Upon her birth, Khushi's mother had to leave Khushi in a temple because her husband and in-laws were against having a daughter and they wanted a son.
Dayabhabhi finds her in the temple and brings her home. Dayabhabhi asks Jethabhai to get all the members gathered at their house. As soon as all the members get there, Dayabhabhi tells them about how she found her and that they need to find out who her mother is and get her back to her mother.
After many tries and going to many places, they find her mother, but her mother, Surbhiben, tells the Gokuldham Society members that she can't take her back and that she was left at the temple because of a helplessness.
To find out her helplessness, Bhidebhai and Madhavibhabhi, in disguise, go to her house and are unable to find out, but they do find out that Surbhiben has an older daughter whose name is Suhani. They call Jethabhai and Dayabhabhi on their way back and tell them so. Dayabhabhi says that they are going to have to call Surbhiben to their house somehow in order to find out. They are told to come back to the society. Dayabhabhi gets an idea and asks Tapu and Sonu to make a card from Khushi's perspective and asks her mother to come to the society.
A few hours later, when Surbhiben comes to Dayabhabhi's house, she is asked what her helplessness is to have to leave her precious daughter at the temple. Surbhiben tells everyone that her in-laws and husband wanted a son because they think daughters are useless and are burdens; that's why she had to leave her daughter in the temple. The members are disgusted with their mindset and vow to change their thought and mindset and tells Surbhiben not to worry because they will surely succeed and give justice to both of her daughters.
After coming up with a plan, Babita, Anjalibhabhi, Popatbhai, and Sodhibhai to go Surbhiben's and tell her family that she lied to them, and that she gave birth to a son, not daughter. Upon hearing this, they get mad at Surbhiben and come to GS with them. Surbhiben brings Khushi down to compound a few minutes after they arrive, but she tells her husband that he has to leave his parents if he wants his "son". Her husband makes up his mind and says that he will leave his parents in order to get his "son". Suhani asks her dad, "who will take care of dada-dadi and give them their meds if we leave them?"
In the meanwhile, the Gokuldham Society members tell Shekhar (Surbhiben's husband) that his "son" is in fact a daughter.
Surbhiben's in-laws were in shock and instantly realized their mistake. They realize that they were wrong about daughters and they say that in order to correct their mistake of giving the wrong mindset about daughters to Shekhar, they will live happily with Surbhiben and her daughters and give them the love and respect that they deserve.
Shekhar and his parents apologize to Surbhiben and all the GS members for their wrong thinking, take Surbhiben and her daughters, and go home.
So in this way, the Gokuldham Society members gave justice to Surbhiben, Suhani, and Khushi.
***Author's Note: This story came from the idea of looking for Sita after she was abducted by Ravana. This story also involves the "beti bachao, beti padhao" (save daughters, let them study) campaign set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago. Daughters have just as much right to live and study as sons do. They are also capable of accomplishing anything in the world. It was initiated to decrease, reduce, and diminish female foeticide.***
Click here for a reading guide to Sister Nivedita's Ramayana
Dayabhabhi finds her in the temple and brings her home. Dayabhabhi asks Jethabhai to get all the members gathered at their house. As soon as all the members get there, Dayabhabhi tells them about how she found her and that they need to find out who her mother is and get her back to her mother.
After many tries and going to many places, they find her mother, but her mother, Surbhiben, tells the Gokuldham Society members that she can't take her back and that she was left at the temple because of a helplessness.
To find out her helplessness, Bhidebhai and Madhavibhabhi, in disguise, go to her house and are unable to find out, but they do find out that Surbhiben has an older daughter whose name is Suhani. They call Jethabhai and Dayabhabhi on their way back and tell them so. Dayabhabhi says that they are going to have to call Surbhiben to their house somehow in order to find out. They are told to come back to the society. Dayabhabhi gets an idea and asks Tapu and Sonu to make a card from Khushi's perspective and asks her mother to come to the society.
A few hours later, when Surbhiben comes to Dayabhabhi's house, she is asked what her helplessness is to have to leave her precious daughter at the temple. Surbhiben tells everyone that her in-laws and husband wanted a son because they think daughters are useless and are burdens; that's why she had to leave her daughter in the temple. The members are disgusted with their mindset and vow to change their thought and mindset and tells Surbhiben not to worry because they will surely succeed and give justice to both of her daughters.
After coming up with a plan, Babita, Anjalibhabhi, Popatbhai, and Sodhibhai to go Surbhiben's and tell her family that she lied to them, and that she gave birth to a son, not daughter. Upon hearing this, they get mad at Surbhiben and come to GS with them. Surbhiben brings Khushi down to compound a few minutes after they arrive, but she tells her husband that he has to leave his parents if he wants his "son". Her husband makes up his mind and says that he will leave his parents in order to get his "son". Suhani asks her dad, "who will take care of dada-dadi and give them their meds if we leave them?"
In the meanwhile, the Gokuldham Society members tell Shekhar (Surbhiben's husband) that his "son" is in fact a daughter.
Surbhiben's in-laws were in shock and instantly realized their mistake. They realize that they were wrong about daughters and they say that in order to correct their mistake of giving the wrong mindset about daughters to Shekhar, they will live happily with Surbhiben and her daughters and give them the love and respect that they deserve.
Shekhar and his parents apologize to Surbhiben and all the GS members for their wrong thinking, take Surbhiben and her daughters, and go home.
So in this way, the Gokuldham Society members gave justice to Surbhiben, Suhani, and Khushi.
***Author's Note: This story came from the idea of looking for Sita after she was abducted by Ravana. This story also involves the "beti bachao, beti padhao" (save daughters, let them study) campaign set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago. Daughters have just as much right to live and study as sons do. They are also capable of accomplishing anything in the world. It was initiated to decrease, reduce, and diminish female foeticide.***
Click here for a reading guide to Sister Nivedita's Ramayana
Here's Khushi with Dayabhabhi, Jethabhai, and Bapuji. Isn't she just adorable?
Source: (Google Images)
Wow! It is amazing you tackle on such an issue in your story and that is about the superficial view on gender or stereotype in that general. Since this happens a lot in my native country as well, I am really amaze that you also points out this problem in your story :) Even though there is not much dialogues in this story, but the details and the story telling of the event make up for it. I am glad Khushi gets her justice! Good job on writing this.
ReplyDeleteGood story that you wrote. Do you like to read / write a lot? What inspired you to write this? I like how the story flows and paragraphing definatelty makes it easier to read and follow. I agree with Vy - introducing a form of dialogue in your story might make it flow a bit better. Overall you did really good!
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