The story of Jasmine (name changed) is the story of my friend. We grew up together, went to school same time, and she lives in Delhi with her daughter. What she went through in life and what she achieved is very remarkable. I would like women in particular get strength and courage to face what she went through in life. Prof. Teresa Antony, NY)
Jasmine (Prof. Teresa Antony, NY)
Mary and George were a happily married couple, God fearing, devoted to their children and extended family. George was a successful businessman. His employees loved him .George`s birthday was a big celebration in the office and his employees considered a privilege to work for him because he was a generous boss for all his employees. His first born daughter Leela was married off at a very young age of sixteen. His three sons were in boarding school in the sixth fourth and second grades. George missed his children and once a month he will visit the kids. He pined for a little daughter. Every evening after early dinner Mary and George will go to their backyard where there were beautiful fragrant flowers like Jasmine, gardenia and varieties of roses. Mary and George will sit in a big swing and will listen to the news on the radio and then listen to the classical music broadcasting from All India radio station. George will ask Mary “ When are we going to have a little girl and Mary will answer if God is willing we will have a girl very soon. One evening when they were sitting on the swing he embraced Mary and felt a little movement in her belly. George asked” is it real?”. Mary answered I was waiting for an auspicious moment to tell you after our evening prayers. George was overjoyed and kissed his wife. He went inside into the house opened his safe and brought a beautiful coral chain thread in gold with a matching earing presented them to his wife . Mary was very happy. The next day even though it was not a Sunday they both went to church, thanked God for this great blessing and put Rs 100 in the poor box. Every evening George will put his palm on Mary”s belly and wait for babys movement. When Mary was about to deliver their favorite midwife came early to the house and prepared Mary for the delivery. The midwife was their good friend who had helped Mary deliver her other children.
George was so excited when miss Ivy told him that it is a beautiful girl weighed six pounds and two ounzes and well formed , already announcing her entrance to the world with a loud cry. After cleaning the baby Miss Ivy brought the baby wrapped in a silk blanket and presented her to the proud father. George kissed the baby and asked his wife whether he can call her JASMINE. Mary liked the name and approved his selection of the name. George brought the baby to Mary and helped her to nurse the baby.
The news spread in the neighborhood and every morning women after attending the mass will visit the new born and if they were nursing mothers will ask Mary whether they can nurse Jasmine . Jasmine was
Was a very happy baby . Her brothers doted on her when the summer holidays in their home. Jasmine was the apple of her father `s eye. Family, friends and neighbors will drop by into George`s house under some pretext just to play with Jasmine. Jasmine was a smart girl and she learned many songs that her father taught and was anxious to dance for her father with her jingling anklet as soon as he came home from work. When she was three years old she knew the alphabet, many songs byheart and could count from one to hundred without anybodys help. So her father decided to put her in Kindergarten class. At that time there were no rules that kids have to be five years to be registered in school. Since Jasmine was tall, beautiful and smart, the nuns in Sacred Heart Convent high school in Trichur district, bent some rules and entered her in the kindergarten class. Jasmin excelled herself not only in her studies, but also in sports , dancing and theater. During the anniversary of the Sacred hearts Convent High School Jasmine is always the stock character of St Joseph in the Holy Family depiction. With st Joseph staff and his made up white beard, Jasmin looked every inch like the typical st.Joseph looking fondly at mother Mary and Baby Jesus. AS the saying goes jasmine blossomed into a beautiful and accomplished girl .At the tender age of fifteen , to the pleasant surprise of her parents, family, teachers and friends Jasmin
received the high School diploma. One thing that characterized Jasmin`s nature was that she was fearless in pointing the drawbacks of her family when ever she saw discrimination or misbehavior towards the less fortunate people in her family for community. For a girl of fifteen that was a rare quality we seldom find these days
to be continued