Pretty in pink 
Badass in black
Unfortunately, they say 
You are a girl 
And you cannot watch that.

The whole spectrum is my turf 
Blue, white, red, and all its hues 
Whatever I wear 
What's it to you?

With Boundations and limits 
still, I thrive 
It's twenty-first century, dude
Think about how will you survive

Unfortunately or fortunately,
my dear reader, you decide 
Yours truly, that's me, your poet 
Was scolded atrociously 
For watching guns and fights 
They said I've done a heinous crime 
watching cartoons meant for boys 
I was little but with gunpowder for soul 
And from thereon,
I loaded my armory with beasts and dinosaurs

Come as you may 
For I have all the troops and cavalry
Born from the day 
I decided to redefine chivalry.

So this was an account of things that happened when I was little but thinking back to it reminds me of the inexhaustible spirit I used to have and often times it salvages my situation on a daily basis. 

Growing up in a traditional Indian household and holding up gender equity is one commendable task. I'm sure even in this age there still are plenty of countries where a girl is seen as a liability or an inferior gender who is not capable enough or intelligent enough to lead but is suitable for only being lead by. They should stereotypically know how to cook, take care of the babies, serve other members, clean, do the laundry and never ask of anything because the men in the family are providing for them so who gave them the right to complain? Since when children are small and can barely make out the details of adult thinking they are being molded to fit the frame of boys and girls. Girls should only wear the so-called girlish colours and boys should refrain from them. For gifts, girls get a peaceful Barbie doll and boys get their violent guns or cars. Girls should know how to cook but boys can't even lift a spoon. Girls can cry, wail, bowl, weep, or lament but the second a boy even gets their eyes blurry of mist they are accused of being a wimp and ridiculed because apparently they are crying like a girl. 

Everyone asks boys "Where have you been? Why are you home so late ?" but nobody asks them "Why are you even going outside?". Because naturally, girls belong to the four walls suffocated by a roof where they toil their life away not in the main field where the pre-existing life blooms. And boys suffer the fate of the burden of this. They only should earn and if the wife of the house even tries, his capabilities are questioned. There's no dictator stating these rules but all of us are attached to the strings of orthodox directing us with its own preamble. Not only their roles but even the media they watch for their sole entertainment is being controlled by the strings of orthodox. Boys in their macho persona must like the howling beast, action, guns, cars, and the like but the second they take an interest in watching a Barbie movie they are being teased and made fun of. Similarly is the situation of girls but instead of being they are criticized like I was. 

Since I was a kid, being on an adventure is what I've always longed for. Experiencing new things, making friends, and keeping them. But sadly reality was much different at the time so I had to turn to something not real but the same. That is where my favourite cartoon Pokemon appears. Like out of nowhere one I watched an episode with my cousin, who is also a girl, and became intrigued. The way they travel the whole world chasing only one thing that is to catch Pokemon and be their best buddy and along the journey acquire mates like no other. Every day traveling with them, eating, drinking, crying, and overcoming your shortcomings to become the best version of yourself with their help and support is everything new to me, to the girl who rarely steps a foot outside the house except going to and fro from school chauffeured by father, uncle or seldom times brother. 

Pokemon World opened a new portal to me from which I can see the world differently, like I'm experiencing it alongside to heroes. Even the sky out the window looked different like anytime something like a miracle could happen. New opportunities which were obscured by my own self and buried beneath the mark of impossibility began to surface. And those heroes gave me the courage to take those up because every time they face some difficulty or setback and their spirits waver, after struggling but never giving up they stand back stronger than ever before. The protagonist's passion is moving, his love for his goal, friends, and his beloved Pokemons and his dedication, hardworking attitude, and most importantly his resolve to never give up and push forward through the pain, and suffering was a fuel to my soul to me never giving in or deem myself inferior in my agony but just a work in progress who can one day shake the world. Their not-so-smooth sailing journey gave me comfort in my own turbulent world. Their admirable efforts to prevail and be the one at the pinnacle of their potential were more encouraging than any other TED talk I've ever received. 

But like a story is never completed without an antagonist, my this little escapade was continuously hindered by none other than my own mother and sister. They said you should not be watching those violent shows that only teach you how to fight and are meant for boys. They always say that whenever I used to watch it. It exasperated me that my only escape was being obstructed on some ridiculous basis as that. Now even cartoons meant for kids are being categorised into not for boys and not for girls. This was beyond my comprehension at that time. I only wanted to watch a show meant for boys, is this too much too ask? I suppose that was. But I wasn't getting down with such a lame excuse for a reason. So I stubbornly kept watching despite their incessant nagging and one day they accepted me. But that wasn't my goal to make them accept me but to change their mind. 

Changing someone's thinking and the ideals and stereotypes drilled into their minds from their immature times to mature ones can be as tough as moving a mountain. But I had something to prove and t like the protagonist I'm not stepping down from my goal. So from that point on till today, I'm honing myself to contradict their frame of mind and congratulate yours truly, that's me, your writer is halfway done. 

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