India, Feb. 15 -- "Laju bete, a woman's life is full of pain. It's just the beginning."

My mother was a simple woman, not a philosopher. That's why when she said this to me when I complained about period pain at the age of fifteen, her words stuck with me.

Even if she had never said that, witnessing her life was a cautionary tale in itself. She was what you call a 'karma yogi'-single-handedly serving a joint family consisting of four children, two old in-laws, and four of my father's unmarried sisters and one unmarried brother.

I remember being scared of growing up, getting married, and reducing my life to serving a house full of dependents.

Those were the times when servants were not heard of. Or an occasional housemaid to help with ...