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The boots were a symbol of her financial freedom, and she was going to ensure that she got it back. A short story.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
They were newly-wed and she had recently moved in with him to a new city. They were having a conversation about her future plans.
“Hmmm… the boots in my closet” she replied, deep in thought.
“Huh? What?” She could see him taken aback and look at her confused.
“I just realized that every boot in there is mine.”
“Yeah..I can’t wear them.”
“No, I mean they were bought by me.”
“Yeah… some were probably impulse buys too.”
She had realized that every boot in there was part of her retail therapy. On days when loneliness or bad moods hit her, she would fight it by buying boots. She was far from being sucked into consumerism but boots …
Ah! Boots were her weakness.
Those boots also signified her financial freedom and independent decision making that she immensely enjoyed for many years now. She had the same independence even now, but self-respect stopped her from making any purchases for pleasure from another person’s earnings, even though it was her beloved husband.
“So… what have you decided?” he asked.
“I am going to explore the new city and find work as soon as possible” she replied, looking at her boots.
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A free thinker, equalist who has never feared to voice out opinions. I believe that everyone deserves the same kind of respect irrespective of gender, identity, background, social or economic. And we need to evolve read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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