Beauty Contest(Aciis Khatiwada) Earlier today, a man from the organizing committee came to Mangma’s neighbourhood on his customized horse carriage, with big posters tied on either side, playing funky music, to promote the contest.
"I heard that there is a beauty contest happening next month in Isletown", said Mangma. "So?" asked Delina in a state of slight confusion. "There is a catch", replied Mangma. "What is it?" asked Delina. "It is for women above sixty", replied Mangma with much enthusiasm. "Am I guessing this right? You want to participate, don't you?" replied Delina. "Yes, I do and why don't you do the same", an enthralled Mangma replied. “But who runs a beauty contest for women about sixty? Have they not noticed the shape of our body and condition of our skin? We can barely speak in a clear tone, how are we supposed to answer those rapid fire questions?” asked Delina.
Both women then took a pause and then engaged themselves in their regular gossips.
Later, as Delina was busy cleaning the utensils in the kitchen, Mangma entered inside wearing a red gown and some pretty make-up. She waited for Delina’s attention. This gown, it looked clean as if it was new and never was in use before. Upon noticing, Delina broke out, “Really, you want to participate in a contest that is not a contest?”
“What is wrong in me?”
“You are sixty dear”
“Still twenty two years younger than my old mama”
“You seem to have made up your mind already then”
“I think so”
“So, what do you want?”
“Your perspective”
“You look beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but this is no age for a contest, even if it says it is for people over sixty.”
Upon hearing Delina’s answer Mangma headed out of the room as if she felt this urge to stay alone and rethink about the matter at hand. She went to the bedroom and locked the door.
She got undressed and laid on the bed, without a single thread of clothing on her body.
“What is beauty? – Is it my body or my soul? – Is it not what I think and do? – Is the outside look all in all? – How can the outlook of a person be a standard for beauty? I look alright now and I am smart as always. I have all the prerequisites to be a winner this time.”
After her soliloquy, she cried bitterly.

After a while, she stopped crying, stood up and then got dressed. She went to the kitchen to see what Delina was up to. She was not to be found.
“Delina, where are you?” she was not inside the house.
After few minutes, Delina came back with a ticket and gave it to Mangma. It was a golden ticket. Mangma was now officially a contestant of the forthcoming beauty contest. This brought immense joy in her. She jumped and embraced Delina. Delina was happy for her, after all she was the one who paid thirty-five coins necessary for admission in the contest.
Delina had kept a mud vessel with a small opening on top from where she would drop silver coins of ones and twos and sometimes fives and tens to make a saving. She started saving money eight-and-a-half months ago and now the vessel was destroyed. At the time of destroying the vessel she only thought about two things; firstly, Mangma’s admission in the contest, and secondly, buying a new vessel which would cost two coins. She did both.

Upon getting the ticket, Mangma ran to the bedroom and opened the wall closet, took a medium size purse out and kept the ticket inside and then closed the closet with immense care. One could’ve easily understood her action.
Out of many possibilities, one thing was certain, Mangma was over joyous. She was grinning, almost from ear to ear. She then headed to the kitchen and at this point in time, Delina was preparing mash potatoes with garlic, pepper and cilantro with lemon juice sprinkled from the top. Along with that she was making a big slice of lamb thigh ready to marinate in olive oil and some garden herbs. Upon seeing the on-going cooking and further preparation of the dinner, Mangma joined in.
She told Delina how happy she feels at the moment and that she could not thank her enough. Delina inquired why she seemed so obsessed with the contest. Mangma told her that as a teenager, she was once inspired to become a pageant girl.
Delina grew interested and asked if there ever was a situation when she felt like she could make it. Mangma told her that there indeed was a situation once.
“Can you please tell me about it?”
“Well, of course, I will. I, Fiorinca Mangma Dela Stein, had just turned 16. I was at the time captain of my class and head of my school’s girl group called “Girl Troopers”. I was very active in conducting events in my school. I had the respect from my friends, both girls and boys and from teen empowerment groups of our school.
One day a few gentle-looking women and men visited our school and I was asked to visit the principal’s office. The principal introduced me to the visitors and told me to prepare for a selection process. I asked her what sort of selection we are talking about. She told me it was for a beauty pageant. I took it as an order and started working on it right away.
Turn the lamb on the other side. Apply some sauce and keep the heat low.
So, as I spend a couple of days working for the pageant selection, I had this realization. I wondered if I was eligible for selection. I was in a dilemma because I was at the time unaware of the requisites for pageant contest of any sort.
The next day, I visited the principal’s office and told her about my interest. She, at once, told me to go for it. “You are a smart young girl and a leader, my lady. Go for it.” I was immensely delighted.
The day of pre-selection arrived, in the panel of judges where two pretty women and one man in a tie and suit. My principal was the consultant.
A few of my friends were already selected. I was in the line, behind six other girls, more than ten behind me as well. These girls were between ages twelve to sixteen. Since I was from the senior most class of the school, my age group was the oldest. We were girls in the midst of our teenage years. While I was thin and flat bodied, some of my friends who took part in selection, thanks to the makeup and other beauty products, looked like young girls between ages twenty to twenty two.
The girl ahead of me entered inside the audition chamber as her name was called by our teacher Mrs. Anita. My heart started pounding as I was the next to be called. This girl who went inside earlier came out with tears in her eyes. I was not sure if those were of happiness or …
Turn the stove off. Could you fetch some water to boil?
As I was saying, I was not entirely sure what her tears were made of, were they of happiness of selection or sadness of rejection. Anyway, my name was announced, I could feel my poor heart palpitating; however, I gathered strength and went in.
I was told to stand inside the circle that was made in front of the judges. I was asked my name after that. A woman and a man, the one in tie and suit gazed me entirely. No one spoke anything. My principal who was the consultant tried to ease the air but the judges did not make a sound. My heart was almost certain to come out of my flat chest and give it a half-shape, at least for once.
“Could you please turn around, I mean entirely”
“Slowly, not so fast, young lady”
“Okay, strike us a few poses, like you see models and super models do in the magazine”
“Is this the best hair and makeup you can do?”
I nodded my head.
“Do you think you are pretty?”
I certainly did not regard myself that highly but I was now getting nervous. These questions felt provoking. I did not have answers for any of them.
“Who is the president of the country?”
“Name the provincial capital of your state”
“Name any three rights and duties of a citizen”
“If you were in a situation where you could either save yourself or a family member, who would you save?”
I answered them all smartly. I definitely aced the viva. I was getting confident now. I was dreaming of that stage and me walking on the ramp like models.
“Sorry, we cannot take you. You were brilliant with the answers but it is a beauty contest and your bodily figure do matter the most. Why don’t you start preparing for next year? I am pretty sure, you will make it then.”

A stream of tears burst open in Delina’s eyes.

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