‘Why do Men hate makeup so much?’ she grumbled aloud as she looked around for her Kohl Pencil.
‘You don’t look the same!’ She stuck her tongue out at herself in the mirror.
‘You look so different! She wiggled her shoulders.
‘Makeup makes you look made up!’ she exhaled, sitting down in front of the dressing table.
‘Arre, who applies all this makeup to look just the same?!’ she faced herself in the mirror. The soft light of the golden hour lit up her face. As she took in her reflection a slow smile began blossoming on her lips.
The almost invisible foundation covered her face like a whisper, giving her skin a flawless finish. She picked up her Kohl stick and rimmed her eyes with practiced hands. The smoky darkness of the kohl brought out the caramel of her eyes. She darkened her eyebrows to form perfect arches that framed those limpid pools. Her most favorite red lipstick the world filled in her cupid bow mouth.
The necklace fastened around her slim neck twinkled like a starry night. Fastening the chandelier earrings on her ear lobes, she loosened her hair around her face, and it fell around her shoulders in soft waves. She couldn’t stop looking at herself.
She loved herself. She loved how beautiful makeup made her feel. What did men know? She blushed and let a giggle slip as a spray of perfume added the final touch.
‘Suresh! Arre, Suresh! Where the fuck are you, you bastard?’ The reverie was broken as her boss, Mohan, walked into the room.
‘There he is! Fucker once again imagining he is the bride!’ Mohan laughed crudely.
‘Get up, ‘madam’! The wedding party won’t wait for a Chakka to finish getting dressed. Go do your job and get a handsome amount out of this family. You are my best-looking Hijra after all!’
Mohan’s laughter echoed down the hallway as he walked away.
- Chakka and Hijra are crude slangs for a Transgender Person
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.
My theme for the same is Navras – The Nine Emotions of Life. I will be writing Fiction for this theme.
This story is written for Shringara which means Love/Beauty.
Read my story for Karuna here
Read my story for Hasya here
Read my story for Bibhatsa here
Read my story for Adbhut here
Read my story for Bhayanaka here
I think there’s some deep irony in choosing this character for Shringara rasa.
The story was really beautiful about how makeup can change things, for anyone. I actually found it ironic!
You have beautifully expressed the shrangar rasa….such an unforgettable and unpredictable ending.. Only a blessed writer like your can do this.
Mayuri, I love your writing style and your short stories are amazing. You should publish them into a book!
What a irony! Yes, whoever is the person is, makeup makes people feel happy and relaxed.
It is so wonderfully penned how makeup can change a person’s look completely. Very ironic.
What a beautiful way to describe our inner soul which covered by the outer one. The deep irony behind the characters and the roles while depicting each one of them.
What a different and beautiful way to portray Shringara. Dressing up is not specific to any particular gender. We dress up firstly for ourselves, to highlight our best features. It could be subtle for some and more dramatic for others, based on what each one likes. I also can see the hope of married life for Suresh in this story as he imagines himself as a bride.
The make up was described so bueatifully…and then the twist was a shock well delivered . The story achieved what it was meant to.
I love the way you have portrayed Shringara rasa.. short, crisp and poignant.
A powerful message in this story, the need to be oneself, the joy that comes with expressing that true self and the pain of discrimination all blended so well.
Beautifully penned down story. You have created it with Shringaar ras and it really touched my heart.
Omg, what a great twist!! As I started reading the story I was so engrossed in it that I could visualize me as adorning myself standing in front of the mirror. And then, suddenly, that twist! How beautifully you have portrayed the essence of beauty and shringar. Loved it, totally loved it Mayuri. I will read the rest stories of this series soon.
A powerful story indeed. Gender discrimination is dissolving in today’s world, thanks to the authors who write on the theme.
Shringar is for anyone , if we attach to a particular gender then we are biased. Powerful ending in Mayuri ishtyle, loved it.
So well written and the twist in the end. Did not see that coming
Transgender! Very interesting and novel idea for a story. I love how you have weaved mystery around it.
Why is make up so gender specific? And who made it so? It should be choice of person whether they desire to use make up and dress up or no.
Loved it, Mayuri. Your fiction pieces are always a treat to read. I love the way you wove in shringar ras with a much deeper meaning and message. I will be back to read the other posts in the series.
My reading flow suddenly got stuck on the word’Chakka’, how smoothly you have penned the pain of transgenders who, most of the time, receive an evil smile on their identity. Makeup is indeed a part of life that anyone can take up willingly without any excuses and explanations.
Great! Honestly speaking I was ready this whole post normally but the twist at the end washed up my normal reading to an interesting one….
I really loved the way hownyou chose to express this emotion. I didn’t know it would take a twist. Another feather on your cap. Please get this published.
Very well written. Transgender deserve equal respect just like all of us. It is high time we end the discrimination.
Very nice story. Why should makeup be gender specific
Loved It Mayuri. The story clearly shows the real meaning of Shringara. Loved the twist at the end.
Lovely way everything is penned out…And a surprising ending. Loved learning so much about Shringara.
Loved the interesting twist , The story was really beautiful about how makeup can change things
I was deeply touched by this piece! Emotional to the core and I am sure to remember it for a long long time! This series of yours is fantastic.