The UN-FAIR Advantage

I was out for a dinner last evening with my big size family at our preferable and often visited south Indian restaurant. The place was quite crowded for a weekday, however we managed to get our favourite family size table. I occupied the extreme corner of the table and could hardly hear the discussion that was happening among the members. Incidentally, I could clearly hear the chatter happening over the table right next to me. I heard the ladies talking about the little girl, her dress  and how cute was she looking in it and eventually how fair coloured she was. To quote the woman's words " mera bacha to gora angrez hai angrez" and the giggles and laughter carried on.... and a thought rapidly crossed my mind..."Are you serious auntyji .. you pretty much look desi"....

Ergo... "How fair is FAIR" !!!

Why are we so obsessed with the fair coloured skin? Why don't we find comfort in whatever colour we are made of? 100% of the times which is not in our hands and which we inherit. It starts right when we are born, goes along with us till our matrimonial ads( Wanted - A FAIR, beautiful/Handsome, Girl/Guy - Go buy a show-piece instead) are placed and yet beyond that. If you think more carefully, its kind of a viscous circle. 

To add cherry on the top, we never seize to make an incidental remark on the dark toned people. 

No wonder, why Indian FMCGs having a product line of a fairness product, are making millions. Just to give you a number, the fairness cream and lotion segment is approx. Rs.3000 Crore market in India. WOW! 

And these FMCGs are going bizarre, spending millions more to advertise and sell the products by your favourite actors. You should see some classics for yourself on youtube. I guarantee you an LMAO session. Women were making a mark in this industry, when men realized that they can be fair and handsome too. Now you see Mr. Khan, suggesting pehelwaans to use men's fairness cream and consequently all the girls going nuts. I remember those funny late night dubbed commercials selling non branded fairness products using standard repetitive statement - " Main pehle bohot niraash thaaa, mere pass job bhi nahi thaaaa ... blah blah". Really.. did anyone use to buy those? And do you get jobs, wife/husband, femina awards after becoming fair in 5 weeks... I suggest sue the people or the company if the answer is YES. 

So what makes us so obsessed to become a tone lighter? Is it the lack of confidence or the statements like "gore rang par har kapda acha lagta hai"  or apparently the society's pressure. I am trying to figure out myself. But next time you feel the same, try reading about people like Oprah Winfrey. 

Er. ...Imagine Will Smith becoming fairer !! Think Think!!

I shall use a tag line of yet another product promoted by a famous actor to end this malicious blog... "Gorepan ke peeche mat bhago... Jaise ho waise dikho"...  (I am not promoting this brand...)

Half hour Journey!

Metro has become one of the most preferred mode of travel in Delhi. Not only it is cheap but provides a comfortable travel, yes but only during off peak hours. Had they got the option of not closing the doors, it was obvious that metro would have become the next gen. blue line buses. Be at Rajiv Chowk Station to experience the travel corresponding to "General Dabba" of Indian Railways. 

To add to this, one fine day because of  some unhealthy creatures of our society, Metro Corp. became generous and decided to give one entire compartment to Ladies. So if you are a women standing in the first compartment of the train, you can see that  the immediate next compartment is full of men having all eyes on the former one, literally all. Personally, I do not travel in the Ladies Special. First because its all ladies and second, I have noticed that females are not really generous towards other females when it comes to sharing seats. Also Aunty ji's with big bums tell you "thoda adjust kar lo".. but aunty ji where is the space!! Thought - there are now 8 compartments in the train out of which only 1 is for women. Judge the ratio of men: women in this country.  

So most people who travel to work using metro at the same time everyday, would agree that they are likely to see same faces. Travelling alone is boring but if you have good observation skills you can kill time. I see most people with earphones plugged in, some playing candy crush saga, techies on laptops or heads into newspapers.. few with novels.. and many speaking out loud on phones. 

So while I was on-board today, I had half an hour time to reach the destination and so the time to scan. It was a very usual environment until the train reached  Qutub Minar Station. I was leaning against the door when, a young lad with an average height, brown complexion, and black unruly hair, wearing a long kurta, denims and kolhapuri chappals, boarded and stood right in front, grabbed my attention. He was quite a charmer. Patiently, I took a while to examine this appealing personality. Woah! I was checking out. Sooner, I realized that other females were doing the same. You cannot just examine for too long as it becomes staring after a level. So I took off me eyes. But "manchala dil".. could not help.. So this time an eye to eye contact happened. I could sense the brief smile that was exchanged. 

Suddenly, the door opened and an automated voice announced the arrival of my station.

How time passes!!

To be or not to be

How are people so sorted... how do they have in mind what they have to do.. ?  how come they are so planned ... 


I have never been so sorted, pre-planned or foreseeable. Even if I wanted to, it proved otherwise.
So, may be God has always willingly wanted me to be carefree and go with the flow..


Do I want to become the former.. I doubt.  But when I see those who have it all fixed and are at ease.. i doubt again. 

Its not that I regret but sometimes I look back, think hard and talk to myself, that had I done something else, had I been more stronger and decisive, life would have been simpler, different and may be better. Had I been a Painter, I might have traveled the world! But then its part of it,,, we all have choices.. and we make it in the moment. Right or wrong, we only know it later. 
We all face ifs and buts.. but its never too late.

I am a great believer of "whatever happens..happens for good".  Living through such phases in life, had made my belief stronger. Be it education or career, for me everything has come with a greater opportunity cost. 
When I see others associated with the biggest brands and earning and working..I feel foolish that my life is stuck in four walls. But deep within, I know I have worked my ass off.. to reach a respectable level. ... 
and while now that I remain on the shelf  because of situations and reasons , I have done other greater satisfactory things. I have lived... lived to grow and rise. 

However unsure I am about my future, I believe that good will hunt me down. Afterall, future is unpredictable and why waste on planning every minute.. (Recall the scene from Zindagi na milegi dobara -- who knows if you are going to live till 40) 




Life is full of surprises. Off late,  has been surprising me a lot. Living every moment and to the fullest..