After the ‘collective emotional pressure’ for the ‘tiny feet’, here is the root map of the very ‘wellness’ they wish for the new-born, coated with tradition, wisdom and a pinch of racism.

Looking at the baby given out to them from the labour room, they say “She/he has gone after Papa/Mama”, but she didn’t get Mamma’s colour (Mama’s usually will be a shade lighter than the papas.) You say: Have you seen the parents of babies in the NICU waiting area?

A few hours later the new mama is shifted out of the labour room. The first thing she hears is ‘when the nurse handed over to us, she was much lighter. She is fading considerably’. You say: Of course, she was straight out of amniotic fluid, she would have been a paler shade.

The most powerful aunt pays the visit at the hospital and predicts the inevitable, ‘The knuckles, ears and the genitals are all darker, she/he is going to be much darker’. You say: Why don’t you join the meteorological department; they are having hard time predicting the weather.

Then you get discharged from the hospital, and reach home. The attendant, will give their suggestions of oil along with other family members about the best lightening oil for the babies.
The relatives come and go. They bring gifts. And they do not forget to give an extra gift of ‘colour remark’. You say: I think we have had enough ‘colour remark’ gifts, save it for yourself.

After a few weeks or months, you go back to the husband’s place, and luckily there are other children before this baby. You hear them say every now and then, ‘A was much fairer this time, B was still darker, but C is so dark’. You say, none of A’s or B’s parents were part of C’s making!
Then one fine day, another aunt comes in when you are bathing your baby and passes the comment on which soap/powder/foam should I use to increase the colour. You say: Have you got something to darken her shade a bit more?

Then you overhear the same aunt going to your husband and say, “This is why the elders say you should always choose a fairer girl to marry.” You say: anyway, he is madly in love with me now.

After a few weeks or months, you go back to the husband’s place, and luckily there are other children before this baby. You hear them say every now and then, ‘A was much fairer this time, B was still darker, but C is so dark’. You say, none of A’s or B’s parents were part of C’s making!