With each day we learn a new thing. And sometimes in life there is point when you realize the hard fact which just hits you in a big way.
When a child is born in my country(At-least) the first expectation of people around including your parents is to that it should be a son. If it turns out to be a girl, then she needs to be fair.
I didn't meet both the expectations when I was born. I hear my relatives say how some old relative came out of hospital room saying "oru kari polle undo", which means "looks like a coal"
"Who will marry her?" was a question which popped up all through my life from everyone around. Some in front of me, some behind my back.
I did not know how to tackle that. A foolish child that I was, I did try the trust non-working "Fair and Lovely".I did do my research to find what color will suit and what color will not. What prints will make me look less dark and which hairstyle will really enhance my dark features.
After a point I read what books says, how ideally it should be, what a sh*t thing all this is and that young age decided to focus on more practical thing. I decided to BE SOMEONE on my own.
So I did study, I did earn a degree, I did get the dream IT job which was market demand and I did over years earn more than what most men around earn. Yes but - I didn't forget to enjoy life with my friends. Apparently my dark color didn't matter when I gave interviews, went abroad, met clients, and when I was spending best times with my friends. I did get my fair share of attention from men who thought I was perfect for them. I did enjoy those sweet proposals from men, even though I had to reject most of them.
Years later, many hardships later, many jobs later, many promotions later, many hikes later , many awards later - So I thought , I had changed it all.
The new Phase of Society had arrived - Social media posting on banning Fairness products, "Dark is beautiful"campaign. Now achievement matters, personality matters, compatibility matters skin color doesn't.
Oh - This was till yesterday. Yesterday I was hit with the hard truth.
Irrespective - I was/am and will never be the Ideal/Suitable/perfect choice by any mother for her son.
Even if I got all the brains and money to build a time machine, and I could change everything that was grey phase in my life, there is one thing which I could not change - MY SKIN COLOR
So I thought , I had changed it all.
