Maternity cost employment

She was sitting at a corner where light was dim and others could hardly see her face. But I could make out her in deep as she was taking breathe so difficult. Her eyes had concealed a full bucket of grief and anytime that could be spilled.
We both were working in remote Terai region of Nepal with a non government organization working for women’s upliftment. We were recruited at the same day so we were closer than others.
That day was the regular monthly staff meeting. We were pre-informed of the firing of an anonymous staff and that was none other than Jamuna (name changed), revealed during the meeting. As far as I knew, she was honest, hard working and skilled staff. When I was informed about the real cause to get her out from the job I could not stop myself to speak against the supervisor’s decision on that. I never can tolerate any such kind of misconduct and any other discrimination to women. Ultimately I decided to stand up.

I was almost sure that I would not have any support from other staffs though they were women. Nobody could risk the job. This is weakness too, created by dominant to all women. Nonetheless I dared for a good cause, for a serious concern, which would really give me great satisfaction. I decided to go against the biasness.

The cause she was about to be fired was to become pregnant. She herself was too excited to have growing baby inside her. The coordinator (Boss), a narrow minded and cruel hearted, was male and was very prejudiced. He was in 180 degree, and decided to give farewell to Jamuna.

The dark cloud had just covered her face. Jamuna could not speak a single word. My heart melted. I forgot my career and raised the voice definitely against that bad practice. I strongly disagreed on his decision. How could one woman sacrifice her motherhood for carrier? Further to this it was all about woman right. Everybody was watching me with widened eyes with mixed feeling of joyfulness and fear. Jamuna was expressing gratefulness unspoken but clearly in her eyes.

My single voice was just like a drop of water in the ocean but at least I fought what was possible in the scenario. It always makes me happy internally.