The Day I Talked To My Turban

17 Sep, 2015

Hi Turban,

We have been together for 34 years and have never shared a word. You would have talked for some time, but I always wanted to hear from you.

I saw you first on the Day I was born. My Papa took me in his strong arms, and I saw how smartly you were Gracing his head.

I may not know much about who you are or what you do, but I loved my father, and since you were his constant companion, I loved you, too.

His handsomeness multiplied whenever he wore you. He had limited choices in colours. He would either have Brown or Maroon Turbans. And somehow, I thought that My Dad was boring. Why doesn’t he try different colours?

I turned 12 in 1991, and that’s when my “Dastaar Bandi” happened & you graced my head for the first time.

Moment after official DastarBandi ^

The Very Same night at the DastarBandi Function ^

Initially, it felt tough.

How would I be comfortable with this uneasiness and weight on my Head? I never knew that Weight was of a Crown, which I would fall in love with later. 🙂

I studied in a Convent school, and it was not compulsory to wear the turban, unlike in Sikh schools, where a few of my friends had to wear it daily from class 6 onwards.

I was very comfortable in the Caps that I bought from Gaffar Market. Some said “Lakers” and on some “An Innocent Boy” was embroidered 🙂

In my Laker’s Cap ^

It was only at Family Functions that I started wearing you; for that, I sought help from My Cousin, Brother or Papa. You were just so difficult. Sometimes, I thought I would get my hair shorn just because I could not tie a turban.

How silly I was!

But as time passed, I wore you more often because I started working.

 

Wore a Cap with Formals too. Here in my classroom at National Institute of Sales! ^

It was only in 2001 that I started gracing you every day after my job at Appu Ghar.  And the colour I wore was mainly BLACK. Not because I liked it. But I had well-fitted Black trousers, and they matched. The only thing I had to worry about while dressing was the shirt and tie. That was easy.

Slowly, time passed, and I started wearing you in different colours, Some Bright and some Dark ones!

This continued until Papa’s Friend came to meet Papa for some work. He was also an Astrologer.

He casually mentioned that I should not wear a Black or Dark-Coloured Turban on Thursdays as Brahma Jee occupies the mind on Thursdays, and hence, dark colours should be avoided that day. I may not believe in Astrology as much, but I just asked myself, Why not?

At that very moment, I decided to shun wearing Dark-Coloured Turbans altogether. I keep making these kinds of spurt decisions and have never regretted them.

That day, I said Goodbye to Navy Blues, Dark Greens, and Blacks in my cupboard and started wearing Sky blues, Reds, Whites, Creams, Oranges, etc.

This was the Stage, where all my Turbans matched with my Clothes. Here in Appu Ghar with Hargun^

Orange Turban matching with the Colour of Text on my T-shirt^

Clothes play a significant role in enhancing moods.

Slowly, I realised that I looked good when I wore a Red Turban and had a lovely day, too. When I wore White, the day was dull. When I wore Brown, I felt lazy, and the day didn’t end well. Slowly, I started wearing red almost four times a week.

Two years ago, I was supposed to meet a friend in a crowded area, and I reached before him. I told him my location and waited for him. Even though he was around, he could not find me. Finally, I called him and reached where he was standing.

I confonted him “Saale, tujhe mein nahi dikha?”

And what he replied made me think. He Said “Tikku, I was searching for you in a Red Turban,” and when I saw you in a white turban, I thought this can’t be you and turned around. 

This is when I realised that people connect me with Red Turban. And after giving it a thought, I realised that it feels good when I’m in a Red Turban. It matches all kinds of clothes too. Then why not just stick to Maroons, Crimson and Reds? And so I did.

Just a few years back, I used to think My Dad was boring as he wore turbans of only two colours, and I’m now down to just one 🙂

Dear Turban, You have always been with me. You made me look good, feel confident, and give me an identity. I would like to Thank You for everything.

It is said that “Amle ke Khaya aur Burre ka kahaa baad mein pata chalta hai”.  I would add ki Pagree ki mahima bhi Kuch samay ke baad samajh mein aati hai.

You are my friend & much beyond a religious compulsion.

Me in my RED TURBAN^

Thanks, Please keep Gracing me 🙂