We have all been lured into believing that there is a so-called "Prince Charming" or "Cinderella" waiting at the end of the aisle for us, via popular media; especially romance novels, mainstream cinema, and maybe popular tv shows as well. Some of us do belatedly realize that these dolled-up versions of actual people belong only in the script and not in real life, while others have irrevocably heightened their standards for a prospective life partner to impractical levels. The latter group can be said to be predominant in India, what with Bollywood shaping our views of love for almost half a century now. Who isn't familar with heroines decked in makeup, sashaying about in a saree, in staple boy-meets-girl tales? Or heartthrobs like Dev Anand and Shah Rukh Khan? Yes, you get the picture.
Now those of you who still live in Bollywood dreamland, kindly refrain from reading the rest because it may not be to your liking.
Think about this - How utterly beautiful it would be to be loved as our own genuine, messy selves, despite living in a world that glorifies external beauty? An individual in actuality is blood, sweat and tears. Not to make it seem distasteful to you, reader, but we are composed of slimy tissues, bacteria, dirt, oil, and all kinds of imperfections, be it literal or metaphorical. We may be coerced into thinking it necessary to cover up our imperfections, but if that were the case, what would be the state of the world? You tell me.