This chapter is a part of the novella – A girl was born under the theme Yesterday Today Tomorrow. Here’s the first chapter – https://firsttimemommy.net/2018/04/01/a-girl-was-born/
While she loved the evenings, she hated the mornings. In the morning, her granny massaged her with chick pea flour and cream. She rubbed her hard to remove the excessive hair on her body, particularly moustache and chin. And, also to make her complexion “a little whiter”. Her parents were fair complexioned and very good looking. And it bothered her grandmother that Tara was not.
“Don’t know after whom she has taken?” She complained and massaged her harder that made Tara cry.
Her poor mother pleaded with her grandmother to stop with her massage, and the old lady finally gave in to her mother’s tears. Now, every time Tara visited a beauty parlour, she cursed her mother.
Three years later, her sister was born. Very fair, very beautiful. And then two years later, her brother was born. Rose pink complexion.
She never realized that she was different until that one day when she was 7 years old, she overheard one of her mother’s friends saying, “She is quite dark for your family. Though her features are nice, you might have trouble marrying her off.” She didn’t wait for her mother’s reply. Immediately, she ran to her cupboard that had mirrors on the inside of both its doors.
She looked in the mirror. She had never really paid attention to the mirror before. She looked at her face closely. It looked just the same the same. But, something arrested her eye.
She was dark. Yes. But she never gave it any thought until now. How did it make her different from her family?
That night at dinner, she looked closely at her brother and sister. Her sister looked quite like her. Except her skin colour. She was fair. Many shades fairer than her. She looked at her brother then. Though he was not as fair as the other sister, he was still fairer than her. Then her eyes fell on her mother’s skin. She was so fair, and so was her father. She was the odd one out. The dark one.
Though she didn’t want to get married at 7, and didn’t know what marriage was, she knew one thing, that she was lacking something that was important to so many people in this world around her.
That night, she sat in the cupboard and quietly closed the doors. And in the small, dark and confined space, she sobbed. What she was crying for, she did not know. But, she was hurt. For the very first time she realized she was different from her family.
After her tears were spent, she realized it was stuffy in the cupboard. She opened up the doors a little bit, just a tiny bit to let the air come in. She checked her face in the door mirrors, her eyes were red and swollen.
The cupboard became her favourite hiding spot for many years to come, whenever she wanted to cry or spend some time alone. Till the day she could fit in no longer. Till the day, she realized she could cry in the bathroom as well. It was bigger, spacious and airy. And, she could easily drown the sound of her sobs in there as long as she kept the tap on.
So, in total filmy style she cried “Why me? Why have you made me so different? Why couldn’t I be fair like my family?”
Things changed for the better in movies. But, for her, nothing changed. She was still the same dark complexioned the next day and the day after then.
But, one thing changed. Her attitude towards her family. She had a very strong suspicion that she had been swapped at the hospital with another baby.
Just one more day for the 3rd chapter in the series…
Nice story.
Thanks Balaka
Oh poor Tara, she is such a chirpy girl falling for the weird societal ideologies. I just wish she comes out from this heart wrenching phase and pop out with a bang to break all stereotypes.
BTW Lovely series.. I am addicted now.
Hey thanks Dipika! That’s such a big boost. I hope I am able to maintain the tempo. And, yes, poor little girl falling to the evil social codes.
“Now, every time Tara visited a beauty parlour, she cursed her mother.” – This totally cracked me up!! What a wonderful plot. Now I am hooked. Can’t wait for tomorrow.
Ha ha, this part is me, and this happens with me every time I visit a parlour and cry out aloud – why mummy, why?!! 🙂
Tara indeed is different and spirited free soul.
Thanks so much for liking Tara!! 🙂
She is beautiful.. may be one day she would grow up and understand this. Love ur story. Hooked
Thanks so much Priya! Hope I can keep you hooked all the way 🙂
O got goosebumps while reading. Wanted to hold her and tell her its ok. Nicely written post!
Thanks a lot! Hope it gets better for Tara.. tomorrow you will know more! 🙂
Oh this is intriguing . Waiting for the next chapter.
Thanks Aesha, hope you like the next one too my dear!
Ah no, poor baby! Hope she grows into self acceptance but it still breaks my heart to see her so sad.
I know..it’s sad..but that’s the reality too in India!
I hope she realizes that she is different but unique at the same time. Liked how you portrayed her thoughts when the realization of being dark complexioned dawned on her.
Meha, thanks so much. BTW, part of the story is a real one. Please read tomorrow for the next chapter.
I could relate so well with her plight as I suffered something similar too and my fav place was under the bed till I couldnt fit under it no more and then yes it was the loo! Well written and I will be back tomorrow!
BellJar by Sylvia Plath #atozchallenge
Thanks so much. Looking forward to keeping you interested with my next chapter and reading yours as well!
Loved the story … learning to love yourself, just the way you are is an important life lesson.
Absolutely true Seema! Tara, I am sure will realize this one day. At the moment, she accepts what the society tells her. Thanks for reading the post!
Also, why am I not able to access your blog? It says the author has deleted the site.
Yikes!! Thats scary … could you try this link: https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/
No clue why its doing that. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
It’s working now! Thanks, hopping onto yours now! 🙂
Hey nice story line. A common problem almost faced by someone somewhere in the world everyday. .. Well written. Waiting for the next part 🙂 c is for change – cacophony in the kitchen. Do have your say on my post too. Have a nice day 🙂
Thanks so much for reading and liking the post. Just hopping onto yours to read C, BTW, you won’t believe it, my C is Cacophony in the neighborhood. Ha ha! Have a nice day to you too dear!
Wow.. We are in sync.. Will come back to your space to check the cacophony in the neighbourhood. Thank you 🙂
Sure. Looking forward to your insight.
Ahhh the concept is soo very likeable
Thank you Neethu! 🙂
I had to stop by and read Tara’s story. Lovely flow of words. I hope Tara finds that she is beautiful soon.
Thank you Nayantara, appreciate your lovely words. Even I am waiting to see when Tara finds out that she doesn’t need the world to make her feel beautiful. Btw, Tara is your namesake 🙂
Lovely read. This can be anyone…..Our society is so colour sensitive even today.
Beautiful story…..We are such a colour sensitive society even today….
True that Sudeshna! It’s really sad! Thanks for reading and appreciating it.