Life has strange ways of springing surprises; often such unexpected turn of events compel us to take a closer look at ourselves, at what we have lived for and how; just to find answers for some irrelevant questions of present. Questions, which trigger a series of thoughts; connecting us to the days gone by. That is precisely what she felt at that moment. She wondered how the little girl could ask a question of such depth. Her silence was broken by the timid voice of her niece again, "Tell me aunty, why do girls have to bear so much pain inside and outside?"
It was an innocent question yet she wondered what answer she could provide to the girl as her little fingers moved over the lines that she read from the newspaper ‘Young girl, aged 10, brutally murdered after being raped’ and her curious face gazed at the woman who she relied on for giving her the answer that she wanted the most.

*************************************************************************************

At this very moment an incident from her past filled her. Somewhere back in her childhood, she had come back home from school one day, with a question in her mind. A question that had made her think intently, as to why she was different from others. She had headed straight towards the one woman who could give her all the answers that she sought, back then. And she did not even have to explain her dilemma, for her mother could already see that something disturbed her little daughter.

"What is it my dear?"
"Mom, what are you afraid of, the most in this world?"
"Why are you asking this question suddenly?"
"No, mom. First tell me what are you afraid of in this world?"
"Watching my little angel being afraid of doubts."

"Mom! I mean the things, objects?"
"There is nothing that is actually scary, is there?"
She seemed contented with the reply. She had always been taught that nothing in the world was scary and one could easily win over one's fears.
"Now tell me what happened in school that brought up this question?"
"Today our Moral Science teacher, Mrs. Matthews, asked us the same question."
"And?"
"Everybody gave an answer that was about a thing or a being. Somebody was afraid of a lizard, others of darkness or water or height, or of some elders, or even of ghosts! But mom, there are no ghosts, isn't it? And lizards, darkness, or anything is not something we should be afraid of, isn't it mom?"
"Of course my girl, that’s correct. These are not to be afraid of. You are a brave girl, isn't it? And there are no ghosts. So what did you say?"
"I did not know what I am afraid of. I couldn't think of anything. Then I thought of you. I can't think of being without you mom, or without dad, or without people who love me. I told her that I am afraid of losing my loved ones."
She paused and looked at her mother, who smiled at her lovingly.
"But everybody in the class thought that I lied to them because they think I should be afraid of something around me. Nobody believed that I am not. I am not scared of ghosts, height, water, speed, darkness, lizards, insects, dogs, and animals…just nothing. I said the truth."
"I believe you my dear. And you are absolutely right. These things are not to be afraid of. We can always win over them".
She had felt contented with the reply. At least her mother had agreed and that was all that mattered. She had asked again.
"But mom, is that weird that I am afraid only of losing my loved ones? Should I try not to think about this fear? Is it stupid?"
Her mother had given her the most unforgettable reply, "It is natural and it is good that you have a fear of something to be actually afraid about. Never fear to think about your fears. The more you think, the more you will get to know that there is nothing that you can't win over. And the more you will realize that you are strong, very strong. God has made you a girl. And girls are the strongest beings you know. It is not stupid. And one day, you will know that you can overcome this fear too. Girls are made to go through everything that strengthens them. But till then, it is good to accept your fear. You are a very brave girl I know."
"Strong? But mom Anshu always says that he is stronger than me."
"Oh, come on my dear. He is still a kid", and they had winked at each other.

Ever since that day, she had come to realize it every second that girls are stronger than they seem to be. And with her own experiences, she had also realized that her fear of losing her loved ones was the only fear that was worth it. She was really not afraid of anything else in this world. She had seen herself grow as a woman of strength and each day she had discovered another aspect of her strengths. In fact, eventually facing the fear of losing the ones she loved, be it some of her good friends or even being in love, she had seen people walk away or people she knew and loved, who had passed away; she eventually realized that the physical pain that nature had handed down to women only added in making them stronger emotionally and mentally. Girls had the power to face anything, emotional breakdowns, pain, and physical stress and yet they recollect their souls and face the world again with a smile, emerging stronger than before. Irrespective of what they go through, they never complained. She had got to know that those fears remained only till the time she was afraid of them. And then those fears would melt away and her beliefs would bring strength and happiness to her being. She had seen herself grow each day.

*************************************************************************************

Today it did not seem surprising to her when she heard a similar question from her niece after 19 years. It was her turn to answer and nurture the little mind and help her niece to live fearlessly, believe in herself and value high morals. 

"..........and somewhere inside, the people in this world agree that we girls are strong; very strong. God has made us that way. And the ones who make us test our patience or strength are the ones who are weak, because they can't judge and rule their desires, because they don't value our blessings, because they don't realize our worth and the sufferings we undergo when we are connected with them, when we bring them to this world and then nurture their lives. We keep walking with that strength and faith to nourish the lives around us in every form that we live, be it as a sister, a daughter, a wife, a mother, a teacher, a sibling, a friend or a soul mate. We take everything that they have to give us or that life brings for us, even if it is something that hurts us because we are more mature and stronger than they can ever imagine. We never give up because we have a fire inside us; to struggle till it takes all of what we have. They are very weak and give in to the world around them, but we don't. That is why we hear something like this every day. It is those devils who are weak. Didn't you read this completely? Who do you think was stronger?"
She got her reply with a genuine smile. 
"So are we strong enough not to be afraid of them my dear?"
"Yes aunty. We are girls", she gave a confident reply. 
And in the end, she knew she had given an answer which had made the little girl happy and contented. And she also knew why she was different from others like her. In her childhood, she had seen her own self and now she knew she had created one more girl like her.