Many a prose has been composed about the Bengali belle. With her long, flowing locks, her practical cotton sari, her dusky complexion and modest earrings. Once set in motion, she is frolicking among mustard fields, walking by the river with a kolshi (water pitcher) at her waist, cooking an elaborate delicacy, or taking her children to school. 

 The Bengali woman in motion today, however, is in an entirely different ball game. She is more like the Goddess Durga with ten arms, multitasking like nobody's business. In her, society seeks the traditional maternal role history expects her to play to a tee; but she has her own aspirations, and has learned that there is no guilt in expecting more from herself. 

Photo: Sayeed Siddiqui
Model: Airin
Wardrobe and accessories: Aarong
Make-up: Farzana Shakil
Styling: Azra Mahmood