Make Up

Make-up is the word combo that immediately brings the woman and their obsession with cosmetics into the main picture. But, make-up is not limited to only covering up our physical flaws it can be much more than that let us see what is true make-up.      

Shyama was sitting morosely in her room in front of her desk. She had finished her work for the day (WFH). She was an IT employee, earning well and was appreciated for her work. So, why morose? she was more concerned about her dusky complexion. She had taken after her father who was so. On the other hand, her mother was very fair and beautiful. Shyama was very apprehensive about herself. She was of the opinion that beauty was symbolic of fair skin. That is what most of the time she was made to feel by many of her acquaintances. Shyama get up and get dressed up, said her mother Shagun. Mom, what for should I get dressed up? Questioned Shyama. In reply, Shagun said why not you are a young lady you need to look presentable always whether you are at home or outside because this is the way people judge you. She continued saying look at me I have made it a habit to look presentable every day. She kept combing her hair and applying light strokes of make-up. Shyama was enviously looking at her mother who was glowing even more. Shagun reminded her daughter to dress up . Shyama said" you feel like dressing up because you are fair-skinned and beautiful. You will like your mirror image anyway. But, I don't feel like dressing up because of my dusky complexion. Whatever I do will not make me look presentable".In reply Shyama said "no my lovely daughter, now the times have changed. The dusky complexion is in now. Don't you see so many celebrities with dusky complexion becoming so famous?".This brought a smile to Shyamas face. Shagun continued women and make up products are identical. But only buying cosmetics and applying them does not suffice to become a beautiful person. Make-up is two-dimensional. Do you know that? Looking at Shyamas puzzled expression Shagun continued. As a daughter, as a sister, as a wife and as a mother she is always making up for the mistakes that others around her make and that too without any remorse or regret. Shagun said I was always the first one to cover up(makeup) the mistakes that my younger siblings or more precisely your uncle(Varun mama) used to make. Shyama became alert she wanted to know what the matter really was. Shagun said " He was so mischievous that one day he broke grand pa's spectacles and was trying to hide it so that nobody would notice it. He wanted to avoid the scolding he would have to face from my dad and on top of it, he was ashamed of what had happened by his mistake. Of course, it is a very small one but for a young child, it was quite troublesome. So, I took it over me and depicted it as if I had broken the specs. I got a good scolding from my mom and dad. But, was okay with it as I had shielded my brother from scolding." Shyama said," yes of course you have applied make-up in the right way."She continued to say I myself had shielded my brother from committing many such mistakes that may look small but sometimes may boomerang into something more which we do not expect. Shyama recalled and narrated another such incident to her mother which was a secret that she had kept to herself I mean she had applied the required make-up. In fact, Shyamas younger brother Nikhil wanted to buy a pair of shoes that were expensive. He was so crazy after them. But, he knew his parents would chide him not to buy such expensive shoes. When Shyama understood this she very quietly bought a pair of shoes of his liking with the scholarship amount she had and had not quoted the real price of them to her mother. She had told her that the shoes were not the original brand but looked similar to the original. Hence she had made her mother and brother happy by giving up her money that was her hard-earned. Yes, she had applied make-up in the true sense beautifully.               

Now all these instances were from Shyamas younger days or for that matter during her adolescence or so. But, now she was married to her soul mate who proposed to her, not for her looks alone, mind you he was in awe of her dusky complexion (which she felt was a big hindrance and even make-up would not help her in any way). She was well educated and earning well and looked good obviously. Everything was fine. She was very happy but, for some time she was feeling that Akash her husband seemed to have lost interest in her. He spent most of his time at his Office. She even doubted that he was seeing someone else. Against this backdrop, she gets a call from her mother Shagun that she would come to her place for a few days as she would be going abroad later to assist her sister-in-law during her delivery time.Shyama was apprehensive as she herself was in personal turmoil. But being a woman make-up was the best armour she had. She invited her mother to visit her home wholeheartedly and felt very happy about the same. When Shagun was at her door Shyama went running to open the door. She hugged her mother earnestly and almost had tears in her eyes which she tried hiding. Shagun was very happy to see her daughter after quite some time. After the initial pleasantries were exchanged Shagun noticed that her daughter seemed to be lost in some thoughts most of the time Being a woman and a mother she understood that her daughter was trying to present her situation as the finest. Shagun wanted to find out if something was troubling her. She finally gathered some courage and asked Shyama if everything was fine. At that moment Shyama blurted all her doubts and feelings and expressed that everything was not so very fine between her and Akash her husband. Shagun was aghast. She felt so bad hearing this. But, had to keep her calm as it would make Shyama more depressed. She suggested Shyama get dressed up as it was evening and Akash would be back from Office. Shyama messaged Akash that her mother had come on a short vacation to their home. She did not get any response from him which was as usual But, due to Shagun's insistence, she decided to get dressed up and even applied a light make-up. Looking at herself in the mirror she felt she looked better than ever After a few minutes the doorbell rang and Akash was at the door. Looking at Shyamas face he gave a smile as if in appreciation. Shyama felt shy like a new bride and with a smile on her face, she walked into the kitchen to get him some refreshments before he would get fresh. After Akash spoke to Shagun for some time he called Shyama to tell her that he would take her to dinner that night. He even said Shagun too should accompany them. They would go shopping as well. This was a pleasant surprise to Shyama. And wished her mother could stay for some more time with them so that she would get such beautiful moments with Akash. Hearing what Akash said Shyama politely said that she would prefer to eat something light and preferably home-cooked food at night. She even said that it would be better if Shyama and Akash went out for shopping and dinner as she wanted to watch her favourite television show. This was a make-up trick she had used to bring the couple who were in tiff together. Shyama and Akash had a great time together. He bought her a beautiful Saree and took her to the same old restaurant that used to spend time together before their marriage. Shyama was on cloud nine. She was feeling so happy and good and thanked her mother who insisted on make-up(physical - to use the beauty products that definitely enhance your beauty and confidence)and the make-up that she here did to spend time with Akash and make things better and beautiful in their life .                    . . ..   So, make-up both physical and mental wellness should be prioritised and followed to get better results in life.