A Love Letter

Dear Vitiligo,

You rocked my world when you first came into my life- 13 years ago.
You were my 9/11.
My Tsunami.

I tried to hide your first few spots
with a Band- Aid.
Imagine!

You were my extra marital affair-
My secret
to be kept hidden from family and friends.

You filled my thoughts, my hours and my days.
I could think of nothing else.
You consumed me.

Your passion was brutal- you drained me
and robbed me of my melanin
pigment by pigment- I was putty in your hands.

You seduced me
with treatment options
Steroid creams, Ayurveda, Chinese herbs, PUVA and NB-UVB.

Your kisses left spotted evidence
on my neck, my cheeks, my hands, my eyes
which I tried to cover up-

with Turtle necks
long sleeved tops
and fancy sunglasses.

Oh! Mrs. Jain..."your colourful tights are so in".
And those scarves-
Camouflage!

Little do they know-
I'm keeping you all to myself
You are my secret lover- I'll bear your bruises in private.

You took me to the dark side
I clawed my way back
Bring it on you bastard - I am ready to break free.

The doctor said,
"Consider yourself lucky-
It's not cancer."

The husband said,
"I bagged a great deal-
 A BOGOF- married a brown girl, got a white one for free- Yipee!"

I quit the doctor
and
kissed the husband.

You are a part of me and always will be
A topsy- turvy fantasy
a threesome- you, me and hubby.

Love

Arti
xoxo



All the hullabaloo caused by the new Miss America made me think about pigmentation and hence my letter above. I have lived with Vitiligo for thirteen odd years and see myself as 'a-patchy-Indian' (Apache Indian) :)
I enjoyed reading this article:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/17/miss-america-meet-india-s-dark-side.html


In case you are wondering about Vitiligo ( also known as leucoderma), here's an explanation:

Vitiligo Explained

Whilst vitiligo is a relatively common skin disease, it is little known by the general public and often not well understood by the medical profession. In modern society appearance can be all important.  It is the constant worry of the increasing visible difference that makes vitiligo so extremely difficult to live with.  It is for this reason that sufferers can find it hard to adjust to their changing appearance; It can even raise questions of cultural identity when darker skinned people may have to face the prospect of a future with white skin.

 source: http://www.vitiligosociety.org.uk/index.php/vitiligo-explained.html

and a BOGOF is- buy one get one free.