"Equity Vs Equality"

"Why are you being like that, why can't you let me have my own freedom?"

"Because as a Man of this household, I should be the one responsible for everything."

I can hear their noises from the outside of my room, so I went directly into the mull post of the door and tilted a little bit while reaching for the outer knob. I rotate it, only to find out that they're fighting that makes their noises audible on the other side of the wall

"May I know the reasons behind your fight? Maybe, I can resolve it" Their faces turned down

Their expressions was so out of character, so far from what i knew of them, they just stared at me open mouthed. My brain formulated no thoughts other than to register that they we're shocked. Equity closed his mouth, then looked at his toes before glancing back up to catch Equality's eyes

"Mom, Equity didn't want me to go on my own, I have my own path and it doesn't mean that he needs to go also on my path. Yes, his my husband but I wanna explore. I'm a grown up Woman who doesn't need the assistance or companion of any Man around Me." Equality said while getting their way inside my room

"Yes, I know that Women at this times are more equitable and have more access on any opportunities that We, Men have but, all I wanna do is to protect her." Equity responded while getting also his way on my room, There was no heat in his voice, as if his heart beat so steadily, even though he took a different view from Equality. He simply said this was his way of doing things

Their conversation began heating up as if there's a storm inside. I calmed down and motioned my hands in between their angry faces

"Instead of a fist meeting a fist, let that fist instead meet a diffuse cloud of hope, one that enters the fist as "nanoparticles," fixing and mending with empathy and compassion. Argument and confrontation are merely opportunities to learn how to passively heal the monster within. The two of you, come here and sit. I'll tell both of you a story to calm down each of your mouths." I said to them with my ardent voice while patting the sides of my bed

They both went to my bed that I both assigned them to go

"Now, I'll start." I was a story weaver as soon as I began to speak, fantasy worlds spreading from my mind faster than the weeds grew in the springtime

"Way back, 1870's, Girls were taught to cook, to take care of the family, and then married off. Studying was off-limits to girls.

In those times, there lived a girl who's named Margaret. She was a little different. She always had lots of questions in her mind.

When she was little, her mother wanted her to learn cooking.

Margaret asked her mother, “Why should I learn to cook?”

Mother said, “So that you can feed yourself when required.”

Then Margaret said “Fair enough”, and learned to cook.

After some time, her mother wanted to teach her household work.

Then Margaret again asked, “Why?”

Mother said “So that you can be self-dependent.”

Margaret said “Fair enough!”, and she learned the household chores.

Then one day, her parents told her that they will be marrying her off soon.

She asked, “Why?”

“Because all girls get married at this age.” Said the parents

“Everyone does, and so should I? That’s not a good reason. I am not going to marry.”

The girl’s determination surprised her parents. Other parents could have forced the girl into marriage, but her parents didn’t.

So, now the girl had enough time in hands. As her father was a teacher, she joined her father’s academy. There she learned several hymns and their meanings. She asked her questions and learned even more. Soon, she surpassed her father in knowledge.

One day, an invitation arrived. It was from the king. The invitation was for the brightest scholar in the academy. As it happened, the king wanted to compile all the knowledge in the universe into books. To get the inputs, he had invited scholars and philosophers from all over the world.

There was a discussion in the academy about who to send for this conference. After a lot of thought, they all agreed that the girl is the brightest scholar in the academy. So, the girl was sent to the conference.

When the girl reached the conference venue, she was taken aback by the grandeur. She noticed a large number of men, but hardly any women among the delegates.

She climbed the Dias to take her seat. Suddenly, there was huge uproar — people in the audience were staring at her.

“A woman, who thinks she can sit on the scholars’ panel?”

“Preposterous!” Screamed someone.

“Look at her clothes, so provoking. I don’t think she is female of good reputation.” declared another.

“Stop her! It’s a sin against god.”

Everybody looked at the king for a solution.

The king pondered for a moment.

“Girl, there is some misunderstanding. A woman can’t sit on the scholars’ panel, unless she is accompanied by a man.”

“Pardon me, Your Grace! But I was invited to join the discussion.” Said the Girl.

“I don’t remember inviting you.” said the King.

“You sent the invitation for the brightest scholar in my academy. I am the brightest in my academy. On the invitation there was nothing about only male scholars being allowed.” Answered the girl.

The king gave little chuckle.

“You have made a good point. I have no objection.” Said the king.

“But I don’t think a woman can join the discussion.” Murmured one of the women in the audience.

“Why?” Asked the girl.

“You will not feel comfortable around so many men” answered another woman.

“I have no problem — my focus is on my work, not men."

“You don’t have to do this. You are not bad looking, you can marry some wealthy gentleman.” advised one elderly.

The girl ignored him.

“Let us have a discussion. If the scholars have objections, they can debate with her. If she wins, she can join the panel.” Said the king.
Several liked the solution. They were sure that the girl will be humiliated by scholars.

The scholars on the Dias discussed among themselves, and selected an elderly scholar as their representative.

“So, by joining the discussion, what you want to prove? That women are better than men?” Asked the elderly scholar.

“No, sir. I don’t want to prove anything. I am here to join the discussion, to quench my thirst for the knowledge. Like all of you.” Said the girl, fearlessly.

“But greater knowledge is not for women.” Said the elderly scholar.

“I beg your pardon, sir, but why?” Asked the girl.

“Because female intellect is weaker than men.” Said the elderly scholar.

“Says who, sir?”

“It is written in the hymns.”

“May I ask, who wrote those hymns?”Asked the girl.

“The hymns were written by our forefathers.” Said the elderly scholar.

“By forefathers you mean, our male ancestors?” Asked the girl, again.

“Yes, of course. By our male ancestors.” Said the elderly scholar.

“How did our forefathers know that women have weaker intellect?”

“They noticed” said the elderly scholar, irritated.

“But how, my lord? Give me an example, how did they notice?” asked the girl again.

“I don’t remember.” Said the elderly scholar.

“Doesn’t matter. Why don’t any of you scholars ask me questions to prove my weaker intellect.”

Many scholars thought of asking her questions, but feared seeing her immense confidence.

“You ask too many questions, girl!” shouted the elderly scholar. He was furious.

The atmosphere was tense.

“Sir, answer her. Why is a female’s intellect weaker than a male’s?” said the king.

“I need to study, Your Grace, to come up with an example.” Said the elderly scholar.

“Then I can’t stop her from joining the scholars’ panel. She has come here on her own merit. I will allow her to sit on the panel until you come up with a convincing example” said the king.

People were still doubtful about girl’s worthiness. But as the discussion progressed, all doubts vanished.

Days passed. The girl took part in several discussions, asked many questions and answered many others. Other scholars were astonished by her brilliance.

She constructed a book of her own hymns.  She opened an academy for girls. Different people, different stories. But everybody agrees that the girl “who asked why” became the first female scholar.

But many of the male scholars got angry and envied the girl, until one night ridiculous night came and the girl was about to make another hymn when a group of boys held her captive and she got raped also but the saddest part is, her legs we're sliced and pulled out

I was lonely, desperate, and angry. At that moment, I truly understood what it meant to be a Woman. It meant being confronted with every possible kind of
obstacle and discrimination. It meant being told that if you want to race with men, you’d have to do it with your hands and legs cut off. I started to wish I had been born somewhere—anywhere—else." I lastly said while looking both at their faces, The eyes of Margaret shifted to the side again and became glazed with a glassy layer of tears. As she blinked, they dripped from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly in attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from her mouth; my heart sank.

Her lower lip quivered as words slowly made their way out of her mouth. “They’re…” She began, yet what followed was engulfed in the tremors

I can't pull myself to standing, I always can't, yet tears come in such generous streams as I long for a hand to reach down. It's good that I can climb hearing only the echo of my wheelchair, I just think that it would transform to something brighter all the faster in the company of My Daughter and her Husband but it wouldn't

"Equity, you need to trust your Wife. Let her go out and served you. Sameness wouldn't be possible if fairness isn't there. Never deprived her to every privileges" I stroked the back of Equity

"There was a time in my life I expressed my feelings in a true way, but we can't go on like that, right? We can't keep bawling like babies and throwing tantrums like toddlers; we do need to get a grip on our own minds. But there is a balance, a point of virtue, that I went passed so long ago. Every negative emotion is buried before I can even feel it, making me passive and weak. Everyone loves me for my smile and twenty-four-seven happy disposition, meanwhile every other feeling is crammed into my chest. Problem is, that space is getting so full, so much harder to ignore, and the disparity between my outgoing personality and inner pain is so difficult to bare. I wish I'd learnt to get these emotions out instead of bottling them up; there is no "healthy release" when the internal pressure is this high. How do I defuse this bomb without triggering the damage I seek to avoid? Equality, as a wife to Equity, you need to understand him because that will only strengthen your relationship. Both of you needs to work out, as Equity and Equality are both important, live to each of your names." I leaned closer to caress the face of my beautiful daughter, I form my fist into circles. Only to wipe her tears that went rushing down her rosy cheeks

She hugged me "I would never let you down Mama, Margaret."