Drafts Of Her Heartbeat

A Plea, Not Lecture

Finally the team returned back after five days with medals as their treasure, to claim their trophy. Mr. Richard decided that the seminar will also act aas the closing ceremony of the I.C. 2K17, and the Rebel Angels will receive their trophy the same night. Hence the team got no time to rest or celebrate their victory. They were immediately set-off to complete the finishing touches for the seminar preparations.
A week after it was night of Closing ceremony and seminar. Since the training and everything was over, Dhruv had also moved back to his office and was staying in a hotel, as he had promised Yash that he will not step inside Khaitan mansion without Arohi. Arohi had purposely avoided Dhruv till now. Dhruv, Yash, Aviral had been invited too and they were accompanied by Ashok and Anjum. Dhruv not wanting to leave any stone unturned to finally persuade Arohi to forgive him and give him another chance.
"Ready son?" Yash asked.
"As ready as I can be Dad" Dhruv said letting out a heavy breathe.
"Don't worry we will all make sure to bring her back. You are not alone. I want to do everything to bring my son and daughter back in my house. I cannot stay alone in that big house anymore." Yash joked, looking around Dhruv's hotel room.
Dhruv just smiled in return.
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"Stop rushing around and now go and get ready. Everything is pitch perfect as of now." Kashish said urging the team to go and get ready.
The team resided to the green room to get ready. The guests started coming in and filling the seats. Once again Dhruv, Yash, Aviral, Ashok and Anjum in the first row along with the Principal, Trustee, Chairperson, Vidyut, Kashish, Richard and other I.CM Representative, and other four teams Mentors.
The event started with thanking speeches from Principal, Trustee, Chairperson, and then the five Mentors. Then after presentations from the captains of the Five Teams, starting with Ryder from The USA, followed by Jamie from Ireland, Andrew from Australia and then Wills from the Britain team. Finally it was time for the Indian Captain to come up with her presentation and speech.
Clad in baby pink sari with golden border, along with golden pendant, jhumkas and a set of bangles in one hand and a bracelet watch in other, hairs left open and combed to set on her left shoulder, came the angelic girl, Arohi. But the shocking revelation was her partings filled with dark, blood red, vermilion, signifying her status as a married woman to the audience, the society.
"Arohi....?" Abhimanyu seemed shocked while the other team mates also wore the same expression.
"Dhruv son this is...." Yash whispered to Dhruv, surprise laced with happiness.
"Beautiful Angel." Dhruv said mesmerized with her beauty.
"Kashish what is this girl doing wearing the vermilion on her partings?" Vidyut asked surprised.
"Shut up Vidyut. Let her do what she has to. Let her follow her heart." Kashish replied hiding her smile.
"Good Evening respected Ladies and Gentlemen. I am Arohi, captain of team Rebel Angels. Before beginning the presentation speech of tonight, I want to inform you guys my speech is not on a single topic, person, event or characteristic, it is a speech revolving around various aspects of life, some learned from personal experience and others by seeing watching them from afar.
I am a girl and I speak for women hereby. Everyday I open my eyes, I work for my house, I prepare everything for my family, I go to work in my professional zone, I come back and again I am in my kitchen, the cycle goes round and along, day and night. But has anyone thought what I feel? Bards and poets, writers and philosophers, everyone pen down thoughts for me, but has anyone thought about me? If you say Yes, the answer is fake. There is a huge difference in thinking for someone and working in the thinking about that one. People say, I quote, 'Respect our mothers and daughter's but does this quote is actually brought in use in reality? For a long time a woman has been defined as a daughter, wife, Sister, mother, grandmother, but when has she been defined as Her - a complete self. We never use adjectives of Earner or Husband, son, brother, father, grandfather to define a man, they are defined as a single word Male. No tags needed or added. I am Arohi. Plain simple Arohi. No added surname needed. People object me, judge me, sometimes critic me even for it. Yes I am a married woman. I have a husband, I also have a father , they both have provided me with their surname, but I never adopted them in my professional field. I don't need it. I have my own identity as Arohi and I don't need to say how or why? People sitting over here knows what Arohi is. I am not seen as only a role-played or home-maker, I am seen as myself, a whole personality. Why can't all women have the same rights without being frowned upon? Is their an answer for it?
A society created by women, born and brought up by them, but is called Male-Dominated society. Why? If we ask the answer comes it has been like that from ages. Not only in India but also other parts of world. But has anyone stopped and thought on this matter and tried to start a bring about a change? When we ask we are said what can a single man do? Well if a single man is allowed to abuse a thousand women, they have power to take away her virtue, doesn't he has power to build a change in his own world? Shame isn't it? There are abusive languages concerning mother and sister of someone but no abuse to concern the brother or father? Sexist, are we?
Well I can't and I won't blame the men entirely for the poor condition of women. We ourselves are also responsible for it to a certain extent. As they say 'You are not ruled because you are weak, you are ruled over because you allow Him to be strong.' It's time you take a stance for yourselves. Why do we forget that if we are Annapurna, to cook for our family, we are also Durga to kill the demons like Mahisasura of our society. We are considered Lordess of Wealth and Knowledge, Lakshmi and Saraswati, that means we are eligible enough to provide for ourselves and feed the ones near us. We need to be dependent on anyone because we are Wealth, Health, Knowledge, Strength, we are ultimate powers. It's high time we recognize that power within and try to use it.
Trust me, I have tried a life where I seemed ny inner powers and tried to make a name for me, a platform for me, and here I am standing infront of you all. I also had been wronged in my life, thereafter I decided to the reigns of it my hand, and I can peacefully say that when you do the right things, the outcome is always right. My life is sorted. I am happy.
Another thing is we judge people on their antics but do we really try to dive in their soul and ponder over what had happened in the past that made them who they are? If we start doing so half of our problems will be solved anyways. The world does not need hatred, violence, or dominance of power, what they need is love, care, humanity. A bit of thinking and a steady balance between mind and heart, and our world will be a better place to dwell in. And my speech is not about a lesson or lecture, my hard work of speaking will be worth while if it can bring a change even in one individual. Thank You." The auditorium erupted in claps and loud cheers. Proud faces looking at her and smiling. And then the night ended with the Rebel Angels raising their winner's trophy.