You can set your watch by me, that’s how punctual I am. However, sometimes I do have days that make me rush through my routine to keep my punctuality record intact.
Last week I had one of those days. I slept through my alarm and woke up to realize that I had precious little time to get showered and dressed for my meetings of the day. To save time, I decided to finish applying my usual lipstick, kajal, and bindi and don my accessories in the car on the way to my venue.
As I rushed towards the venue, I nodded, smiled at, and smiled back at people I met along the way. I breezed through the day, concluding a series of meetings. Evening was dawning as I walked out of the building, and I absent mindedly smiled at the lady sweeping the compound. She flashed me a radiant one in return, put her thumb and forefinger together, and gestured with her hand at me from top to bottom to signal that I was looking good. I beamed back my thanks, and as I walked towards my car, she called out to me and very softly pointed out that my Bindi was slightly askew.
I instinctively turned to look at the nearest reflective surface, and sure enough, my Bindi was askew. Not too much, but it was, and noticeably so!
My good mood instantly evaporated. As I centered my Bindi between my eyebrows, I wondered why, of all the people I had met since the morning, no one had bothered to tell me that my Bindi was askew.
Had they not noticed? Or perhaps they were too polite to mention it? Did they lack the concern, or did they think it just wasn’t their place to tell me? These questions swirled in my mind as I tried to make sense of the situation.
Sometimes, your life is like the Bindi askew on your forehead. You are confident of what you are doing, like me getting my accessories on in the car, and think you control what you do. However, you realize or are made to realize much later that you probably missed the mark, even if it was by a fraction.
Occasionally, your loved ones shy away from telling you what they want to. Or perhaps the burden of responsibilities they are snowed under prevents them from noticing that something is askew with you, even though it may be in plain sight. At other times, your feelings and your probable reactions matter to them, which is why they choose to keep the peace instead of pointing out what could be set right.
Then there are days when you are favored, where acquaintances and strangers help you out without you asking them for it.
What I also understood is that very few people care and fewer still are candid enough to tell you the truth when you do miss the mark or take a decision that may not be right for you. For example, none of the people whom I met during the day told me about my Bindi being askew. It was only the sweeper woman who was forthright enough to do so.
This piece is not about the Bindi. The Bindi is but a metaphor for me, my life, my choices, and my decisions. As for the people I met throughout the day, they signify those closest to me and the people who cross paths with me as I journey through life.
The onus is always on me to not rush, to be alert, to be aware, and to place that Bindi right. So that no one should need to point out that my Bindi is askew.
Methaphor is Metaphoring..
Beautiful example of how mundane and small things teach you life lessons ..
An absolute delightful read
Thank you for reading, and helping out, Deepti.
When you mentioned confidence evaporated when someone corrected you, it happens. When we are made to realize that there is another side if our perfection too, then we see something new. I completely liked the metaphor of bindi with life. You are truly word charmer.
When we are made to realize that there is another side if our perfection too, then we see something new – this is my takeaway from your comment, MeenalSonal- a very wise observation and lesson. Glad you enjoyed reading the post.
Thank you for sharing this, Your words prompt me to contemplate the alignment of my metaphorical Bindi’s. They remind me to approach each day with mindfulness and introspection, ensuring that I remain steadfast in my pursuit of balance and authenticity in life.
Glad reading this post helped you, Preethi. Thank you for reading.