Kasturi

The other day I overheard couple of elderly ladies talking in an India Eatery.Atfirst I was not interested in listening to them, what can a bunch of elderly Indian ladies talk about? Recipes? Kids and grandkids? Neighborhood gossip? The latest episode of some absurd TV serial?

But what caught my interest was their multiple references to a girl called Kasturi.I knew about a friend by that name that I completely lost in touch with. I wondered if they were talking about the same person and my curiosity arouse (as usual!) to know more about their chat. I was eaves dropping shamelessly, and could gather that Kasturi is the Ideal Indian daughter/sister/daughter-in-law/wife/mother. And what makes them conclude that? Because she

• wakes up early in the morning "before sunrise"
• cooks and cleans regularly
• makes the best tasting dishes in the neighborhood
• takes care of MIL,FIL,SILs,BILs and all other in-laws with utmost care and respect
• even though "professionally qualified" has chosen not to work, so that she can devote all her time to her family
• Can haggle and bargain away to glory at the market till the shop keeper gives up in meek submission at her intelligence.
• gives the most sensible and practical advice to all troubled souls around
• Always kind, generous, helpful, sensitive to other's needs, etc...Etc...Etc...
• slogs away to glory without complaining ,not even a word ..mind you..!

Besides wondering if this is the same Kasturi I knew, I was wondering if there exists any such person in today's day and time! I do not come anywhere near to possessing any of the qualities mentioned above. Nor do I know of any female of my age(20-30) who has ALL the qualities mentioned above. They do have couple or more,but not ALL!!

S was as usual busy with his blackberry, which gave me time to focus my whole concentration on their discussion rather than my masala dosa. I was so absorbed in their talk that I "Shhhh-ed" the waiter who came by to ask if we want to order for more!! Well, by doing that I guess I gave away what I was doing...listening in on somebody else's personal chat sessions. I blushed red with embarrassment, and expected angry glares. But quite contrary, the 'aunties' in question did not seem to mind, they smiled politely and I HAD to ask them about Kasturi.

That is when the cat came out of the bag, Apparently they were talking about a 'Kasturi' who was the heroine of a daily afternoon soap opera...duh...!!"Don’t you watch that serial?” they asked. Strangely I was mighty pleased that Kasturi was in fact fictional. And here I was imagining some super-woman, and going all J over her!

Personally, I feel it would be a miracle if there really is some person like Kasturi in real life in this age and time. There were women like that in the bygone era but nowadays and 'all of the above', I don’t think so. Today women are endowed with enough freedom of thought and action that it is not quite 'womanly' possible in reality to be THE IDEAL PERSON.