A young couple was blessed with a baby girl,
To them, she was as precious as a pearl.
They named her Nandini as she was a lady.

After two years, again came a baby.
But this time, finally, it was a boy,
They could not store their happiness and joy,
They named him Abhijit as he would be victorious,
For they knew that he was a born meritorious.
He was the diamond they had always craved,
He would bring them wealth as everyone said.

Nandini was taught various household chores,
Whereas her brother just opened and closed the doors.
Nandini was fourteen when she got her first period,
Her mum warned her not to talk openly and keep it secret.
Her parents said that she should never drink or smoke,
But Abhijit could since he was a bloke.
When a guy from school dropped her home,
She was beaten black and blue; they took her phone.
People had always made fun of her dark skin,
And had advised her to apply a special fairness cream.

She was meritorious and got a high-paying job,
But her boss condemned her opinion in a “men’s talk”,
Still, she had big dreams and was giving her best,
“It’s time to get her married, “thought the rest.
The groom’s mother said, “Nandini, you’re so ugly!
You should be thankful to be accepted without a dowry.”
Her mother-in-law wanted her to quit her career,
It was time and now she had to become a mother.
Her in-laws forbade her to meet her family and friends,
As she was supposed to serve them till the day ends.

Her husband often slapped her whenever he was overworked,
And on the bed, her consent was never asked.
After gathering a lot of courage, she got divorced,
Her family and all ostracized her, no support was showed.
One day, she got to know that her best friend was raped.
“What was she doing out at night in a short dress? “everyone said.
When she told her maid about her husband touching her without consent,
Her maid replied that it happened every day, she was used to the torment.
Then, the news said that a guy had thrown acid on a girl,
After she had slapped him for continuously harassing her.
She heard her colleagues using foul language for sex workers,
Not knowing about their soul going through so many murders.

The Equal Remuneration Act,1976 aimed to give women their deserved wage,
The Dowry Prevention Act,1961 freed them from a horrible cage,
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,2006 saved their dreams,
The Indian Divorce Act,1969, made them realize what freedom means.
The National Commission of Women’s Act,1990 upgraded their status.
And so many laws were made to prevent all this fuss.

But, are these laws just enough for all women?
Where patriarchy and misogyny are there for certain.
When every parent cherishes equally a girl and boy child’s birth,
Teaches their daughter as well as the son to do the housework,
Considers both of their children worthy of success,
Educates their son to treat his wife well during her period,
Enlightens their children that period can be openly said,
Feels that it’s normal for their daughter to have male friends,
Feels that it’s normal for their daughter to wear clothes as per trends,
They don’t support drinking and smoking,
Irrespective of their son or daughter doing it.
Illuminates their son about treating his wife with love and respect,
And edifies their daughter that to be with the wrong man is incorrect.
Even after marriage, encourages their daughter to work.
And tells their son that household liabilities aren’t to be shirked.
In short, educates their son to respect every female,
And teaches their daughter to stand up against a perverted male,
The home, for both girls and boys, will be such a better place
Where ethics and moral values are not something one can replace.
Now, when every citizen’s eyes look beyond dark and fair,
To search for nothing but inner beauty and care,

When it is normal for boys to do household chores,
When no one hesitates to talk openly about periods,
When a girl’s character isn’t questioned every now and then,
Even if she has more than one male friend.
When even thinking about dowry is considered a crime,
When men accept women in the way they shine,
When a daughter-in-law is forbidden to sacrifice her career,
When every in-law assists her during motherhood instead of creating a barrier,
When a woman leaves her toxic husband and her in-laws,
Her decision is respected and she is accepted with her flaws,
When no citizen can stand a man raising his hand on a woman,
Or any guy rapes or harasses a girl or is in any way inhuman.
When every citizen wants to know a sex worker’s story,
Instead of judging them and creating their own theory,
When every man respects a woman’s “No”,
Sees a woman with respect from head to toe,
When a husband always asks his wife for consent,
And never raises his hand even in an argument.
When a woman walks though the dark streets at night,
The men there, are always there, like a brother by her side.
When every man and woman decide to uplift each other,
And care for everyone like a sister and brother,
Instead of being jealous and putting each other down,
We can work together and achieve the crown,
Let a woman be independent and earn for her family,
And let a man help his wife, mother and sister wholeheartedly,
Together, we can all build a better society,
Where we accept and embrace variety,
Every man and woman shall empower women,
And women will be there for men, that’s certain.

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