I recently came across this post on Instagram, which, if I were to paraphrase, said something on the lines of, ‘We leave traces of who we are in the things we create.’ In an intrigued attempt to see if there was any truth in the above, I decided to review some of my writings, poems, song cover choices and realized that an outsider going through my content would probably think I’d been stabbed in the heart with a sharp switchblade.
A quick conversation with my trusted friend, R, revealed that maybe it was time to explore lighter themes so I wouldn’t get branded as a Rupi Kaur. (No offense, but I’m team Lang Leav). ‘Lighter themes.’ Somehow, it did not sit down very well with me. Probably because other associated words that popped up in my head were ‘casual’, ‘shallow’ and ‘barely scratching the surface’. But I think more than anything else, it was also unsettling, because it posed itself as a challenge. Over the years, I’ve made myself fluent in the language of hurt, heartbreak, loss and pain. Writing around these associated themes has become second nature to me. I can safely say that I’ve experienced a fair share of ups and downs, which is what is quite common at 28. What is NOT common however, is my penchant for intensity, over-analyzing and being deeply emotional.
So I did what every writer looking for answers and contemplating exploring new territory does: Stop writing. Each time the urge to pen down something hit, the trigger would often be from a place of pain and the whole idea was to write about something happy. To make matters even more complicated my entire family back home in India tested positive for the Coronavirus, and here I was sitting a hundred miles away, feeling absolutely helpless, while still on my quest of finding a happy topic.
I remember being stretched flat across the sofa in the living room, trying to find something to numb both thoughts and feelings when I finally decided to give in to the persistent cajoling of my friends to watch ‘The Bold Type.’ Now typically, a show about three 20 something women working for a fashion magazine is EXACTLY the kind of show I’d steer clear from. But I figured I was already dangerously close to ‘rock bottom,’ so I really couldn’t fall much further.
It took a few minutes and a great deal of self-control to not be judgmental initially, but I was sold by the time the credits were rolling at the end of the first episode. Here was a show about 3 friends trying hard to be there for each other, albeit in a slightly unrealistic manner. Let’s be honest, it’s a little harder than what’s depicted to throw away everything you are doing and be there for your friends, given the work-oriented lives we lead. But shouldn’t that be what friendships are all about? Being there for the people you love?
Now usually, I’m able to lay my finger down on exactly which character from a show I’d relate with most. In the case of ‘The Bold Type,’ this was slightly more challenging as I found a little bit of me embedded in every character. And I found this refreshing because often, people contain so much more than what is captured by one character. We have so many layers, so many intricacies that go beyond the ambits of what a single fictional character can depict.
But if you ARE curious about which character I most relate to, it would have to be ‘Kat Edison.’ Brilliantly played by Aisha Dee (My new favorite girl on the block), Kat is equal parts ‘wow’ and equal parts ‘How did she not see that coming?’. Sorted on the surface, yet emotionally convoluted. She’s both woke and vocal professionally, but she isn’t the first person in the room to speak up for what she wants. Work doesn’t faze her; people do. Oh, can I take a moment to talk about how she not only goes out of her way but forges a new path to be there for those she cares about? Kat IS goals and someday, I hope to book a first-class ticket to wait with a friend in need at the airport. Universe, If this ever does happen, please note that I said ‘first-class? 🙂
So today, I’m thankful to ‘The Bold Type’ for being a show that got me off the couch, thanks to some great camaraderie and a brilliant tribute to women being there for each other. I’m thankful for the Whatsapp Group my friends have created and titled ‘The Bold type’. May we be the women who grow to share a similar bond.
Thank you, K, S and R ( we really need to work on your code names) for insisting that I give this show a shot and painting a pretty picture of scenes you guys thought I’d find interesting. Today, I judge your choice of TV shows a little less. And if you, dear reader, have stuck around long enough to reach the end of this rant, I think we can agree that when you write about shows on friendship, you automatically enter into the zone of ‘lighter themes.’