Ritika Ruminates

 Image source- Monash Impact The recent judgement of Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has made all people feel more unsafe than what we feel already. It ruled that groping a minor without 'skin to skin contact' isn't sexual assault under POSCO.  Sexual assault is unfortunately very much normalized in our country. All girls and women feel unsafe. I myself know many who have gone through any kind of sexual assault. Pepper sprays, holding keys between fingers, inspecting cars or cabs multiple time before getting in, learning self defense, having to give up short clothes, having to have a male with us to protect us, and the list goes on. Though this is not only experienced by minors, but also adults irrespective of gender. Image source- Twitter @egyptianbeyonce   This ruling will make the matter for girls and women and even boys even more worse. Unfortunately, for minor boys, they cannot even complain or raise their voice as " Boys don't get sexually assau...

Image source- HR Vietnam Since 9th standard (or maybe even before), I have been a lot into tomboyish clothes. Thanks to my bestfriend who introduced me to word tomboy (though I have been that since 5th standard or so), I researched about it like its a thesis, and got introduced to comfortable (and practical) clothing. And since then, there have been no going back. My comfort's rivalry with 'girly' or Indian traditional woman clothes date back since I have been a small child. The pricky and itchiness that comes with it, god, it is uncomfortable (for me, might be comfortable for others)! Tees, shirts and denims became my all time savior and comforter. Shorts were once, but the typical stare, laziness to shave my legs, and Indian mother's " thik se baitha kar", "aur chhote shorts nahi mile?" and  "Log kya kahenge?"  made me have to limit me wearing shorts in public to football shorts only. Expensive & suffocative bras, tops where you won...

Be it violating privacy of Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli (congratulations to them for the baby) to literally any other couple, we Indians are pretty great at it. Paparazzi to gossip gangs to judgemental mouths, a couple's privacy isn't respected. Some will follow them openly or secretly better than a chameleon, judging their relationship, scaring the newlyweds with "This is it. Ab toh shaadi ho chuki hai" to asking them the Indian standard question (soon after marriage) - "Koi good news?". If we didn't get the privacy to lock our doors in our teenage, let's ruin the privacy of other couples.  I recently read this book by Ravinder Singh named 'This Love That Feels Right'. It speaks about freedom in relationships, emotional support, satisfaction in relationship and extra marital affairs. It also gives message on how we should not judge other's relationships. We will judge a couple if they do not have kid soon after marriage and give unasked ad...

With Masters in Short Hairs with 14/15yrs of experience, I have experienced various judgemental comments about my short hairs. Though I ignore most of times, there have been a few times that I gave a sarcastic reply to shut their mouth up. And trillions of times within my head. So here are a few sarcastic comebacks you can use when someone pass judgemental comments on your short hairs. Though they are similar, but anyways.  1. To that very random uncle/aunty who cannot mind their own lives and pokes their nose in everyone's choices, asks "Why don't you keep long hair?" Comeback: Oh well, I didn't want to keep the length of my hair equal to height of your judgemental nature/toxicity (use whichever word you like). 2. Random person: Your hairs are so short. Short hairs dont suit girls. Girls should have long hairs, and not boy cuts. And Blah Blah Blah Comeback: Yeah, my hairs are short, but not shorter than your mentality though😅😂😎😛 *Awkward silence*  3. Person: ...