A few years back a prominent television series in Zee TV made us laugh our lungs out
and if you grew up in the 90's then "Hum paanch" would have ringed in
your ears.
"Aunty mat kaho naa"(Don’t
call me aunty), said in a very cheesy tone and in a cute affectionate voice would
take you back to those days when this series tickled the humour hormones.
Although this dialogue did make us laugh in that era, it does
resonate while being said in our tongues (as women) many a times. Wasn't it lately that you told
a kid in your society the same statement? (Aunty mat kaho naa)
As kids we hated it when some kakka, mama or uncle called us “Chutki”. We found it embarrassing and
would give them a wild stare making them wonder how brats were furnished with
such innocent faces. Come on dear uncles and aunties, our parents named us with
such fascinating names and we would smile at you back when you call us with our unique names.
Years passed and our body started experiencing some hormonal
changes to make us into beautiful ladies who loved to dress up and make a few
heads turn. Darn in such an amazing phase of life we didn't like us to be
called as didi, akka or tai. We weren't so old yet. We were proudly flaunting the teen badge that was put on our age and wooing every Tom Dick and Harry who crossed us. Alas, the fruits of such happiness are short lived.
When I am just out of my teens, enjoying the freshness of womanhood I hear a subtle voice calling me, "Aunty". Bang on and I imagine myself as one of those woman wearing sarees with a big bindi on my forehead.
Philosophers quote a very famous statement which we keeps resounding in our ears when we are out of our teens, "Maturity comes with age". Oh yes it does !! I very well agree to it with an instant nod. We like it when we are said to attain maturity at a very much younger age than men. But we hate it when our beauty products fail to hide the wrinkles below our eyes. Maybe we need Snow white's step mother's beauty portion.
I stay in a ten storeyed building filled with children in different ages and sizes . Last sunday I was enjoying my evening tea sitting in an arm chair in my not so palatial balcony when the door bell rang. A young boy stood at my door who was as tall as me and on a second look I could guess that he was between 16-20 years of age. "Aunty, our towel has fallen in your balcony, Can you give it to me? "
"Aunty" banged my ears like thousand bells ringing simultaneously out of harmony. For a second I picturized my hands slapping him on his cheeks. (of course, I was dreaming and wishing I could do that for his sense of observation that I wasn't so old as he thought)
I felt my fists close hard for a punch instead and my "already-big-eyes" turn bigger as though some daemon had suddenly taken a flight and landed into my being.
I picked up the towel and thumped it in his hands. He thanked me awkwardly and in response I slammed the door.
How rude was I? He was a normal guy who genuinely needed help and I sent him off in such a gross manner.
It actually wasn't his fault, if there was anything wrong in this entire episode it was the nerve that bound every woman to agree on a common thought and that was about being called in absurd ways at every particular age.
Of course, you may argue that after all these are ways to call woman with respect but the woman of today are more cautious about being called out of age rather than being called with respect. And again it is not your fault dear readers, we really find it difficult to adjust and assimilate the fact that we do grow old with time.
The transition from a little girl to a teenager to a woman does take time to sink in.
For all you woman reading this post would love to hear instances from you were you were annoyed with the trickling nouns used to call you.
Chutki's, didi's, and aunties, whoever you are be proud and celebrate the spirit of being a woman. We may sulk at these names and be annoyed and stupendously irritated yet, we are the most beautiful creation of God and if do not sulk about these "so-called-stupid-issues" then you haven't enjoyed womanhood :)
Love in the cafe