ARE YOU GOOD LOOKING?

I dont know...... Supposing I am, would you be surprised that I am a dental surgeon?
a pretty good one at that?
from a college that only admits students through merit as opposed to Private colleges that take in students who pay for it,
that I am a serious civil service aspirant who passed a few exams that people consider quite tough?
that I KNOW whats going on around me?
that I'm politically aware?
Why, I've even come across a few kind people who called me intelligent.

But all of that wouldn't matter if you're only staring at me right??

When will we accept that a well turned out lady who can differentiate between a Versace and a Valentino can also differentiate between a Look East Policy and a North West Frontier Province?
Why cant a doctor know that Britney Spears worries that Katy Perry is taking over her kind of music? or
that Ranbir Kapoor is finally single post Deepika Padukone, post Katrina Kaif post Nargis someone?

There seems to be a subtle attempt to patronise a 'pretty' girl who can read the papers. STOP IT! N O W. I cant believe I was so stupid as to give my poor lip gloss a vacation. The ubiquitous 'they' pass on 'mores' that glorify 'simple' girls - whatever that means. And whoever said 'simple' girls are either good or homely? I know many 'simple' girls who are anything but 'simple' and 'homely' - not that all are.... you get the drift.

I once worked in a hospital with 2 other lady doctors who happened to be Muslims. One was in purdah, while the other wasnt and drove a car. I was as usual discussing this. Our usual audience was a young Muslim dental assistant. The one without the purdah told a stunned me that she admired them for wearing burkhas. The one in purdah (as those wearing burkhas are called) said she encouraged all believers to wear one as it prevented men from looking at them with 'immoral' eyes. I told them that this was hogwash. She tried to convert me to her point of view and educate "innocent" me on the wickedness of men saying that men were so bad, they actually misbehaved sexually in front of a hostel if they knew it was a ladies hostel. I pounced - all men are not alike. Those who are sick in their minds will mis-behave even if they dont see an inch of you. Its all in their mind. So, if you're within legal limits, please feel free to wear what you wish! My colleague? she never argued with me again! And yes, she's still in purdah and so is our dental assistant now...

The point is that as a society we must strive to give space to each other, keep open minds and try not to be too prejudiced. I stress on 'too' because as humans, I know its impossible not to have some form of prejudice lurking in our bosoms! If you see a hot girl in jeans, please don't think she's stupid or try to pull a fast one on her?? Puhleese don't. She might just end up giving you a lesson on the the origin of the word 'stupid' and why 'fast one' didn't make it to the dictionary! And for those attractive women out there - feel free to strut your stuff (er... not too much o.k? I'm a little conservative here!! - out of choice)

And yes, I know the diffreence between a fetuccini, a spaghetti and a penne. So there!

STRETCH....... FOR FLEXIBILTY

Stretching, they say is compulsory. Else your joints get tight and you become rigid; In life too, one is expected to be flexible; one must compromise an elderly person recently advised me, as I am lucky enough to live in India where complete strangers think nothing of asking you about anything under the sun, and where advise is always given free, asked or un-asked. He made me think a bit.....

I know a lot of people - young, old, medium, men, women, girls, boys... you get the drift. It naturally follows that I've also come across a number of personalities. Some flexible, some rigid, some in-between, some ambiguous etc etc.

So what's your poison?? Most people find it easy to class so and so as flexible, rigid etc but find it difficult to accurately class oneself. I'm no different. I found that flexible people, the kind whose thumb you can bend so far back it goes flat, are the easiest to spend time with. But I also found that most of my friends DO NOT fall into this category and that most of my ACQUAINTANCES do fall into this category.

I suppose in the larger scheme of things, it all boils down to depth. One really doesn't need or want too much of reality everyday everywhere. That's why we have movies - the ultimate escape from reality. And we all know what a resounding success the movies have always been from the moment go, from Rudolf Valentino to Robert Pattison.

On the other hand we have our item girls and now-a-days boys. Must the men confer equality to women ONLY in these dubious categories? If a certain status for women is bad, is the solution to bring it up or bring the other sex down to that status? Clearly we seem to be in a rush toward the latter. Anyway, the point is that while an 'item' number is used only as a relief for the content of a movie's story so it is with flexible people.

A yes man is good for people who lack egos and for people who need an unreal prop to face themselves. For everyone else, a yes man is a pleasant man to have around as a decorative piece much like those beautiful wedding props that have no place outside the wedding venue. They in fact look ridiculous in real life. Imagine putting that prop in your clinic or office!!

The balance methinks lies in the middle approach - too much flexibility only highlights the fact that you don't have a mind of your own and cannot think. Too much of rigidity on the other hand shows an insecure mind, afraid of change and a lack of confidence to face an unknown and thus, in oneself.

Lets celebrate the Middle Path. It was good enough for the Buddha, its good enough for me!! Life's good! So laugh a lot........