Dark Colour

I was applying fairness pack on my face and my father started shouting at me, " stop applying these fairness packs as nothing can make you look fair in this world". Mr Sharma's son rejected you, they said no for marriage.

My mother started crying and cursing her fate. I washed my face and went straight back to my room without shedding a single droplet. I didn't cry this time as it had become a ritual for me. I picked up all the fairness packs and threw into the dustbin.

I looked at my face in the mirror and took a decision, now no more lies, just truth will shine. I accept you, Avni as you are, with your dark colour, with your scars. Enough is enough, now I don't want any pretence in my life. Since childhood, I am forced to hide my colour behind the face masks and skin lightening creams. I have become a muse for everyone. My parents don't see my talent, they don't appreciate that their daughter has got a book writing contract from such a reputed publishing house. They don't appreciate that their daughter is financially independent and bought a house for herself. They just see my colour, scars on my face and holds me, my dark colour responsible for delay in my marriage. Sometimes I feel, I am born to get married only.

I have spent my whole life listening taunts from my parents and relatives for my dark colour. Even in my school, I was bullied because of my colour, my classmates labelled me negro.

I accept I am black and let the world think and say whatever they want to say. Now I am not going to hurt myself for other people.

I packed my clothes, told my parents, I am leaving home, shifting to my apartment. They asked me not to go, as they were worried about society's reactions, not me?

First time I shed my inhibitions, felt liberated. I focussed all my energy on writing my book. After a year my book got published, became a best seller on Amazon.

Now, nobody talks about my colour. Everyone likes to talk about me, my book. My story is not over yet, it's just started.