Four years ago after I was done with one of the most important exams in an Indian kid's life, the twelfth standard board exams, I went to stay at my relatives' place. It was a time of limbo. I had nothing to do except entertain myself. The results hadn't been out yet and so the rigmarole of college admissions was still on hold.

There was a vague possibility of an entrance exam or an interview being required for admission to the course which I wanted, i.e., Bachelor's in English Literature. To help me prepare for the interview, my sister asked me a few questions. One of those questions was, "What is beauty?"

Her professor had asked this question to her class in the beginning of the semester when she was in college. On the last day of the semester the professor gave this answer: "Anything which looks like it is supposed to, has beauty". She then gave me the example of a tree, blossoming with flowers and covered with green leaves. Indeed, a beautiful image was painted in my mind: A big tree with leaves rustling in a light breeze, whispering to each other and anyone else who cared to listen; the flowers, dancing and rejoicing in the wind. Beautiful, isn't it?

I was impressed with this concept then. I had smiled at her. The smile of a young girl, fascinated and in awe.

Over the course of a few months, however, I grew increasingly dissatisfied with this idea of beauty. How do you decide what something or someone is supposed to look like? What is a woman supposed to look like? Thin? With long hair? Isn't a chubby woman with short hair beautiful? What is a man supposed to look like? How does anyone have a right to decide this? Who has the right to put rules and schema on Nature and natural things? Sure, a tree with flowers and bright, green leaves is beautiful but I find beauty in a bare tree as well!

Your parents met and, sometime later, had you—a whole new person, with your own likes, dislikes, tendencies and a personality. I find that beautiful. A single seed gave rise to a huge tree. I find that beautiful. If you don't look how you're "supposed" to look, you're still beautiful! If you aren't "normal", you're still beautiful!

"Haha, you're so flat, you look like a boy!"
"Why did you cut your hair so short? You look like a boy!"
"Oh! Wearing a dress today! You're finally looking like a girl. You should get rid of all those boys' clothes."
"Why are you laughing so loudly? Laugh like a girl."
"Why are you sitting li
ke that? Sit like a girl."
"Why are you growing your hair? Are you a girl?"
"Boys don't put make-up on!"
"Why are you crying like this? Man up."
"You're so thin, put on some weight!"
"You're fat, reduce weight!"

No. You're not ugly or abnormal. You don't need to conform to be beautiful.