To the Man who had the Audacity

TO THE MAN who had the audacity to pull up a chair, sit infront of me and tell me my dress is unruly and disgusting – with all due respect to your age, Can you stop polluting the air with your sound waves? ⚠️ While adoring my Indian-ness through pretty clothing for the last 2 weeks at my Cousin’s wedding, I heard a lecture from a man about tradition cause nothing other than Saree exists in his dictionary for women.

I define my own tradition. I decide what I want to wear. And I wear not what you want but what I love. I started explaining him about how traditions change with generations and individuals. I used the example of how my brother today can never tie his Dhoti without Velcro unlike him who was used to tying Dhoti all his life. He snapped at me saying my brother is a man and can do whatever he wants unlike me who should know my boundaries.

For a tiny fraction of second, I hesitated speaking up because it would mean disrupting the celebrations. But my senses hit me hard screaming why standing up against patriarchy and inequality cannot be compromised based on the situation. The moment I started speaking up and questioning him back, he could not find words to justify his sentences.

For all that we speak, Centuries of Patriarchy might be the reason but CANNOT be the excuse to why we can’t change. When you have an opinion, either gulp it down your throat or say it out loud. But don’t think your gender gives you the birth right to be a rule maker for the society.

TO THE MAN whose nerve was broken, I hope u think twice before u pull up a chair again. If not, no issues, I or some other (wo)man will break it further.

TO OTHER MEN & WOMEN with admiring audacities, get in the queue. *Cracks Knuckles* ⚡