The Mirror Doesn't Lie!

'My eyes are my true assets!', Maya declared aloud, to no one.

'Some kajal and a few brushes of eyelash thickener and lo, the magic unfolds', this time she thought to herself while busying herself in the same chore.

The makeup took around half an hour. The lavender-colored saree with a matching blouse complemented her wheatish complexion perfectly. She opened her jewelry box and chose a slender chain with a mermaid's pendant. The earrings and the stone bangles were picked up to match the rest of the jewelry. Nails were painted to go with the other paraphernalia.

Maya checked in the mirror once more and was not exactly satisfied with the lipstick. She tried a couple of shades of pink before settling for a light magenta. Now I am set, she decided. She came out to check herself in the full-length mirror near the door. She happened to look at the clock and gasped.

'It is already 4 and I hardly have one more hour'.

With more urgency in her movements, Maya checked herself once more. She got out her mobile and started clicking selfies. Using the mirror she shot herself in a lot of angles, using the mirror also.

'I look better than that mem sahib some times. She would never know that', with a wry smile, Maya reflected. She blew a kiss to her reflection in the mirror before twirling around to check herself.

There was a chime somewhere in the building which brought Maya back to her senses. She checked the time. It is almost 5. Frantically she started rounding off her weekly routine. 'Before she comes back, I need to be my old self. Otherwise, there would be a big ruckus', she thought while rushing to the bathroom. She changed her dress, wiped off the makeup, lipstick and took off the ornaments and kept them in the jewelry box. She started ironing the saree and blouse while checking herself about any possible items she might have missed.

Once Maya finished that, she connected her mobile to the laptop, stored the images in a folder that already contained quite a few of such images. The folder was protected by a password already. Then it was kept in an innocuous location. 'Remember the purloined letter, dear Holmes', Maya smiled inwardly.

Maya stepped back and look at the room approvingly. Nothing out of place, nothing to induce suspicion. With a sigh, Maya thought,' I have to wait a week more for all this. Fortunately, the kitty party or some other such thing, they plan on Saturdays'.

Doorbell rang. Maya came out of thoughts and rushed towards the door and opened it.

' Hi, what are you doing? Sleeping again?' Mohini came in and flopped onto the couch. 'Let us have some chai. This traffic gives one headache even when one is not driving! where is the maid? She is supposed to be here by five, right? "

The bindi! Maya cursed inwardly. Slowly turning away towards the window, bindi was removed with a casual and deft move.

' Arey yaar, Mayank! where are you going? I am talking to you only', Mohini said with irritation.

'Nowhere. Thought there was something shining on the windowpane', Mayank said, then, spotting the maid entering the house, ' Make tea fast. Why are you always late?'

"No Sir ji, there was a lot of traffic. It was difficult to find a rickshaw. I am getting tea in a moment', the maid rushed into the kitchen.

Maya (nk), went and sat down with Mohini.