It was a Women's Day surprise from the apartment association, for residents of each flat in the complex. A very heartwarming and thoughtful gesture.
Women, once considered very different from men and therefore segregated, relegated and sidelined, have come a long way, though there is quite a distance still to traverse.
The gender barrier, once very thick and inflexible, has blurred quite a lot, though it hasn't vanished altogether.
A person's gender was once a significant determinant, but that's no longer the case. In many situations, it doesn't matter whether a person is a man or a woman.
This day, March 8, the International Women's Day, celebrates the achievements of women, the triumph of their individuality and abilities over gender stereotyping.
This is not to say it's all hunky-dory for women. The day is also a reminder of new issues that have come in the wake of the evolution.
We have many situations, wherein gender doesn't matter, but at the same time, it does matter too.
It might be a 'unisex world', where men and women work, play and live together, but women need their space. The key is one's ability to recognise and respect a person's individuality, of which gender is an important component.
To all the women out there, go out, enjoy! The world is yours!