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The neckline always too deep, the skirt was always too short, the timeline was rigid, school, college, career mattered not...
The neckline always too deep, the skirt was always too short, the timeline was rigid, school, college, career mattered not…
Here is the fifth winner of our August 2017 Muse of the Month contest, Aruna Menon.
The cue for this month was from the movie Angry Indian Godessess. Indian women are policed and shamed for their choices, whether it is the kind of clothes they wear, or other things they do – woe betide the woman who smokes! And this is not just in their homes in middle class societies – it is everywhere, even in case of supposedly ’empowered women’. What women want is freedom from this and be able to make their choices without being judged.
No crackers or parties to celebrate her birth As through life’s first obstacle she burst forth A quiet acceptance, a wan and tired mothers smile Was all that greeted her, all the others ran a mile!
In a country that even today worshiped goddesses Daughters were just unwelcome and unwanted curses, A lot more ironies unfolded as youth followed childhood A lot more restrictions, as she eagerly embraced womanhood.
The neckline always too deep, the skirt was always too short The timeline was rigid, school, college, career mattered not The stars were right, more important was a good match That was the goal, the math to add up to a great catch!
Topping the class was a welcome distraction But a well-placed groom a better attraction! Desperate to fly high, she spread her tiny wings Only to have them clipped, dreams broken like twigs.
Walls closing in, the stale air permeated her very being She walked out into the pouring rain, her eyes unseeing! As she tripped and stumbled, a hand reached out It was her mother, she took flight, did a turnabout!
Then stopped and turned right back She had to speak, she could not slack. His Yes has put paid to my dreams she said My Yes was never asked, my No never heard. The stunned look, the silent moments Gave voice to her Ma’s shocked thoughts Unexpected from a good lil Indian goddess This defiance, this need to express or confess.
She’d got it off her chest, Ma had lent a patient ear The storm had spent itself, she had nothing to fear As she turned to go, a hand reached out once again Wait, said her Ma, I hear you, I feel your pain.
Go and live your life, find your piece of sky There’s no need for your dreams to die The incredulous smile, the unshed tears Was reward enough after all these years!
There were battles to be fought, a war to be won This was not her daughters’ fight nor only her own The goddesses were beaming, lights were shining The tide was turning, this was only the beginning!!
Aruna Menon wins a Rs 250 Amazon voucher, as well as a chance to be picked one among the top winners at the end of 2017. Congratulations!
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A Gynecologist by profession n blogger by passion, I love words! I love weaving life experiences into verse and prose. I'm particularly interested in relationships and how they work. A strong supporter of woman read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
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