Kevin Waithaka

Women’s Day Series: Tribulations of an unattractive woman Tribulations of an unattractive woman They all called me ugly at first Teased me by names such as ‘Ugly duckling’ and finally labeled Me as the world’s ugliest woman! I was never liked by anyone They called me an alien Treated my presence as a sinister Humiliated me time and time again. People compared me to a rotten egg! Felt nauseated by my appearance Nobody wanted to be friends with me Didn’t even try to figure out That I too had a heart and was a human being! I became a leafless maple tree I lived in solitude and bitterness In a jungle of despair and darkness But I have learnt to survive Hope has kept me alive. I know that I was not Like those attractive ladies Who were easily hired By all the big companies Rather a lady hated by everybody. Finding a good job was never easy I was rejected, rejected and always rejected! Nobody was interested in me Not even a single person Appreciated my talent and abilities. I struggled with sarcastic statements My parents were the most worried I was not a fatso! I did everything to look pretty good but Nobody found me attractive. My own relatives bullied me Saying nobody would like to marry me I felt very low and lost confidence I was shocked by the ugly truth That even an ugly looking uneducated man Doesn’t like to marry An ugly looking yet educated woman! Hatred, hatred and hatred all the time All the people around were cacti I was a touch-me-not plant But I have learnt to survive Hope has kept me alive. I didn’t want my life to be a tragedy Why were people so mean? When asked to define beauty Everybody talks about inner beauty Flaunt by saying beauty which is just Skin deep is no beauty at all But in reality people judge us finally Based on our outward appearance. I lost faith in everything My life was in a predicament Nobody cared for my feelings Not even my own parents! Nobody came forward to marry me At last, I was advised to marry A rich old man Yes! A man double my age Who wanted a young woman to be his slave. Tears rolled down my ugly cheeks I couldn’t raise my voice I found myself in the same situation As that of a ten year old poor boy Dying of hunger and has No other option than Eating leftovers from the dustbin. I couldn’t fight back Nobody was on my side My own parents were not Able to empathize with me My life became a big question mark But I knew that my heart Was a magnolia flower I have learnt to survive Hope has kept me alive. I never wanted to live On the pity of others And wasn’t a coward to quit life And commit a suicide. I decided to live in solitude I know it’s not so easy But I was not a Cinderella No fairy godmother would come to my rescue I am an ugly contorted tree I may not be of any use to others Still I am happy and lucky Because nobody can chop me down! I have learnt to survive Hope has kept me alive.