What women want? | Padmanabh Sathe

What women want?

Here is a fable from western mythology.

King Arthur was a legendary king of Britain who was wise and fair. He knew answers of all questions. People came from far and wide with their difficulties and King solved all their problems.

Once a neighbouring king Andrew defeated him in a long drawn war and imprisoned him. King Andrew knew that King Arthur has answer for every question.

King Andrew called King Arthur in his palace and agreed to release him and his kingdom if he answered one question. The question was ‘what women want’. The answer should be applicable to all women.

King Arthur asked for two days to get the answer. King Andrew agreed and released him for just two days. King Arthur went to all women he knew starting from his queen, his princess and his servants and women from his kingdom.

Each woman gave a different answer. Some wanted their husband to give up drinking while some wanted to marry their daughters in rich homes. Some wanted family loan be repaid. Some wanted divorce while some wanted higher education. King was frustrated.

He did not have a universal answer. He called his cabinet in evening and sought their advice. His minister told the king of a witch who lives in a nearby jungle and she knows all answers. The king decided to approach the witch for an answer.

He met the witch and witch smiled. She said “I know the answer. But I will tell you only if you promise to marry me”. The King agreed. He had no option. The answer was ‘a woman wants to take all decisions about her life herself’. She does not want someone else to take decision for her.

King Arthur was very happy and he told the answer to King Andrew. As promised, King Andrew freed King Arthur and returned his kingdom.

King Arthur married the witch. As soon as he married, the witch turned into a beautiful princess. But there was a catch. The witch said, I will be a princess for 12 hours and a witch for 12 hours everyday. Witch asked King to chose which 12 hours he wants her as a princess and the rest as a witch.

It was a difficult choice. King quickly replied, “I want you to take the decision yourself”. Witch was very happy at king’s answer. She decided to remain a princess for all 24 hours. Because King had learnt what a woman wants.

Any woman becomes a princess if you allow her to take her own decisions. Any woman can turn a witch if you rob her of her freedom.

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About the Author:

Padmanabh Sathe is retired scientist from the National Institute of Oceanography. He worked on marine Remote Sensing. He has been a visiting faculty to many colleges and universities. He is a distinguished educator with multi-faceted knowledge and an immense logical mind..