The red lipstick!

 " Don't you dare apply that blood red lipstick again",  I remembered my Aai's words, while putting on the red shade of lipstick, sitting in my vanity van.

  "Deviji, aapka shot ready hai !", my manager said. "Bas, lipstick dark karni padegi, scene ki requirement hai", he added.



I took out the red shade again and applied some more. I could see my Aai's face in the mirror, shaking her head in displeasure. She would have said, "Devi, your name doesn't stand for Sridevi, but it means a Goddess!".
  I ignored my thoughts and stepped out of the van.




There were these huge hoardings put up, with my life size pictures on it, along with that of the lead actor. I was already a Goddess, I felt proud of my achievements. I had done it, on my own, without a godfather in this industry. The set was ready, the shot was ready. My manager escorted me to the set. The lead actor came in too.




We both rehearsed the scene twice. It was a scene where the lead falls in love and it breaks into a romantic song.


Lights, camera and action...."Simran, tumhari yeh jheel si ankhein, tumhare yeh laal honth, yeh chand sa chehra....mein tumhare pyaar mei pagal ho raha hu.....I love you!".



"  Raj, mujhe bhi tum bahot pasand ho. Tumhare hi sapne, mei dekhti rahti hu, mujhe pata tha tum jaroor aaoge aur mujhe uda le jaoge!..".

" Hooooo....hoooo...Ahaaa ...Ahaaa... pyaar ki yeh nayi kahani...likhi hai aaj hamne......hmmmmmsssssssss....".
 

Cut....." Deviji, aap Sir ke kandhe pe apna sar rakho....aur aise, unke gaallon pe haath fero.....ha bas...yehi angle...waha se bhi angle lelo.....zoom...bust shot.....".



 "Ek retake...last wala angle, side wala....aur ek....once more Sir....Deviji aap yaha se aao....Sir aap inka haath pakdiye....".




"Chalo, chalo done for the day, pack up!".

I thanked the director,  cameraman, the team and the lead actor, and went back to the vanity van.



 "Madam makeup utar du?", asked my assistant."  Rosy, just sit here, I will do it". "Madam, are you upset with me? kya hua?", Rosy asked, in a worried tone.

  "Arey nahi, why would I be upset with you dear? Just that feeling a bit low",I said, putting up a fake smile. "  Shot to bahot accha hua, Mam",she tried to console me. "  It's not about the shot it's the lipstick that's bothering me",
I murmured and hurriedly wiped the lipstick with the cleansing wipe.
" Aap kabhi red lipstick nahi lagate na? But today you had to",she said.
" It's showbiz dear, you can't say no!, My Aai never liked it....".........."Aai?",Rosy interrupted.



"Yes! My mom, she never liked me wearing bright makeup. And red lipstick,  she used to hate! I dressed up, wore makeup, acted and danced, in front of the mirror, since I was little. Females of reputed family don't do all this, she used to say. She was against me joining the films too. She wanted to see me become a doctor. Rosy, I too studied very hard, for getting admitted to medical college, but i couldn't get through. It wasn't my cup of tea! And moreover, I loved acting".






"You are the best heroine Madam!",Rosy said, giving me a thumbs-up.
I smiled and continued, "  But am not the best daughter na? I couldn't be one. For making it big here, I had to leave behind my family. I eloped, the next day of my 12th grade results", I stopped, my throat felt congested.....undesirably, tears ran down my cheeks.



"  Kabhi kabhi jeet ne ke liye haarna bhi padta hai na Madamji? Aur haar kar jitne wale ko, Baazigar kehte hai!", she said, trying to make the atmosphere light.

Rosy had a similar story too. She had become a makeup artist against her parents wish. But I loved her confidence, she  flaunted that red lipstick, unhesitatingly!


I wiped off my tears...blew a flying kiss to her. I kept the red lipstick back in the corner of my vanity case.


JUI.

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   AUTHOR'S NOTE: "  Dreams, sometimes take away what is precious to you, but that doesn't mean you stop dreaming!" - JUI.
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