It’s not easy being a woman especially if you stand at the heavier side of the weighing scale and the darker side of the fairness meter. Women in our society haven’t had much choice in relationships. Marriage, of course, is a beautiful institution and often parents resort to Rishta aunties to gain insight into the buzzing ‘dulha mandi.’ Well most of us laugh that ‘tea trolley conversation’ off as some ancient tradition not to be taken seriously, but it is still growing strong and is happening even today.
The tea trolley encounters are kinda hard to digest. Guess what – you’ll receive about 20 judgments about your weight, height and skin tone from random strangers. Somewhere in between the eye-rolls and looks of disgust, you’ll get to hear how being fair and skinny immediately doubles your chances for finding a husband.
During my rishta hunting years, I was reminded to take care of my “skin” which isn’t fair in the first place and my “weight.” “Dhoop mein jati ho. Rang jal jaaye ga – sandal lagao!” “Haaye Allah, itni moti aur kaali larki!” An awkward silence would follow every time someone would define my skin tone or body proportions. What were you expecting aunty? A hilal for your supposedly chaudween ka chand! Over time I learned the correct answer that could put those ‘unwanted advice’ to rest. Oh thank you for the suggestion aunty – I never paid attention to what you were saying in the first place.
The glorification of lighter skin tone and a narrow waist goes far beyond implications of beauty. If you have fair skin and weigh less than 80 pounds, you are intelligent and the perfect bahu material. We’re told that GIRLS RUN THE WORLD but then rishta aunties would insist how working women are lazy, arrogant, undisciplined and just not capable of ‘running the household.’
Often the whole process of presenting the girl with a fancy cup of tea in her hands, all dressed up is the biggest reason women in our society have lower confidence and self-esteem. It might not be true in all cases but if there is one thing that most people can’t stand, and gets an intense, emotional response is rejection.
We can’t stand rejections, and some aunties reject girls left and right and continue the search for their ideal bahu as if nothing happened. They manage to visit three families every day trying to close a favorable marriage deal.
Sadly, not all of us are so impervious to rejection. Even if you are a strong independent woman, you find yourself thinking, “Well, that proves once again that I’m not worthy.” “What did I do wrong?” Honestly, it’s not you who is wrong. Women are not a commodity that needs to get off the clearance rack ASAP the day they turn 20!
I know this might be hard to accept but think about it. All too often we let this senseless society norms dictate every move you make. Majority of our girls literally are not taught anything but to cook food and manage the household.
These rishta tea trolley adventures can be quite awkward and even appalling at times. There is so much I could write, but some incidents are just too ‘share-worthy.’ Please note that this is NOT a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely deliberate.
Scene One:
A chirpy aunty looking for the perfect bahu for her nephew because she is really close to him: “Beta job karti ho? Waisay job wali larkiyon ke liye ghar ka kaam mushkil hota hai. Un se manage nahi hota” (This was followed by a long discussion about how girls should stay at home if they don’t need to work).”
Me: Trying to act as composed and as calm as I possibly can (she did know I just came back from office) – jee, aunty.
Chirpy aunty: “Beta phir larkay bhi dost honge, koi special dost hai?”
“Jee aunty, woh bhi hain.” *Aunty speechless! She couldn’t do anything but try to smile
Scene Two:
Let me say that being judgmental is an essential desi survival trait. And in case of rishta hunting, our minds naturally scan for the negative. These random aunties never find something good about the other person. I’ll say let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, that’s the best they could do with limited ‘common sense’ they have at the moment.
Nand to be along with her dear friend sitting in the living room.
“Aap apni beti ko bula den!” *5 minutes after careful scanning. “Acha hum chaltay hain.” She later told my khala that her brother is really skinny and I’m too obese. Well, if I had known that earlier I could have recommended Nestle Bunyaad.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong in looking for specific physical traits while searching for your life partner, but you just can’t ridicule people who do not live up to your self-assigned standards. Whether these rules are based on looks, education, body proportions, language, or any other ridiculous attribute, they are no reason to demean another individual.
She is fat, so she can’t produce babies. She is dark, so she is not pretty and intelligent. She has a 9 to 5 job, haaye ghar kaisay chalae gi … so I cannot accept her as my bahu.
Here’s a message to all sisters, bhabhis, mamis, chachis, mommies, and friends out on a rishta hunt. Please don’t judge the girl by her clothing, career, ambition, appearance or skin tone. Because you might dismiss even the best of people through these unreasonable microscopic judgments.
Don’t restrict your thinking to a pigeonhole. There’s so much more to the other person than what meets the eye. Keeping an open mind about people is important; otherwise, there is no point in education.
thinkingthirty 