The queue appeared to be boundless. The selection process was way more
efficient at the city contest. And all the pretty women were arguing to
get into the waiting room with those high heels in one hand and
anti-perspirants in the other. A while later, my name was called out and
I was provided a name tag labelled as ‘AUDI11625 Aparajita Desai’ and
brought inside the waiting room.
The scenario at the waiting room was very different from outside. All these sophisticated ladies were nicely seated under the air conditioners, sipping coffee, overdoing their make-up or messaging their mates. Probably, I was the first one who seemed so simple and unornamental. We weren’t affluent enough to buy clothes from those big fashion stores, so my mom got my dress stitched by a tailor who worked in the basement of our building. My mom was my real hero. My father used to go on big tours so we rarely got any time to spend with him but my mother was always there to caress me and my little sister. She never let us feel the absence of our father.
By this time, a crowd of aristocratic ladies had gathered at the help desk and were appealing for the withdrawal of their names from the contest. I stopped one of them and enquired about the reason.
“You see that girl seated beside that man?”
I replied with a nod.
“She is Ayesha Oberoi. And that man is the Managing Director of the Times group.”
“Isn’t she the girl who appears in those television advertisements?” I enquired.
“Yes, and she’s also auditioning for the contest and everyone knows that the jury will favor her and she’ll win for sure. That’s the reason why so many of us are dropping out from the contest.”
I was in a dilemma if even I should drop out like the other girls. Ayesha was more attractive and beautiful than I was, and moreover, she was famous. What was I in front of her?
But then I was called for my interview and at that moment, I decided to just give it a try. Surprisingly, I was selected among the 30 finalists for the contest. But still the fact that I won’t be able to win, kept pestering me. Two days later I was to leave for the contest and I was still unprepared.
The day before my flight to Mumbai, my mom came and sat beside me. I opened my heart and feelings to her and she listened to all that I wanted to say without interrupting.
“Remember that day, when you were selected among the top 30 finalists? I didn’t wish you luck or praise you that day. You know why? Because I knew you would be selected. When you participated in all those childhood contests, did you feel this anxious about yourself? That time you were super-confident and that made you win all of those, isn’t it? Look at all of those certificates and trophies. Even you have something to be proud about. What if she’s famous, give it your best shot baby.”
Her words have got some kind of hoodoo. They always light a spark inside me. I should focus on my specialities rather than shortcomings. I don’t have quite exquisite a smile but I can play with eyes very well. So I’ll wear a heavy eye makeup and contrast it with nude lipstick.
It was my first travel in an airplane. My mother had given me instructions about the journey and I stepped into the plane with mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness. The land converted into green patches and then slowly diminished. No, it wasn’t the end of the world. I was flying in the midst of the clouds. It felt as if I was in a utopia.
We were provided rooms and every day we attended various practice sessions along with the routine ramp walk session. Meeting the famous fashion designers, beauty technicians, nutritionists, health specialists, models, actors and chefs was no less than a dream come true. And attending the personality enhancement sessions provided an edge to our personality. And as time passed, we transformed into confident and beautiful women. The shyness and fright of walking the ramp faded away and those stilettos didn’t bother us anymore.
It was now that the competition seemed fair enough as all of us had attended the same sessions and all seemed equally capable . And all of us were waiting only for the final day when one of us would be crowned Miss India World. We all knew that Ayesha would be among the top three but that didn’t make us diffident. We were far more stronger and braver than those girls who backed out after hearing about Ayesha taking part in the contest.
On the final day, there were plenty of e-mails, letters and messages from my relatives, friends and admirers wishing me luck and praising me for my efforts but one of them shone brighter than all the others. My mom had sent it.
'To my beautiful daughter.
You’ve made me really proud, sweetheart and I love it when people praise you and recognise me as Aparajita’s mother. All I want to say is that today is your day and do make it memorable. Not only for yourself but also for the nation. Put in all that you’ve learned and show your Miss India potential to the world. I want to see you wearing that crown, princess.'
My mom never really praised me but today when she did so, all I wanted was to show how capable I am, only for her. And to-day is the day.
Two days later, I reached home. I wasn’t yearning for all those praises but only for a nice little hug from my mom. She had cooked my favourite dish and after the lunch we sat together to watch the re-telecast of the contest. And at that moment, I made her wear the Miss World crown. She would always remain my queen and I her little princess.
The scenario at the waiting room was very different from outside. All these sophisticated ladies were nicely seated under the air conditioners, sipping coffee, overdoing their make-up or messaging their mates. Probably, I was the first one who seemed so simple and unornamental. We weren’t affluent enough to buy clothes from those big fashion stores, so my mom got my dress stitched by a tailor who worked in the basement of our building. My mom was my real hero. My father used to go on big tours so we rarely got any time to spend with him but my mother was always there to caress me and my little sister. She never let us feel the absence of our father.
By this time, a crowd of aristocratic ladies had gathered at the help desk and were appealing for the withdrawal of their names from the contest. I stopped one of them and enquired about the reason.
“You see that girl seated beside that man?”
I replied with a nod.
“She is Ayesha Oberoi. And that man is the Managing Director of the Times group.”
“Isn’t she the girl who appears in those television advertisements?” I enquired.
“Yes, and she’s also auditioning for the contest and everyone knows that the jury will favor her and she’ll win for sure. That’s the reason why so many of us are dropping out from the contest.”
I was in a dilemma if even I should drop out like the other girls. Ayesha was more attractive and beautiful than I was, and moreover, she was famous. What was I in front of her?
But then I was called for my interview and at that moment, I decided to just give it a try. Surprisingly, I was selected among the 30 finalists for the contest. But still the fact that I won’t be able to win, kept pestering me. Two days later I was to leave for the contest and I was still unprepared.
The day before my flight to Mumbai, my mom came and sat beside me. I opened my heart and feelings to her and she listened to all that I wanted to say without interrupting.
“Remember that day, when you were selected among the top 30 finalists? I didn’t wish you luck or praise you that day. You know why? Because I knew you would be selected. When you participated in all those childhood contests, did you feel this anxious about yourself? That time you were super-confident and that made you win all of those, isn’t it? Look at all of those certificates and trophies. Even you have something to be proud about. What if she’s famous, give it your best shot baby.”
Her words have got some kind of hoodoo. They always light a spark inside me. I should focus on my specialities rather than shortcomings. I don’t have quite exquisite a smile but I can play with eyes very well. So I’ll wear a heavy eye makeup and contrast it with nude lipstick.
It was my first travel in an airplane. My mother had given me instructions about the journey and I stepped into the plane with mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness. The land converted into green patches and then slowly diminished. No, it wasn’t the end of the world. I was flying in the midst of the clouds. It felt as if I was in a utopia.
We were provided rooms and every day we attended various practice sessions along with the routine ramp walk session. Meeting the famous fashion designers, beauty technicians, nutritionists, health specialists, models, actors and chefs was no less than a dream come true. And attending the personality enhancement sessions provided an edge to our personality. And as time passed, we transformed into confident and beautiful women. The shyness and fright of walking the ramp faded away and those stilettos didn’t bother us anymore.
It was now that the competition seemed fair enough as all of us had attended the same sessions and all seemed equally capable . And all of us were waiting only for the final day when one of us would be crowned Miss India World. We all knew that Ayesha would be among the top three but that didn’t make us diffident. We were far more stronger and braver than those girls who backed out after hearing about Ayesha taking part in the contest.
On the final day, there were plenty of e-mails, letters and messages from my relatives, friends and admirers wishing me luck and praising me for my efforts but one of them shone brighter than all the others. My mom had sent it.
'To my beautiful daughter.
You’ve made me really proud, sweetheart and I love it when people praise you and recognise me as Aparajita’s mother. All I want to say is that today is your day and do make it memorable. Not only for yourself but also for the nation. Put in all that you’ve learned and show your Miss India potential to the world. I want to see you wearing that crown, princess.'
My mom never really praised me but today when she did so, all I wanted was to show how capable I am, only for her. And to-day is the day.
Two days later, I reached home. I wasn’t yearning for all those praises but only for a nice little hug from my mom. She had cooked my favourite dish and after the lunch we sat together to watch the re-telecast of the contest. And at that moment, I made her wear the Miss World crown. She would always remain my queen and I her little princess.
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