"She is as Beautiful as her mother", is such an enthralling figure of speech. And if I may rightfully infer, the word 'beautiful' is strongly bracketed to define a woman's appearance. Having said that, its strange that the word has had been said and heard, mostly outside the nurseries of newborns. The 'baby is beautiful', we say, and gender specification plays no role in putting that phrase forward. But as we grow, the cliche reverberates 'Women are Beautiful' and 'Men are Handsome'. But using it interchangeably is distasteful.
Beauty in modern times, is defined in great deals - Appearance, Soul, Heart or Mind. But the flip side of the coin digs out the aesthetics of beauty from - Hashtags, Filters, Apps with features of enhancing skin tones, textures and many many more.
I believe... Beauty is, to each, its own! No qualms about that.
But what is to be discussed here, is my idea of beauty. To which, I would like to share an experience.
Prologue :
Beauty in modern times, is defined in great deals - Appearance, Soul, Heart or Mind. But the flip side of the coin digs out the aesthetics of beauty from - Hashtags, Filters, Apps with features of enhancing skin tones, textures and many many more.
I believe... Beauty is, to each, its own! No qualms about that.
But what is to be discussed here, is my idea of beauty. To which, I would like to share an experience.
Prologue :
It was the time when upcoming Y2k was a buzz and I was soon to turn 14. So far then, I was the girl sporting a 'mushroom cut hairstyle' and was to be found in the locality wearing bermuda and my brother's T-shirt. The brawls in my teenage were not for the number of levels crossed in online games but were for cricket balls, shuttlecocks, carom strikers, skipping rope, hopscotch and so much so. The nasty fights then, always ended in bruises, pulled out collars and a closing statement from the elderly, "Behave like a girl"! Not surprisingly, I still hold the grudge with few for setting my limits for being a woman. But fortunately, I had that one defending friend, who was always there by my side, guarding me and protecting me. He was unlike others and never defined what my gender roles should be like. And neither did I find anything unusual when he hopped along with me in the squares of hopscotch.
Story:
Year 2002....
A call on BSNL land-line phone...
"Its been long yaar, Want to share something with you"--- said he, the same well wisher from my bermuda wearing days.
"The school Fest is in a month yaar, and that's what keeping me at toes. Will meet you soon"! said the revamped version of me, who's now an attractive, charming and a very popular girl known across many schools!
A month later, just as promised, we met at our usual "adda"(den). I told him of all the hot guys who had approached me during the festival. I talked of how the auditorium crowd went berserk when I was on the stage. And how few were envious when I lifted the winning trophy for 'Most Popular'. I went on and on and on about me, and only me. He had all smiles and ears for me.
He interrupted.....
"Yes... You look ravishing these days"!
Though, I smiled on the flattering comment, I instantly sensed that he had something trapped inside and the lava was waiting to gush out.
"Hey ....what's up? " I asked.
He took many moments to begin, quite a few pauses thereafter, frequent stuttering, uncontrollable stammering, juggling with words and finally said....
"Help me yaar! I think, I have an affinity towards men, and it seems that something is churning my identity"!
The 'pause' and 'silence' was mine this time.
His eyes were moist and like a coward I just held on to my anxiety.
The awkward silence between us was thankfully broken by the drops of rain falling on us. The next moment, wishing quick goodbyes, we rushed to our homes. For few weeks, I ignored his calls citing an excuse of the nearing board exams. Ahh, now I know... That was Ugly.....Ugly... Ugly.... and very ugly facet of mine! And I am still regretful of my ignorant behavior towards the torment he was going through. I was young, naive and my puerile beliefs just overshadowed my friend's dilemma. In a country, where a girl, being a Tomboy is far more acceptable than a man nursing feminine traits, I chose to withdraw, standing perplexed and mentally immobile.
No sooner, I felt his pain in my own skin, the day when I was wrongfully touched by another woman. I am straight, and that touch of another woman, irked me. My sexual preference was challenged and it felt so unnatural. The incident made me realise that sexual orientation is a choice, and it doesn't make anyone an alien. The person with an unorthodox sexual orientation is as 'beautiful' as most of us. Isn't it?! Then why is my friend or even the woman who tried her hands on me are the content of repulsive discussion?! --- The answer to that, is yet to be discovered. Sigh.
Fate smiled on my discernment and now it was my chance to stand by him. I gladly did. But for the others, it took some time but gradually his loved ones accepted him for what he was. Isn't beauty in accepting the unacceptable? Indeed, it is! And with every year passing, he grew more 'BEAUTIFUL' and eventually I was able to wash the stench from my soul of ignoring him for the revelation he made on that day, to his only confidant. My UGLY soul was slowly recuperating and I started feeling 'Beautiful', once again.
And all that while and thereafter, there were adorable moments when I started scheduling my 'Salon Trips' with him, so that he could shed off his own inhibitions. We used to chat like crazy friends sitting on those cushiony push back chairs for our pedicure and manicure sessions. Good Lord, What beautiful days were those!
Epilogue :
Years have bygone, but the memories stand unwilted. I often peep into his profiles on social media and feel immensely proud of his achievements and the fact that he has carved a niche for himself in the 'entertainment industry'. He is traveling the World and speaking for the LGBT community and their rights.
No sooner, I felt his pain in my own skin, the day when I was wrongfully touched by another woman. I am straight, and that touch of another woman, irked me. My sexual preference was challenged and it felt so unnatural. The incident made me realise that sexual orientation is a choice, and it doesn't make anyone an alien. The person with an unorthodox sexual orientation is as 'beautiful' as most of us. Isn't it?! Then why is my friend or even the woman who tried her hands on me are the content of repulsive discussion?! --- The answer to that, is yet to be discovered. Sigh.
Fate smiled on my discernment and now it was my chance to stand by him. I gladly did. But for the others, it took some time but gradually his loved ones accepted him for what he was. Isn't beauty in accepting the unacceptable? Indeed, it is! And with every year passing, he grew more 'BEAUTIFUL' and eventually I was able to wash the stench from my soul of ignoring him for the revelation he made on that day, to his only confidant. My UGLY soul was slowly recuperating and I started feeling 'Beautiful', once again.
And all that while and thereafter, there were adorable moments when I started scheduling my 'Salon Trips' with him, so that he could shed off his own inhibitions. We used to chat like crazy friends sitting on those cushiony push back chairs for our pedicure and manicure sessions. Good Lord, What beautiful days were those!
Epilogue :
Years have bygone, but the memories stand unwilted. I often peep into his profiles on social media and feel immensely proud of his achievements and the fact that he has carved a niche for himself in the 'entertainment industry'. He is traveling the World and speaking for the LGBT community and their rights.
Oh Yes... He is married to his partner and they have a 'beautiful' happy married life!
Reminiscing about the past...Now I think, I know, why he was unlike others. Because, he had always been like me, with certain disregard for the delineated gender roles.
Cheers to our friendship! For him and me... 'Beauty' is just not feminine. Beauty was, is and would always be -
Cheers to our friendship! For him and me... 'Beauty' is just not feminine. Beauty was, is and would always be -
'The Shiva in a Woman and the Durga in a Man'!
I believe every woman has TRUE BEAUTY within her in all the roles she plays. For over 18 years across 650 plus salons across the country, Naturals has been helping the Beautiful Indian Woman get more Beautiful.
Today Naturals Salutes the Beautiful Indian Woman.
Presenting Naturals TRUE BEAUTY…http://bit.ly/naturalsOF
