The other woman

Painting ‘half the sky’ their way. No show-sha

Step back, men. It’s raining women, or will be this IWD weekend. There’ll be the usual platitudes – and flatitudes. All I ask for is latitude to honour those doing their own thing without wanting to break paths or ceilings. Just ordinary women.

Yes, yes, aam aurat was already Most Favoured Notion; moved into yet another role, from daughter/sister/mother to political fodder. No point ruminating on those splashed with cash, more motivated than motivating. Everyone by now knows that Maharashtra’s largesse-giving Mahayuti got greater ‘pampering’ than yojana-receiving ‘ladli behen’.

No, this IWD I don’t want to hail our usual WMDs, Women of Mass Discussion. Like hosannah-ed head henchos. Or 20-somethings of our endless start-ups. No, not even savvy home-chefs originally plated up by Covid; but, instead, their peelers, choppers and wash-uppers who also eyed the cake.

Women who embody empowerment but don’t wear it on their sleeves.

Like those walking through newly opened doors, and then using them as windows of bigger opportunity. Like ‘parlour didi’ Reshma, who upskilled, accessed newly available loans, acquired the sheen of her clients and set herself up independently.

Like Kasturi, whom I met selling home-crafted kandeels, but was studying to be a CA. Two Diwalis later, she had upped her aspiration to company secretary.

Like mother-daughter duo of takeaway-dinner stall. Smart16 beti is the ‘face’, briskly dispensing bhakri–rotis from a hot case; shabbier ai squats invisibly below handing her plastic packets of bhaji. One smooth silent cycle, 7-10pm, or ‘till stocks last’.

Like the tower block’s ‘arriviste’ who, unfazed by its toned Spandex gangs, does her stretch-sequence in shiny sari. Bindi-ed and bindaas.

Like spunky octogenarians who sing bhajans at our complex’s Ganapati celebration, and as gamely shimmy to ‘Chin-chin-chu’ at its ‘Grand Variety Entertainment’. Each ordinary evening, they descend, showered, powdered and fresh sari-ed to bond like any Cosmo sisterhood – till they decide when they’re done. Hungry husbands can wait.

Lib without too much lip. That’s what I’ll celebrate this IWD.

***

Alec Smart said; “USA Gaza-ed Zelenskyy, Puttin’ its arm around Russia. UKraine rescued. The neo-Great Game begins.”

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