Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

Women games and first meeting

To this he asked me, "How do you know my son? Is he your classmate? How is he in the class?"

Such a curious father he is. All of us started walking inside the campus. "Yes Sir, we are classmates. Well, he is extremely quiet in class. I think initially he used to feel a little insecure in this new environment. But now, he has some good friends. I suppose he is comfortable now."

He nodded his head as if I was explaining some complicated theory to him. "You said your name is Kayal, if you don't mind can you tell me to which religion do you belong to? I know it's a personal question. But, what to say I am just curious to know to which religion and caste does the name Kayal fit into?"

People are so nosy. Just then Aakash came running in front of me. "Kayal, good that I saw you."

" What's it Aakash?"

He was still panting and walking along with us. "Do you remember reading any recent articles about 'Gender Equality in Government Structure'?"

"Yes, go to library and check Political Studies Journal. I think it's a March issue with a green cover. There is a wonderful article with the title saying something like, Beyond Quotas, promoting Gender Equality."

"Thanks Kayal. Bye."

"Bye Aakash." Okay time to face the world. Salim's father was walking with me with an expression which clearly meant that he was waiting for my answer. "Sir, I am anti- religious. I don't belong to any religion." Thankfully, I didn't sound rude this time. I am normally little rude with people who ask me about my religion.

He gave me a surprised look. "You mean you are an atheist".

"No Sir. I believe in God. But I don't believe in religion. My God doesn't have a name, form, shape, home or a book. My God resides in my heart and I try to see God in each and every person I see".

Now I saw Muskaan coming towards me with her father. She offered me a chocolate because it seems she got second prize in a Rhymes Recital Competition. Her father thanked me yesterday. Even though she was a little off the mark with writing, she was amazing with her memory power. So, I taught her a simple rhyme for the competition. I hugged the little girl and kissed her cheeks. She gave me a grin and started speaking, "Thank you so much Didi(Elder sister)."

Her father who was a gardener in our campus also thanked me. "Thank you so much Beta(Son, used for daughters as well). Thank you for helping her out in her studies."

I smiled at him, "No need to say thanks Uncle. She is an intelligent girl."

I turned towards Muskaan, "See you tomorrow Beta." She waved me a bye and left with her father.

Salim's father was still giving me a probing look. "Kayal, now I am extremely curious. Why do you have to be anti religious?"

He is asking too many questions for a person whom I just met ten minutes back. "Sir, I believe in this world religion has done more harm than good. It has divided more people than united. If not for religion this world would have been a better place to live in. We need to fear God, but not religion. Only when we belong to a religion we get this feeling that we are better than the other person because we belong to this religion and we follow this faith. People tend to have this superiority complex which normally people mistake as simple pride in religion. People fight to protect it, try to establish its supremacy, and then battle to spread it. So, I think that answers your question. I don't want to belong to any religion. For me religion is like a layer of clothing which I don't need. I want to respect and love people for what they are and not for their clothes. I mean the religion to which they belong to".