"Amma!!Can I take all of these? My friends will be waiting for it when I join back at school", said little Akshara with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Not only these, I'll give you even more laddoos. You take along for all your friends and neighbors as well. Akshara's Amma isn't an old lady yet!", said Amma cajoling her grand daughter with affection. "The only condition is that you will not tell your father that all the boxes have laddoos in them. He gets cranky about the weight of luggage. I don't understand Bitiya... what problem does this aeroplane have with my laddoos! And you can always give away a laddoo or two to the Pilot Babu and he will take care. Here in the village and even when I go to the city, all babus do my work for these laddoos...", said Amma thoughtfully.
At the age of 73, she is still an epitome of energy and positive attitude. Although she has hardly seen life outside her small village but she speaks of wisdom that her co-villagers fail to understand. Some ten years back, when Raghav, Akshara's father, announced that he wanted to marry Manjari, a girl of her choice who belonged to a different caste, Amma agreed despite of her society calling it the end of her relationship with them. She stood strong to support her son's happiness and Raghav and Manjari never let her down.
With time, Amma's society was proved wrong when twice an year, Raghav and his wife visited her in the village and even took her along in an aeroplane. Amma remembers how she was treated with garlands when she came back on an aeroplane. For months, the story of aeroplane was the hottest topic anybody could think of in the village.
"Ammaji! you are now a celebrity in the village. After all, you have flown in an aeroplane. This time when some netaji visits our place, you should welcome them. They too should know the standard of our village", said the Panchayat Mukhiya twisting his moustaches with pride while nodding his head expecting appreciation from onlookers.
Amma knew the Mukhiya was not a man of his principles. He was an absolutely sugar coated guy who could change his stand in fraction of seconds. Although Amma believed in letting things go but Mukhiya did not happen to be in the list and Amma said sarcastically,"Which standards are you talking about Mukhiyaji? You still announce punishment for the children who decide to marry someone of their own choice. Had Raghav not been so educated and in a powerful position with the Government of our country, you would have not spared me, either". Mukhiya was surprised with Amma's words but did not know how to react. "Amm...ammmaa jee! What are you saying? I am here to look after your welfare", said Mukhiya with his cunning smile that spoke volume about his personality.
"Let it be Mukhiyaji... everybody knows who announced the boycott of Shanti's family after she married a lower caste boy from city. I know, nobody speaks about these things in public. It isn't that they don't care, but they are afraid of you and your power. I am not! Look at my grand daughter. There are so many girls like her who are born in our village but are thrown away or killed even before they are born by your doctors in the Primary Health Centre", as Amma went on, the villagers had already gathered around both of them and stood listening to all that was never talked about in their village. As they stood together, they felt a sense of togetherness for a cause. A cause that was their very own. A cause in which they believed and always wanted to stand up for it.
As the noon descended and the evening took over, petromax lights lightened up all the houses. As Amma moved inside her house, she felt a sense of pride within. She hugged Akshara tight and felt the joy of standing up for what she believed in.
Just then, some neighbors came over to her place. "Ammaji! you are the real hero for us. Had you not been, nobody had the courage to speak up on Mukhiya's face. We have had enough and it's time we also get along with the progressive world. Unless we decide to progress and create better future for ourselves and our children, no one else can help.. we are with you Ammaji..please guide us!", and Amma stood up in tears. Today, she felt like she was responsible for carving the future of hundreds of Raghavs... and she surely would!
