Twenty years on the streets of London made me. People back home in India think I have crossed the limits of maan-maryaada and our sanskriti when their raise their eyebrows looking at me. It’s easy to make assumptions. Thing’s aren’t the same everywhere. How do they expect me to dress up in tradtional attire each time I step out. It’s me. I’m free. I’ll be the judge of what I have to cover myself with. I’ll decide how much of cloth can cover myself. Why should someone without any idea about me pass on a judgment and tell me what to wear? Lay off!

It disgusts me the way girls of my age in India suffer. From the kinds of dresses to wear to the kind of friends they should keep up to. From staying away from guys to strict curfew timings. From no partying till late night to cooking alu-gobi, Indian girls are subjected to high levels of mental and physical torture right from the day one. So what the heck? Let’s look at the main issues here.

++ Clothes
+Rule The whole fuss about wearing clothes for a girl is that they shouldn’t be any flashy. None of the skin should be exposed to light.
+Me Cut the crap! Take a break. Let the skin breathe Mamma!

++ Guys
+Rule Stay away from the human species called men. These are called guys at an earlier age. Guys are considered more dangerous than men since you’re supposed to sit with them at college. No talking, no holding hands, no dating and no admiring.
+Me Come on! Kissing and holding hands won’t swell your tummy and we learnt that at high school. We’re responsible enough to know and handle guys.

++Parties/Curfew
+Rule Partying is considered an insane activity and indulging in it comes with an added accusations of drugs and alcohol. Staying out till the sun stops shining is another tragedy. Somehow parents seem to believe that creatures of the dark aren’t safe.
+Me Partying is fun! It’s just like a big fancy dress competition we had in primary school. It’s just that here we get more freedom. Cut out the drugs and alcohol please. Cola is intoxicating enough. Even if we drink a few on the rocks what’s the fuss about? Guys get to drink, why the heck can’t we kick their arse? Staying late till the sun don’t shine isn’t safe but then is staying out in the day isn’t as well. There are more chances of me being molested or kidnapped during the day. Aren’t people sleeping during the night?!

++Sex/Losing Virginity
+Rule Pre-marital sex is a strict no-no! We don’t do it in India. You’re not even told about it in schools, colleges or at home. You swell up your tummy before marriage, you’re cut down to pieces!
+Me Let loose some air Paapa! Sex isn’t bad. It’s just a normal human expression of love. A combination of two bodies with extreme emotions. We also know about an invention called the condom. Pregnancy doesn’t interest us as well. Losing virginity has to occur and why don’t we practice before the big game?!

++Cooking Alu-Gobi
+Rule Being a woman you’re supposed to know the basic skills of feeding the rest of the family. You must start burning LPG on your 16th birthday.
+Me Oh please! Guys are better cooks so why shouldn’t we have them cooking for us. Moreover I have issues while cooking so no cooking classes for me Mumma!

Don’t go by my words I do know that the condition isn’t that bad now for the women in India. Young girls are slowly realizing their rights and are breaking the code and hitting the streets. My support towards them. But there’s still a good chunk of women out there who don’t get to breathe the same oxygen. They may not even read this. But if I could just get the message across, all I’d say is Stand up and rise girl! Your time has come!