Individual identity

INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY

The birthday party was in full swing. The dancers took to the floor. They were swaying to the latest Hindi hit film tunes. It was a thematic party. All the guests had to dress up in red ,or at least red should be a part in their outfit.
“Who is this gorgeous dame , in that red flamingo yar? What a beautiful outfit. She might be awfully rich to afford a kimono creation”
“Hush it is the lady itself. It is Shika designer of Kimono label.”
“Very lucky yaar and what a talented person. She might be basking in her success”
Shika grinned to herself. She has overheard the conversation.
“How wrong you are dears. Success is not sweet if you are alone. It has to be shared”
Shika was attending the birthday party of the son of her former lover and manager Shreedar. He had returned from US and was a CEO for another exports garment company. He had proposed to her but it was she who declined it. It was she who missed the aisle. Now she was alone at the altar of success.

Shika could never understand herself, by what she meant as individual identity. She wanted to achieve something in life. She wanted to be known as Shika and not to be known as anybody’s daughter or anybody’s wife.
“A woman has no individual identity especially in Indian society. I have to change it” she thought to herself but how can I create my own niche in this world .
This thought kept on harping on her mind giving her no peace.
....
Many people would give their right hand to be in her position. Her father belonged to the scion of industrial pedigree. His forefathers were the pioneers in bicycle manufacturing units in the state.
The British were ruling Madras presidency at that time. They were not allowing local traders to start any unit, as they feared that once the Indians tasted success the hold of the British would lessen and they would lose their supremacy in India,
After the quit India movement the British allowed the local people to undertake industrial activities on their own initiative. It was at this period
Shika’s forefathers started a bicycle-manufacturing unit.
In those days like any other families, her great grandfather Mr. Sivasubramanian was a patriarch of his family at that time. Sivakami was his child bride of thirteen. Sivasubramamian was in his early forties. He had earlier marital relationships and has lost his two wives due to childbirth and illness. He married Sivakami for progeny. Sivakami was at a loss. She herself could not understand what marriage was about. Sivasubramnian patiently taught her how to run the family and how to look after his needs. Above all he taught her how to love him. Sivakami gave birth to three children- (two girls and a son)
Sivasubramanian celebrated the birth of his son with great pomp and fanfare. Pandals were constructed. Homams were conducted, dhanams were given to poor Brahmins and Vedic mantras were chanted to increase the lifespan of the child. Many eminent artistes were asked to grace and sing for the occasion.

Sivaubramanian was a satisfied man. Now he had everything wealth and an heir but fates are not kinder. How can man be happy?
Just while he was planning to celebrate his Sashtiyabthapoorthi he died asleep.
Sivakami was just twenty-four when she was widowed. She had three kids and a family business to run. In those days a widow has to shave her head and wear white garments. Sivakami did not give in to social pressure. She got herself educated with the help of a tutor and passed the exams privately. She then tried to learn the rope of her husband’s business.
People tried to cheat her thinking that she was a woman. She however taught them a lesson. She appointed able and honest persons to guide her in the business. Soon she started earning profits even more than her husband.
All these stories might have affected me thought Shika. She was proud of her great grandmother and decided to follow her footsteps.
...
Many suitors came in asking for Shika’s hand. She was beautiful, rich and intelligent. What more does more a man require in his fiancé. She politely refused.
“No marriage for me, unless I am something” she stormed at her mother. Her father smiled indulgently. Her mother lost her cool “Instead of advising her he encourages her. It is as if I am only a stupid creature who is always grumbling at her”.
“Another Sivakami in the making .Her Kollupatti (great-grandmother) was ahead of her times, let Shika go with the times.” laughed her father.

Shika had a keen dress sense, Earlier she had modeled for some clothes for an advertisement company but it was not her cup of tea.
“Who'd want to be a clothes horse” she thought to herself”. The next best thing is designing clothes for the models.”
Once she had decided upon the course of action she enrolled herself in a full five-year fashion-designing course. She majored with flying colors and stood as a rank holder in the course.
Shika later went to London where she worked under a famous British designer. It was from him she learnt to pay heed to the minutest detail about boutique. How can a creation be functional and aesthetic to? How to juxtapose the artful precise minimalism of Japanese yen to the decadent extremes of a period French boudoir to the dazzling array of color and reflection of Indian sheeshmahal?
Architectural elegance and location of the store also boost sales.

Offers came tumbling in for her, from both the big players and small players in the world of haute courte. She chose to become the manager of a small firm. Many were surprised at the move but she felt that she could take independent decisions and in the long run and it will help her in her career.
She never restricted herself as a manager. She worked as a merchandiser, designer and even as saleslady. She perfomed so well and with so much enthusiasm, that her boss made her as a partner to his firm.
Reminiscing her apprenticeship she located her stores’ Cool and comfort Designer House in Anna Salai the business hub of the city.” Cool and Comfort was as luxurious and majestic as its name suggested .A high ceiling, onyx flooring, plushed carpeting and mirrored corridors give an aura of extensive space to the store. Strategic lightening enhanced the color of the clothes. At the center the inner sanctum there was a unique couture room. An antique chandelier painted with lotuses and a gargantuan modern day sheeshmahal ceiling reflected light to create a dazzling mosaic pattern in the room. It had an ambience of luxury and calmness.
At first she catered to a small clientele. Slowly she broadened her business.
The next step was to export her labels “Shika gossamer”.It was a collection of silk skirts plaited with gold and silver. Another prêt item was labeled the “exclusive Shika ancient culture labels” In this collection there was a blend of ancient Indian motifs with modern patterns. She kept on innovating she blended the Japanese kimono with Indian elements like ghungroos and sequins and labeled it as the kimono. It became a top selling line ,and orders poured in. She began exporting her labels in a big way. Some of the bigger players in Garment houses in European countries were her clients.
Shika has achieved her dream. She was at the pinnacle of glory. What she dreamed, she achieved.
Has this brought her peace, happiness she reflected to herself?
It was announced that Shika was to be awarded ‘The Best designer of the year. She received a notification to this effect she was also requested to bring some persons close to her as there was going to be a reception for her. Shika to her dismay found that there was nobody to stand by her in her success. Her parents have long before left for heavenly abode. Her close friends could not be present with her in her D-day, as they have their own commitments in life
“Sory shika, we have commitments now .Another time sweetie."
Shika felt that she has gained nothing in her search for individuality. She has missed the bus. Sivakami her great grandmother was an achiever in life in the true sense. She was doing something for the family whereas she has lost her boat. Her individuality has killed her romance.
Shika had fallen in love with Shreedhar her manager. He was a high flyer trained at IBM and she had hired him to help her in the business.
“Shika, you should leave the business and come with me to the states. I cannot be your househusband’ Shika did not want to let go off her dream at that time.
Her mother’s words kept on haunting her” Marriage does not mean you lose your individuality. What you gain is companionship and a family. A truly successful woman is one who balances heath and bacon”.
“What is the use of mourning over my past? Shika thought philosophically”
In life you lose something and than gain something, we cannot set back the clock. We can correct our past mistakes what we can do is learn lessons from them and prevent further mistakes”
She decided to put her experiences in a book, so that others might learn a lesson before it was too late.