On The Other End Of The Sword I Story By Arika,11,Faridabad

On The Other End Of The Sword

I am perched on the edge of my car with no idea of what the future holds. I just witnessed a village where a girl watched me with envious eyes. She was holding buckets of water and was clearly very tired. As the car slowed, I witnessed the inside of her little hut. Her brothers were sitting on the bed and watching TV. They were clearly having a blast, and all the hard work and toil was being done by the girl. I had always heard about gender discrimination, but this was the first time I had witnessed it so closely.

A black leotard or a strong sword?

My mother’s voice interrupted my thoughts. As the car sped up, I was filled with anguish

with no idea about what to do next.

“Arika, are you sure about this?” asked my mother in a very concerned tone. 

“I understand it’s never easy to change a sport you’ve played for over six years! We can always go back to gymnastics,” she said in an assuring tone.

Just then, I was transported to the day I had to decide between fencing and gymnastics for my school sport. This is when my willpower was tested. As I went back to my gymnastics days, I remember the feeling of pulling off a perfect landing after jumping off the springboard. It’s going to stay with me for a lifetime. But this wasn’t just about the perfect land, it was about my future sport.

“Mom,” I spoke softly. “I don’t know, but I will try to figure it out alone. Whichever path I choose, I’ll walk it with everything I have got. I know gymnastics is a sport of flexibility, balance, and coordination. I know a lot of moves like cartwheels, handstands, and whatnot. But now, something inside me is redirecting me towards something else, and that’s fencing. It is a fast-paced, strategic combat sport that demands physical agility, mental sharpness, and focus. I have made my final choice and chosen fencing as my sport for day, night and the rest of my life. So, let’s dedicate ourselves to it and continue it as my long, lifetime sport! It has taught me much discipline, focus, and perseverance. It has been a place where I learnt to push through physical pain, stop my mental thoughts, and never settle for anything less than my best. It’s not only about perfecting my moves but also about anticipating the next move, reading the opponent, and reacting with speed, precisand strategy. It’s both mental and physical. That means it’s double the effort, and I’m willing to give it my all,”

3 Years Later

“Mom! Mom!” I called as I ran to the edge of the indoor stadium. I was anxious to remove my uniform and was drenched in beads of perspiration.

“Yes, darling, here I am,” responded my mother, smiling at me.

“Listen to what happened. I won the first, second, and final medal matches. The score went from 1 to 2, then 3. It went on till fourteen, but I unfortunately lost by one point,”

“That’s okay, darling; think about the people who lost in the first match. You are a winner in my eyes,”

“So let’s have a party for all my wins, Mom!”

“Sure, why not?”

As we drove to my favourite restaurant, I stared out the window, lost in thought. After a few moments of silence, I finally asked, “Hey, Mom, can I ask you something? Am I fortunate?” 

My mother smiled at me warmly. “Yes, you are a very fortunate child,” she replied, her tone light. “Don’t you think it’s lucky for a child to go to nationals?” She answered. But I wasn’t asking about that. I rested my head against the window, thinking carefully before speaking again. “No, Mom, not like that. I mean. Is it that I’m too privileged? Some girls don’t even get the chance to play sports.”

My mother asked in confusion, her brow in a puzzle. “What are you talking about? Isn’t your gym teacher letting you play? I’ll talk to him myself if that’s the case.

I shook my head, still still in despair. 

“No, it’s not about that. It’s about the girls who grow up in places where they don’t have the opportunity. In communities where things don’t change, sports aren’t an option. What about them? Do they sit at home and never experience what I do?” I felt a knot in my heart, struggling with the unfairness of it all, knowing that my privileged life could never be their reality.

I knew I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play sports. Still, many underprivileged girls face barriers like discrimination, lack of resources, and societal expectations that can go up to any extent to prevent them from participating. Without access to sports, they miss out on the confidence, teamwork, and life skills that come with it. While I had the privilege to play, I feel it’s essential to help create opportunities for all girls to experience these benefits!

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