Being truly independent...

Independence is easily one of the most abused words in today's world. We use it to justify literally everything we do(or don't)in our daily lives. While saying hurtful things to others, hurting someone else's sentiments, harming animals or nature aren't things that we should do just because we are capable of doing them, everyone should know what being independent means for them. As a woman, the only aspect of independence that had been emphasized to me throughout my life was financial independence. Coming from a family where most of the women had to ask for money from their husbands even if they wanted to buy their children a candy, the women in our family, specially my mother, always wanted to make sure that I don't commit the same mistake that they had, years back. I've a job today that pays enough to cover my expenses and maybe a little luxury every once in a while but am I independent? Definitely not. I still freak out if I have to book my tickets, go to the bank, talk to the bored and hostile officials sitting at various Government offices,kill cockroaches and spiders, move my furniture around and so on and so forth. There are a hundred tasks required in our daily lives that I'm not good at. Therefore, I depend on my near and dear ones to do these for me. So, despite being financially independent, I'm definitely not independent in its true sense. Also, should we call someone independent if they have a job but only because others forced them into it and given a choice, they'd rather pursue their hobbies that didn't pay? This is an issue that one of my all time favourite bloggers Tanvii brought to my notice for the first time. Pursuing or not pursuing a so called career should be a conscious choice for all of us. And the decision to take care of the household instead of sitting at a cubicle in front of a computer deserves an equal amount of respect because we should have the freedom to choose whether we want to be employed or not. Ever since I started looking at things this way, my approach towards the so called housewives has changed drastically.
                                                    There's another aspect to independence that we often choose not to explore. Being a citizen of a free country means we have the right to take personal decisions until and unless our decisions go against the law of the land. Yet, how many of us are brave enough to embrace our true sexuality? How many of us are comfortable talking about their curiosity towards everything sexual during our adolescent years? Our body is a mystery on its own and not acknowledging its complex behaviours only shows our desperation to run away from the truth and nothing else. Calling a broom anything other than a broom won't change its true identity. Likewise, if parents choose to have an open discussion about the sexual curiosity accompanied with adolescence, many of the unhealthy sexual habits people grow as teenagers can be prevented. Topics like masturbation, unprotected sex, sodomy, homosexuality, incest, erotic fetishes and BDSM(to name a few) should be clearly discussed with teenagers instead of leaving it to their imagination. And who can be a better teacher for a child than his/her parents? I, for one, was always very clear and vocal about my body and its desires and considered myself sexually independent. However, despite my best attempts, any discussion with the elders regarding this always ended in a fight. I used to take things personally even five years back. These days, I'm wise enough to come out of the discussion after giving them the required information instead of turning it into a nasty fight. But the scores of homosexuals trapped in heterosexual marriages or forced to live a life of tired loneliness tell a different story.
                                                              So, this independence day, instead of hoisting another national flag and singing the national anthem once more, think about what true independence means to you. List down ten things you'd have done had there been no societal rules and no inhibitions. Then ask yourself why you aren't doing those. I'm pretty sure there'd be at least five things that you can do any day if you stop being so afraid. And if all of us end up doing five such things every year, we'd know that we are heading towards a truly independent country.

And now, say 'hi' to one of the most independent girls I've ever known! If you have been following ze blog for a while,Anu is no stranger to you. She happens to be the best and most inspiring fashion designer, a surprisingly observant amateur photographer, a celeb content writer, the most dedicated fashion blogger and my greatest source of inspiration. She has always lived life on her own terms. She has never done one of those so called rebellious things, true but she has broken almost every rule our society tries to impose on women in her own way. Studying Fashion Designing despite being a Science student(I'm sure the prospective doctors and engineers spared her no sneer), quitting her job to start her own brand, not succumbing to peer pressure, continuing with equal jest even when her dreams didn't exactly find wings to fly...I can talk about how she inspires me all day long! So, what better time to show you how she breaks the myth of not being able to be cool in ethnic wear? She rocks it and how!

Tunic- Max, leggings- Shoppers Stop, chappals- Linking Road, Bandra, watch- Dresslily, ring-Dilli Haat, neckpiece- New Market

BEGGED,BORROWED,STOLE...

My parents always used to tell me that I'd realize the worth of money the day I'd start earning.But they were proved wrong once I joined college and started giving tuitions.That's because my mom was always happy to chip in.I discovered on 6th july,2011 that 'running short of money' is what I needed for so long to understand what it's worth.I was supposed to sit for one of these SIMCAT things that day(Sheer madness,worth absolutely nothing if you ask me)at 10 a.m.But thanks to my 'computer skills',turns out that my registration wasn't valid and I couldn't sit for that slot.The IMS people booked a seat for me from 6:45 to 9 p.m. schedule.With my rehearsal from 4 p.m. and nothing to do in between,I went to Metro Plaza and shopped my pants off(literally!).When I was about to get out of there,I had 32 bucks in my wallet and I was still supposed to have my lunch,go to A.J.C.Bose Road from Maidan and then again go to Saltlake for that stupid test and then return home.Going to A.J.C Bose Road by Metro would've cost me 12 bucks(Metro and then bus,that is) and if I went to Sealdah Prachi by bus,and then take another bus to Mallickbazaar,I could manage it within 10 bucks.Given my dislike(to put it politely)for bus,it was a tough call but I decided to go with the latter option.Then,I hunted down the whole Park Street for rolls worth 10 bucks or less because I'd be needing another 12 bucks for going to Saltlake and ended up discovering a small dosa place which was pretty awesome.For the fact,yours truly discovered rolls worth 10 bucks too but dosa seemed to be a more filling option.After 'lunch' and a pretty exhausting rehearsal,I finally managed to get to Saltlake with the remaining 12 bucks,much to my surprise!I was late though but that had nothing to do with my budget.Want to know what I ended up buying?A jumpsuit(that I had actually paid the advances for because I had liked it another day and didn't want to lose it but at the same time,I didn't have enough money to buy it that day),a pretty expensive shrug,a pure leather wallet and now comes the most predictable part for all those who know me well-a pair of shoes!But this time I settled for a leather thong only.Didn't go overboard.Given my obsession with shoes,buying only one pair is quite an achievement for me,no?Fun fact,because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get back home with my 32 bucks,I called my mom and asked her to ask baba to come over.I couldn't explain the reason to her at that time(quite understandable,no?Kidnappers won't really allow me to make a call to home without asking for ransom,would they?) and she ended up thinking that I was being followed by someone and I couldn't say it on phone.So,she got super paranoid and had a fight with baba.LOL!I'm mean,I know.But you got to agree,I'm a little unlucky too.

P.S.say 'hello' to the absolutely gorgeous sling that I had bought from Simpark mall.I had bought it for a friend's b'day but I couldn't help taking the liberty to pose with it before packing it with a tacky purple gift wrap paper.I'll buy one soon for myself too.Just not finding the perfect one.Oh,and by the way,since I don't find most of the lawyers or cops sexy and want to keep a distance from them always,a legal feud over the title is the last thing I'd want in the coming months.So,the credit of the title goes to UTV Bindaas.I was just 'inspired' from their reality/travel show.Catch it every fri on 8 p.m.Aliyah is super cool and everything I've always wanted to be.She doesn't really wear stuff off the runway on this show but even I won't bother if my shoes're going with my harem pant if I'm put into a situation like her.