Mira looked at the mirror cautiously, trying to figure out everything.Her hair was perfectly tied,eyes had the perfect Kohl applied,she looked pretty in the ear rings and the white garland tied to her hair was like the doorway to the garden of Freshness and Vitality.
Ever since she gained consciousness,she was taught to be acceptable to everyone around her.As a little girl she was trained to dress up lady like,do the household chores without complaiining, giving away the best things to her brother, acting shy on being called beautiful,walk properly,sit properly and moreover to think about others before herself.
She was 27,a woman whose heart was of Gold.She believed in the goodness of mankind.Her big eyes had a Whirlpool of emotions demanding to get attention,her thoughts needed wings to soar high and her voice had the melody of the Brook running down some unknown valley .
Inspite of her knowing the art of sewing and knitting, managing to cook delicious dishes, knowing the art of managing the household chores,she was rejected by the society.Every time she would walk in with the tray of the finest saucer set,she could see the disgusted faces of her supposed in-laws rejecting her.She would dress up every time only to find rejection knocking on her door.
Since childhood she grew up hearing that a fair skinned lady is loved by all.As a child she would look at the mirror and cry.She would feel ashamed of her dark skin.She felt low and soon got used to the humiliation.Being brought up by her uncle and Aunt she was a burden for them and she would well understand their discomfort taking her out to gatherings.As a child she would nag but when she understood she carefully avoided such occasions.
That day too she was carefully examining herself, giving herself scores for being presentable.She wanted affirmation and hoped for someone to look into her soul and not her body.She dreamt of her better half as a man who would hold her hand and never complain about her dark skin.She knew her Prince would take her away to the land of Dreams.She hoped for the magic...
A month passed Mira was now someone's wife.She stood in front of the mirror cautiously examining the bruises her dark skin exhibited.Her big eyes were now an ocean of pain crying for help,her thoughts were like a little kid lost in a crowded fair and her voice had the pain of a dejected soul seeking solace.She combed her hair and tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized that she married to be someone's food for lust and to satisfy the thirst of his middle aged husband who transformed into a beast on bed every night without even looking into her soul.
She realized that Prince charmings were like a fairy tale,good to read but painful to dream about.Her land of Dreams remained alive in her thoughts and she no longer hoped for magic...