Journey called love: The one with the makeup

The little things my sister tells me about life, the way she makes me laugh by telling me anecdotes, the way she gets angry at me when I don't shop with her, the way she taught me before my competitive exams, the advice she gave me about getting prepared for the wedding ceremony, all these things and many more are indispensable to me. In a way they have made me who I am.

Growing up, I didn't need anyone else. She was always there to give me company. She was my teacher, my swimming buddy, my inspiration, my best friend. I never really felt that needed any friends but when she went to college, she left a gap. A part of me was happy she had gone as now I had the whole room to myself. But a part of me missed her like crazy. Missed fighting with her, missed getting mad at her, missed doing her work, missed being taught by her.

This one incident that happened before one of the many wedding ceremonies. We had to get ready and I couldn't use any water to take bath as it would spoil the henna I had put on. It was then my sister and her friend literally mummified me by wrapping me up with plastic bags. Then my sister helped me take a head bath. But when the hair dried I realized it wasn't cleaned properly and my hair was still oily. It was too late for another head bath as I knew that my fiance would be reaching in an half an hour and I had not even started getting ready. 

I was flustered and in tears. "My hair is oily, my dress is so simple. I want to look good, how would I do it? I don't even know how to do make-up. How will I look beautiful?" these were my thoughts (remembering this makes me feel silly). It was then my sister got up, ordered me to get dressed, got her make-up kit, started taking out her stuff and quickly started working on my face. Putting this and that. Foundation, mouse, compact, blush, eye-make, mascara, eye liner, kajal, I don't even remember what all she put on my face. She was quick and efficient. Her friend taking over where she had slightly missed. Both of them ended up making me look so pretty. 

We (me, my mom, and her friend) were surprised how and when she learnt to do make-up. Anyone who knows us would say that we are always into books and have no knowledge about make-up or how to look pretty. We all so surprised and amazed by her newly acquired skills that we complemented her by saying that she should start doing this as a part time business! 

That night when the ceremony started, my (then) fiance (now husband) said I looked pretty and I was all smiles. This was all I wanted and thanks to my sister I got it.

I am thankful to my sister for so many things, this one only adds to the never ending list! 

We might not talk everyday, we might not share our secrets with each other, but when ever I have needed a friend I've always known that I can come to you. 

 

You inspire me.

Journey called love: The one with the henna

There are these little things that your parents do that you start loving them ever so more. It is the bond that is there or just plain coincidence, one can never tell. This one incident gave a an entirely new look at what parental love actually means.

It was my mehendi ceremony. All of us were super excited about it. We had called the guy for putting the mehendi in the evening. But the guy got late and arrived at 7:30 pm. An Indian bride would understand what pain it is to put on the bridal mehendi. It takes 3-4 hours to apply the henna and then another 3-4 hrs for it to dry. One can not rest their hands and feet properly until the henna dries or you will end up smudging the designs. 

Now it was already so late and we were re-thinking whether we should get it done or not because we knew that it would get late. Finally we decided that we would go ahead with the ceremony. So we got ready, had a brief photo session and the ceremony started. The ceremony, as such, was uneventful. We put on some music and the guy starting applying the henna. As the hours passed by my sister and my friend went off to sleep, but mom was there by my side while the guy was applying henna. She even stayed up when the henna was drying. At around 1 am, it was getting really late for mom and I told her that she should sleep as the next day was going to be even more exhausting for her. But how could she sleep leaving me alone and in cold. So she got a blower (incidentally my mother had brought a blower for my sister) and covered me up with a shawl to keep me warm. She clicked some pictures of me in with the henna (which turned out to be some of the best pictures of the day!) And then with a lot of reluctance she went off to sleep.

The way I was sitting was so uncomfortable. My whole arms were being supported by my finger-tips which I had kept on the arms of the chair I was sitting on. My legs had to be kept straight with both my feet constantly touching the ground/chair whereas I find sitting cross legged more comfortable. Imagine my plight, uncomfortable posture and cold weather. But still I managed to fall asleep.

It was around three o'clock I woke up, feeling uncomfortable. By now the henna had dried and I was contemplating how can I sleep. "Maybe I can sleep in the carpet. Oh no, it would get dirty! Only if I could get some polythenes to cover my henna, I could lie in bed inside a warm duvet. Ah!! but where are the polyethenes? Damn!! They are in Mom and Dad's room. Only if somebody could get the polythenes for me."

The suddenly the door creeks and I think it some stranger. I think "what if the person attacks me? How will I protect myself without spoiling the henna." But to my surprise its not a stranger, its Dad. And I can't believe it! He asks how is it going? I tell him that the henna has dried. I ask him how come he woke up at this hour. Wasn't he able to sleep? He says he just woke up and came to check on me. I told him that I wanted to lie in bed and but I would end up spoiling the bed-sheet and duvet. But if I covered the henna with polythenes, I would be able to sleep comfortably. I asked him if he could get them for me and told him where he could find them. So he brought the polyethenes for me and tied them around my hands and feet. He walked me up to the bed and tucked me in. Covering me properly so that I was warm. He kissed me good night, turned off the light and went to sleep. I fell asleep quickly after that and woke up only in the morning, when my parents were already up and ready, welcoming guests and preparing for the functions for the day. 

I think there was something, this bond, this silent communication between me and Dad that he realized that I might need him and he just woke up and came to check on me. There are some things that we cannot explain but they happen, we do them out of love, out of care. I can never forget this day. Mom waking till late to give me company even though she was exhausted and Dad coming to my room just when I needed him. What Mom and Dad did for me might be a very small thing but isn't life all about these little things you do for your loved ones.

I just hope that one day I can be like them.