I am P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S…

December 9th, 2009

Last weekend I finally saw the new movie Precious.. The movie was amazing, and left quite an impression on me.. So much that I couldn’t get it out of my mind for hours after watching it, and had to distract myself by reading me some Twilight Eclipse.. At least those monsters were fictional and I could feel better about never running into them, but the monsters in “Precious” were so real that I dreamt of them 2 nights in a row.. I think it is kind of making me uncomfortable right now thinking about it but I really want to write this..

The monsters I talk about were the parents of this 16-year old girl named Precious. Her own father had been molesting/raping her since she was 3 years old, and now she was pregnant with her 2nd child by her own father. Her mother was the most selfish person I have ever come across because she allowed all that to happen only because she didn’t want “her man” to leave.. She lived on welfare which included her daughter Precious, and her down-syndrome granddaughter who didn’t even live with them. She hated Precious and abused her verbally and physically every single day because she was mad that “her man” didn’t love her anymore because of Precious. The most absurd and twisted reason ever. This woman suffered with such insecurity that she never left her house, and just sat home all day watching TV and eating. She forced Precious to eat more and more so that she would be fat and “her man” wouldn’t find her attractive anymore..

Have you guys had enough? I have.. I can’t write anymore but I do want to say that I have never known anyone even close to this woman. Comparing her to my own mother is quite ridiculous but I have been thinking about this since I watched the movie. The circumstances being quite similar, my mother never relied on charity, and made selfless and intelligent choices for both my brother and I. She moved to Delhi after my Dad’s death with not much to support us, started a new life, and gave us the best upbringing I could ask for. In a teacher’s income, she gave Brij and I everything we could have ever asked for. Maybe not all the super luxuries that some of my wealthy schoolmates enjoyed.. But, much more than you could imagine.. The best clothes, the best knowledge, the best etiquette, and the best discipline – to make us who we are today. She made another very selfless decision to come to the US at the age of 45 and get another Masters degree to support our dreams and goals. Today when I look at where I have come and what I have achieved, I know I could have never done this without her making those selfless choices. When I look at all she did for us compared to Precious’ mom, I do really think of myself as the most fortunate ever. I really am PRECIOUS.

Thanks Maa..

Entry Filed under: Family,Movies/Music,Personal,Society