This one is for my .NET Transition project team mates.....
A common score, but 41 bull's eye hits. That is what made a difference. To make Tejaswini Sawant a winner in 2010 World shooting Championship. "Master class Tejaswini!", I wished her in my heart, truly elated. The first woman winner in world shooting games. A moment for pride for the women community. And... my mind drifts to 3rd of March this year...yes, it was indeed the Women's day.
A steaming cup of tea added a sparkle to the mundane morning. The RJ's on FM seemed more excited calling women & celebrities in all parts of the country, wishing them a Happy Women's day. Waiting for the RJ to tune in a beautiful song, I picked up the English newspaper. The editor too managed to carve out a piece in honor of women. Unmoved, I flipped onto to the Sports page, my favorite and checked out the news. The tea reached at bottom signaling it was time to get ready for office.
Wednesdays, mid-week, are too consuming at work. The big pile of emails, never ending status report. And meetings are almost a daily ritual . Thankfully, the day was still colorful with many ladies clad in sarees. A twosome with sublime combination; cream with lemon yellow border, black with a light brown border, one wrapped in bandhni, reminding of Gujarat. Bright colors extended by others to striped orange, and shining blue. They were the professional divas of my team!
"Satya" , someone called. It was late afternoon. "Please come to the breakout area". And he called all the members of our team. One by one everyone gathered there looking at each other for hints of the move. The breakout area, is, as you would have guessed, "A place to chill out when you are worked out". A small area, of size of a room, with fours tables. One side was a glass wall. The ambience was bright with yellow tables and red chairs. Aligned with the radiant sarees. There was no clue yet, of what was to happen.
All the ladies were asked to surround a table while all men stood opposite to it. The men definitely knew what it was, as they carried a mysterious smile. One of them then placed a white box on the table. It took no time to guess that it was a cake. So most probably it was someone's birthday, I guessed. But to my surprise...sorry... to all ladies' surprise, the celebration was for the ladies indeed! After all it was Our Day! The Women's day!
The team gave me privilege to cut the cake, Thank you all , and the liveliness of the room was intensified with joyful claps and smiles on faces of women, still in awe of what had just happened. Some men captured the moment in their cameras. They seemed happy too celebrating for female colleagues. But, something on their faces said the party was still not over. What came in later was a bigger box, heavy as a ton of bricks. "What is in there ?" I questioned, while being pushed down by the weight. The voices poured with guesses, as I laid it on the table and started unwrapping. All the eyes were on the box. More small boxes were discovered and by this time the ladies, couldn't hold onto their patience and one by one they came and started opening the smaller boxes. "Wow, it’s so beautiful!", some of us said as a miniature statue of woman came out. She was looking as a princess with a red rose pinned up in the black hair and a pretty sari. There was one such replica for each of the women in the team. Some dressed up in beautiful white gown , some in sari. The other boxes revealed tiny jewellery boxes, ceramic off-white decorated in golden, giving it a classy look.
The men really knew the act of pleasing women! We collected all our gifts, some of us even exchanged for favorite color.
Stumped, overwhelmed, stunned...no words could describe what I felt within. There are days declared in honor of father, mother, teacher, children and so on. I never celebrate these days, except that when I was in school, I had a taste of Children's day celebration. Mother is always very special. One may thank his mother on Mother's day for all that she has showered. But, it is our actions, karma in daily life, every moment, that truly show how much we admire, care and love these special people. I am indeed very proud to be a woman. However, Women's day, never appealed to me. Till this year. This time, the men in my team, my colleagues, made me see the other side.
That, admiration should not be concealed.
Our fast paced lives may not allow us time to acknowledge others,
So, days like these are created to bring joy , by expression
To all those whom you revere; family, friends and colleagues
That, simple pleasures should be cherished. Truly, deeply.
Thank you Gentlemen, for making it so marvelous, so perfect!!
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