Standing on the parking lot with her hands full of shopping bags consisting groceries and other important household items she kept struggling to open her car. She was seldom home so she needed to shop a lot to make her stay comfortable for the upcoming week. Settling her bags she took the driving seat when her eyes found its way across to the lane to a familiar face.
He was in his mid forties, still handsome with some sparks of grey hair here and there being the perfect gentleman that he was always. She was never up for perfection, she was imperfect and she loved imperfections; she loved herself more than anybody else.
He was the handsome hunk of the college, she was an ordinary girl with a pretty face but he choose her to be his princess. The next couple of years was a time to remember. He loved her to stars and back, he treated her like a princess, he pampered her like a kid, he was that perfect boyfriend that every girl would want. He was smart, handsome, loyal and with a secured future. With college coming to an end he joined his family business and she began her search for a job.
"why don't you join my office?" He asked one day.
"What should I do in your office with a literature degree?" She replied.
"its my office you need not to work. I can pay to look into this pretty face " He replied.
She looked at him attentively. No, he wasn't joking. He was serious. Is all that I have? A pretty face?
" Why waste money on a pretty face? I will find one for my self." She replied emotionlessly.
She could see he was not happy. He won't say it in her face but she knew how much he loathed her idea of working. Everytime she bought the topic he would say he felt protective of her, she was too naive and innocent to be left alone in the world to deal with. She believed his love not his reasons. She would let it go.
She looked through the window of her car, he looked happy with that women clad in an expensive saree and two children. He was carrying all the bags, quiet strong. He was perfectly dressed in a three piece suit waiting for the chauffeur, every angle of his screaming out his class and elegance. His wife, she knew to smile at all those perfect moments through her red M.A.C dipped lips. Those kids in their teens dressed in branded clothes munching through their McDonald buckets. She smiled to herself, he and his fascination for perfection.. He actually made a picture perfect family for himself and she knew she never saw herself in it neither did he.. He loved possession; she loved freedom.. Freedom from all those age old taboos which limits her.
It was any other day when a regular date turned out to be filmy. He knew she loved movies, she loved those larger than life proposals and celebrations but what he didn't know was that she loved them only in the silver screen, she never wanted to be a part of it. Violins were playing and he just like a prince in a shining armour was posing before her in a knee holding a platinum band.
" I want you by my side for the rest of my life. Be my support, be the mother of the children, be a daughter to my parents and we will have a perfect life together." He proposed. She smiled, " but my band seems heavier than yours." "Ofcourse I brought you the best one, better than my one." He answered. She knew he could buy her the whole world if she asks for, she can see the sincerity in him, she could see the perfect life awaiting her but she was not ready for perfection. " The one you brought for me I heavy with responsibilities and expectations. Am not saying I don't want them but they will eventually swallow my dreams and wishes." She replied with equal sincerity. "Am I not your dream?" He cried. "You are a part of my dreams in the same way as I am a part of your dreams. " she replied. "Are you turning down my offer?" He asked now standing on his feet, patriarchal pride reflecting from him. "Well, if you put it in that way..." She quoted him" am turning down your offer." He walked away and she smiled at the thought that how he used the word "offer" in place of proposal...
She smiled some more as the memories brought some fresh tears in her eyes. But these were tears of pride. She wanted to walk across the lane to get a closer view of him but she knew it would be a little dishevelled for his perfection so she choose to drove away.
Driving away she read through her imperfect life of how she has no one waiting for her arrival, no one paying her bills or for carrying her bags . She shook her head at how imperfectly she thinks. At mid 40 she was the editor of an international magazine. She owns her own car. She travels around the world, she gave her family a lavish life and topping it all she never needed a certain someone to be her support, to be a son to her parents. She smiled proudly at her imperfections. Parking in the driveway she could hear some crazy banters from her living room.
She walked inside only to be hugged by a bunch of crazy women, every eye shining proudly for her. There were foods cooked and packed and a box full of cd's. They came prepared for a movie marathon. She smiled again at her crazy thoughts. Who says she doesn't have anyone waiting for her? These were her support system her constant partner. She knew together they were perfectly imperfect. They were a group of young girls starting their journey together now turned into women. They all need not follow the same route but their choices same. They thought for themselves before others. Society named the selfish but is it really so? If every men has the right to plan his own life before anything else why can't a women do the same? Thinking , caring and fulfilling ones own dreams makes one happy and being happy one can keep reflecting happiness in every other way.
She was given the choice to be part of his perfect family but she chose to fill her life with trophies rather than be someone's trophy..
I found the inspiration to write something like this from all those ladies around me who look upto to themselves. My girl gang you know what message I tried sending out to you all.. Lets stand together against the odds in life and be that window of fresh air for each other for all our lives. And finally lots of ideas that keep coming through posts in the social medias, movies and some real life events all have their role to play in this very short creation of mine...
