Growing up with dusky skin makes you pretty much immune to all sorts of invasive comments by 'well-wishers' who barely even know your full name. Doesn't make it okay, but I'm sure you've learned to just smile and ignore them now, like me. So many times, I wanted to retort with sarcasm at their brazenly narrow-minded advice to help me get rid of my affliction -- but I couldn't. Most often, just to keep the peace and not create a scene. But it's almost the end of 2017, and is it even the end of the year if you don't voice your heart's deepest regrets. Here are the responses I'd mutter in my head every time someone took it upon themselves to comment on my dusky skin. It's high time people stop saying these ridiculous things to women like me.
1. 'Have you tried putting malai/besan/haldi on your face?'
Maybe. Have you tried being more open-minded?
2. 'Were you born in the south?'
No, but I think you might have been born a racist.
3. 'Just put a filter on your pictures, no one will be able to tell you have dark skin.'
Great. Is there a filter you use too, one that makes you look smarter?
4. 'You have such pretty features. If only your skin was fair...'
You have such a pretty head, if only you had a brain in it...
5. 'You shouldn't wear bright lipsticks. They'll make you look darker.'
You shouldn't give advice when no one has asked for it. It makes you seem nosy.
6. 'Why would you need a tan? Your skin is so dark already.'
Just so you can fret a little bit more about how no boy will marry me. It's fun.
7. 'You're so pretty, for a dark girl.'
I'm also very generous, for a dark girl. (Got it? No? There is no relation between the two? Exactly my point.)
8. 'You're so lucky, you don't even need to use sunscreen.'
But does that make me lucky enough to never get wrinkles and sunburns? I didn't think so.
If you're dusky like me, I'm sure you have a list of your own. Do share with us in the comments below.
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