned about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the days she spent studying in law college and felt grateful to have become a leading lawyer in the city.
____________________________
Hey ice creams,
How are you all and how's this one-shot? Let's please come forward to teach our future generations about Ambedkar and his teachings.
See you on yet another book. Until then,
BE SAFE. BE YOU. BE HAPPY.
With love,
~Nila💜🌙
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