Complexion Redefined

“Everything is over for me!!” Tears started rolling down my cheeks. Not sure for how many hours, I was crying in the park. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder.  I raised my head and saw a beautiful girl standing in front of me. She asked “Why are you crying dear? I have been watching you for past an hour. Is everything all right with you?”.  I really felt annoyed by her questions. I replied rudely “It’s none of your business, Please leave me alone”. She sat next to me, smiled and said “Sharing with someone will lessen your pain”.  After few minutes I asked “May I know who you are? And why do you care about knowing my problems?” She said “I am Kyra and we can be friends. You can certainly share your problems with a friend”. Hearing the name, something clicked and I observed her closely… Oh god she is Kyra!! The sunshine girl of Lakme. How come she is here in this park?
She asked again “May I know why are you so depressed?” I said “Leave it, it’s a long story”, she smiled and said “I am free now and I love long stories so please go ahead and share with me”

I started telling my story to her:
“I was born in Bihar with a 'wheatish' complexion which is considered as a flaw. Since the time of my birth, my mother was worried because of my dark complexion and was constantly trying to ‘improve’ my complexion by applying various creams and oils in an endeavor to make me fair. "Apply this cream to your face, it will make you fair," she would say.

I was not allowed to play in the sun. When I would get a chance to be out in the sun playing with my friends, my mother would get angry "Why did you go in the sun, you've become so dark!”  She used to buy my clothes also in accordance to my color so that I many not look dark.
Gradually I started to dislike my skin color, and started desiring fairer skin in order to please everyone in my family. In an attempt to look fair, I started applying powder to my face and would step out with a powdery face. My friends had tried to make me aware of my ridiculous looks but I didn't believe in them at that point of time. Soon I was left with no friends.

 
My parents want to get me married but are having problems finding a proper groom for me. Everyone wants a fair bride. I don’t want to get married so early. I want to have a career first. But I am not getting a job also. I don’t look smart like the other girls. I don’t have enough confidence and I start stammering in interviews whenever someone asks me anything. So far I have failed in at least 5-6 interviews.
 Today also I was rejected from an interview and now I am not sure what will I do in my future. I am a loser. I want to die”
 
After listening to my story, Kyra held my hand and said “Don't cry for such pity issues. These days color of the skin doesn’t matter at all. I can give you several examples. Have faith in me and let me do some magic. Your problems will be solved. But you will have to do whatever I say”
I was surprised. This was the first time someone was actually trying to help me and that too someone like Kyra who was not only beautiful and successful but had a good heart too. This was my only chance to change my life. So, I agreed.
In the first step, she took me to a dermatologist for my skin checkup. She explained me that if you think you have some skin problems that is not letting you shine at you best, it’s better to consult a dermatologist who will advice you. After the check up, the dermatologist discovered that I have sensitive skin, that’s why my skin gets easily tanned and takes longer to return to my usual complexion. Dermatologist gave me 5 golden tips a skin care and asked me to follow up.

I started following the tips religiously and gradually my skin started responding. After 2 weeks, I got a call from Kyra. She told me that she has a surprise for me and want to meet me soon. We met in the same park. She gave me an envelope. There was an air ticket to Goa. Before I could ask anything, she said “I am going for a photoshoot to Goa and you are accompanying me. I had a word with my photographer Amit and you will be assisting him for this photo shoot.” I was dumbstruck and did not know what to say. I quietly said it’s harsh summer and as you know I have got a sensitive skin. I will get  tan again and I have just started following doctor’s advice. She smiled in her usual way and said “Leave those headaches to me. You just enjoy.”

Early morning in Goa, Kyra came to my room and gave me few Lakme products and instructions on how to use them. She told me to use Lakme expert sunscreen lotion SPF 50 PA ++ before stepping out of the hotel in the sun. She asked me to clean my face with Lakme After Sun Facewash after returning from beach. She also asked me to apply Lakme After Sun Face Mask after cleaning. Once cleansed, apply Lakme After Sun Gel. It will complete the procedure of sun protection.

I understood and followed her instructions like a small kid and went to the beach for the shoot. I tried to be in the shade of the trees. Kyra was looking very beautiful in a perfect little yellow dress and was getting ready for the photoshoot.
She called me up and asked “Have you applied sunscreen?” I nodded my head in yes. She asked “Then why are you standing in shade? Common here enjoy the sun.” For the first time in my life, I started working in the sun without any fear.  Kyra, I and other crew member were all having a great fun while shooting. Amit, the photographer really liked some of my ideas. 

In between the shoots, we played on the beach and in sea water. I along with Kyra walked in sunny beach, chased the waves and made sand castles. In true sense, Kyra was returning my lost childhood days. After completing the day shoot, we all grouped together to play volley ball. WoW!!! What a fun it was? I had always dreamed of playing outdoor games which was now getting fulfilled.

In the evening when I returned to my room, I cleaned my face with Lakme After Sun Facewash and Lakme After Sun Face Mask. Once cleansed, I applied Lakme After Sun Gel. "OMG!!!  My face was as fresh as it was in morning."

In evening, Kyra showed me some of my snaps which Amit took while I was playing with waves. I couldn’t recognize myself. Can I look so beautiful? Kyra has magically turned me into a Cinderella. My life was changing like that of the ugly duckling. After the dinner, I Kyra and all crew members sat near the swimming pool and started singing the songs. Kyra insisted me to sing a song. It was like a climbing mountain for me. I never sang any song before anyone although I had a nice voice. Finally I started singing. When I completed the song there was a pin drop silence. I really got scared but then everybody started clapping for me and praising me. Never in my life, have I ever heard anything good about myself. Am I really talented?? or it’s just a beautiful dream.
1 week in Goa just slipped like sand in hand. Of course good things come to an end quickly.  But in Goa, I found a new person within me who was much more confident and was ready to face the world with my new beautiful and healthy wheatish' complexion.
On the last day of Goa, Kyra came with Amit in my room and gave a letter to me. I got a shock of my life. It was an offer letter from Amit’s company. Amit was so impressed with my photography talent that he wanted me to assist him in upcoming summer photoshoot in South Africa.

I just can’t believe. I pinched myself just to check if I am not dreaming. One month back I was thinking to commit suicide as I had no reason to live and today whole world has opened their arms to embrace me. My dreams are now starting coming true.
Kyra was right!!! On that day I was crying on pity issues. Thanks to Lakme Sun expert products and Kyra, I have recognized my inner beauty. I am no more ashamed of my wheatish complexion and in Kyra I have found a good friend. 

As someone rightly said “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”.

This post is part of a  Lakme-Diva Blogger  contest. 
Check  this out: http://www.facebook.com/ilovelakme


Photo Via

Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna (My Delhi My Yamuna)

It was a hot Sunday afternoon and I was comfortably sitting in my air-conditioned room and watching TV. “Summers make me an ideal couch potato!!”  Suddenly, I saw an advertisement on cleaning Yamuna River. It was quite a heart touching advertisement where many celebrities were asking Delhi citizens to join environmental project, “Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna” (My Delhi My Yamuna). I thought “OMG!!! How can they do such crazy job under harsh sun. Don’t they fret about their skin tan? ” but the thought of meeting celebrities, taking autograph and boring Sunday pushed me to visit this campaign.

 

Next morning, I prepared myself to go to Old Fort at Delhi in a hope to meet some celebrities and if luck favors, I may get some snaps. Even sheer idea was making me so thrill.  I wore a jeans and full sleeve kurta and covered my face like a dacoit to save myself from tanning in Delhi’s summer.

The whole atmosphere at the venue was so energetic and people around me were so enthusiastic about ‘Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna’ (My Delhi My Yamuna) campaign. WOW!!  These enthusiasm, energy and compassion are so contagious; even I started feeling positive about the campaign.

Suddenly, I saw a very beautiful girl in mid of the crowd. I thought I have seen her somewhere. I went close to her, “Oh god she is Kyra!!!  The sunshine girl Kyra”.  I have seen her in TV, she is the brand ambassador of Lakme.  She was looking awesome in her sleeveless top. She was beaming like a fresh sunshine in this hot summer.

Looking at me, She smiled and said “Why are you hiding your face?” I replied “I will get tanned if I remove it”. She laughed and said “Oh so you are scared of sun.!!!”.  I really got annoyed with her smirk smile and said “I am no Diva like you… I am just an ordinary girl who gets tanned in summer”. She again smiled and said “I am also an ordinary girl but I have a magic wand to solve my skin issues”.  I was quite surprised, seeing my curiosity Kyra showed me some Lakme sun expert products from her bag. She told me to use Lakme expert sunscreen lotion SPF 50 PA ++ before stepping out in sun. She asked me to clean my face with Lakme After Sun Facewash and Lakme After Sun Face Mask after I return from sun. Once cleansed, apply  Lakme After Sun Gel. It will complete the procedure of sun protection. 
It sounded so good and tempting to me.

While going back, Kyra’s words keep coming to my mind. I bought Lakme sun expert products.

.

Next day, I applied the product and got ready to hit the campaign, thousands of people from Delhi, senior government officials, dignitaries and artists came to the venue and pledged their support for this campaign. I saw Kyra, she was looking as fresh as yesterday. Seeing me she smiled and said “Are you not scared of sun today?”. I smiled and replied “Now, I also have a magical wand like you”.

In evening when I came back, I saw that my skin had no signs of tanning. I was amazed. I messaged Kyra and said thanks to her, for sharing her magic wand with me. I noticed that in my face I had freshness even after working for whole day which was missing earlier when I was just a couch potato.

2nd day Sri Sri Ravi Shankar kick-off the cleaning movement. I, Kyra and many other folks started the cleaning ITO ghat. It was a real fun. I and Kyra were talking about so many things including making city cleaner, Yamuna problem, my skin issue and talking about various Lamke products. Kyra and me was full of energy and enthusiasm for this campaign because now both of us have a magic wand.

It was self satisfying experience that I am doing something for the society and a bonus effect of Lakme sun expert products on my skin. Thanks to Kyra and to Lakme, I can now fearlessly wander under the sun without having to cover from head to toe and look like Dacoit!

Along with other volunteers, I and Kyra worked round the clock to spread awareness about this campaign. We created page in FB to spread the information about this campaign and asked people to join us.

The cleaning of the ghats went on for eight days and took place at a different venue every day, including the ghats at Wazirabad, Nizamuddin, KalindiKunj, Kudesiaghat, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Yamuna Bazar and Okhla Dhobi ghat. It has become a routine for me to reach early morning to these ghats, work with Kyra. It was a fun to work in such harsh summer for the society without thinking about my skin. Working with Kyra and sharing thoughts with her, I started developing a sense of responsibility towards the society.  Being a celebrity, Kyra was so keen to do something for society. It was a real fun in true sense.

 

With the help of organizing committee, we ran free breath-water-sound workshops for villagers, special workshops for children and gave talks to create awareness and encourage people to join in. Hundreds of Delhi citizens came together to support this project.

Even working in such harsh summer, my skin doesn’t trouble me. I uploaded my campaign pictures in Facebook to promote the campaign. To my surprise, some of my friends were complementing me for my skin as it was getting better day by day.

On the concluding day, Chief Minister of Delhi Sheela Dixit came to venue to congratulate the volunteers for their sheer hardwork and to demonstrate that ‘it is possible to make a difference’. Suddenly I heard my name and when I paid attention I got shock of my life. “OMG!!!, I was selected as the best volunteer for whole campaign”. She awarded me a shield and a certificate. 

I saw tears in my parent’s eyes who were sitting in audience. Today, I have made them proud and all thanks to Kyra and her magical wand. I went to this campaign to grab few autographs and meet some celebrities but Kyra made me a celebrity in real sense.

Now I had a beautiful skin and a confident personality. With Lakme sun expert products, I need not have to worry about sun before stepping out of home. Lakme sunexpert products and Kyra’s skin care tips has embedded a new personality within me. I am no more a couch potato but have an ambition to give something back to my society. Seriously, attractiveness and magnetism of one's personality is the result of his/her inner radiance. With the help of Kyra, I got that inner radiance.

“Meri Dili Meri Yamuna” was definitely a very enriching experience, as I met Kyra and got such a lifetime friendship with her.

This post is part of a  Lakme-Diva Blogger  contest. 
Check  this out : http://www.facebook.com/ilovelakme

Photo Via

Akbar-Birbal Ki Khichdi Reloaded

Beep !Beep! “Aah!!! Got one more SMS from Akbar… I tell you he doesn’t have any work but to bother me with his stupid SMS - jokes and tweets.” said Birbal looking at his phone. He looked at his Facebook account and saw there were 50 notifications and 10 messages.  Thanks to this mobile internet, people are now updating all the craps in facebook. Birbal started scrolling his facebook to see the updates.
Tansen has just uploaded his new song on winter in Youtube and is disappointed as Kolavri di has got more hits than his song.
Akbar once again purchased treadmill from Ebay.com to lose his weight.  “ Ahh!! one more useless attempt to become Hrithik Roshan and impress queen Jodha….How can he lose weight if  he keeps on playing angry bird all the time on his Nokia Lumina 800!!! What a waste of money?? ” thought Birbal.
Once Again, Salim has been caught red handed by principle as he was watching porn in class. Birbal said “He is the most spoil brat of this country”.
Suddenly Birbal got a Skype message from Akbar: Come soon to court.  “Uff , in this chill winter morning, all I need to do is to go to court and hear all nonsense and stupid jokes of Akbar. I joined his court thinking, I will have loads of fun, servants, expensive watches and suits but all I have to do is to solve stupid cases of Akbar. Sometime I feel, I should start my own detective series just like CID. I bet I will grab more TRPs than CID and Adalat.” said Birbal.
“Yuppieee,  one more level crossed!!! “  Akbar shouted seeing his mobile. “Akbar is really getting addicted to angry bird.” thought Birbal. 

 

 Seeing Birbal, Akbar asked him “Why didn’t you update your status message in facebook and no tweet from past 4 hours??? Dude!! You are really getting boring day by day.” Further, Akbar said “Well today morning, I got a SMS from Vodafone, they are running a contest in which they will give 2MB data free to the person who stands in frozen pond in this winter. Since I am a King, so you need to stand in pond and win the contest for me. I need to win 2MB data at any cost”.  Birbal thought “OMG!!!! He has really out of his sense now. How can I stand in frozen pond in this winter? This mad fellow doesn’t have any work but to play games and put me in such trouble.” 

Bribal said “Jahapanha!!!, I am not feeling very well so can you ask anyone else to do this task.” Akbar thought little bit and said “I don’t care, you do it or someone else does it, I need 2MB data.”   


 “Common Akbar, use your common sense and search it in Wikipedia, why you always need me for such bizarre and weird thing” but Birbal just smiled and said “Sure Hazoor, I will find out the way to stand in frozen pond but may be you need to spend money  for that”. Birbal is daam good in buttering.
Akbar said “Well Birbal!! I am OK with it, but will anyone will stand in frozen pond for the sake of money?”  Birbal smiled and said yes. Akbar ordered him to prove it and win the challenge.
Birbal really got frustrated and thought “Oh Common Akbar!! I really doubt about your IQ. Cann’t you see me, even I am hearing all your nonsense, giving my valuable advises and solving stupid cases because of money …. Anyway I will prove it to you this time“.
Birbal opened Google in his mobile and searched how to stand in frozen pond in winter. He got to know that from yoga and meditation, anyone can stand in frozen pond. Thanks to Google, he found out the best yoga person in the country. It was Ramdev Baba.

Birbal activated GPS of his mobile phone to find Ramdev Baba headquarter. “ YIKES!! I just cannot figure my route to reach the office. Phew! Internet is such a savior in such situations” said Birbal. Google map has finally helped Birbal to reach Ramdev baba’s office.
Birbal asked Ramdev to help him in this case and in favor of that he will give full support in organizing yoga camp in Ramlila maidan. Ramdev Baba pinged one of his aide BalKrishna  in FB and asked him to go with Birbal.
Next day Birbal took BalKrishna to Akbar’s court and told him that BalKrishna will do it for the sake of money.  Akbar ordered the BalKrishna to be inside the frozen pond all through the night without any attire if he needed money.  Akabr said “At any cost, I need to win the contest and get 2MB data free… So do not dare to ditch me”.
Birbal thought “Akbar has gone out of his mind, if Human Rights Commission or Vodafone people got to know about this, they will screw Akbar”. Birbal tried to ask Akbar to change his mind but Akbar is daam arrogant.  

 While taking this condition, BalKrishna asked Birbal “I need Rs.10 crore for this. I can’t stand in frozen pond in this delhi winter for whole night and also I will be bored standing alone in the pond”.  Birbal agreed for Rs.10 crore and said he will take proper care of him in the night.
In the night, BalKrishna went to the pond and was watching Ram Gopal Verma’s Aag and Sunny Leon’s video in You tube in his mobile, so that he won’t fall sleep. Akbar phone was 3G equipped, so he was secretly watching the whole proceeding through video conferencing on his mobile.

Next day, Vodafone awarded 2MB Data to Balkrishna. BalKrishna transferred that data to Akbar’s name and came to court to receive the reward. Akbar refused to pay him saying that he has done cheating. Akbar said that BalKrishna got warmth from the light of mobile and withstood the cold as he was watching Ram Gopal Verma’s Aag and Sunny Leon’s videos.

Birbal really got mad on Akbar. He thought “What cheek! Akbar has gone out of his sense or it’s a side effect of playing too much of angrybird…How can he even think of such idiotic stuff…. Guess all those hours on his mobile playing mindless games has damage his brains after all.”

BalKrishna angrily went outside the court and informed Ramdev Baba about the incident.
Birbal got the call from Ramdev Baba and said “ Dude!! you ditched me, now see the consequences. I have good relation with DON, he is going to kill you and going to ruin your king reputation.”  Ramdev also threatened Birbal that he will hack Akbar’s FB, Orkut, Twitter accounts and will complain about Akbar in Human Rights Commission.  Ramdev Baba announced in a press conference that he will go for indefinite hunger strike if his aide didn’t get the money. Birbal tried to convince Akbar but he was too arrogant to understand.

Birbal thought “I need to save myself from Ramdev and Don. Hmmm… let me go underground till the issues get settled.”

Here Ramdev Baba started protesting against Akabr. He started a hate mail chain against Akbar and created a hate page for him in Facebook. Follower’s lists of hate page crossed the 1 million mark!!!  All the news channels  are doing SMS poll about the incident. Thousands of tweets are being done against Akbar’s act.

Shame on Akabr !!! # Shbana Azmi
Akbar is not fit to rule the country # Sushma Swaraj
Akbar is causing harm to his own repute by refusing money to BalKrishna  # Anna Hazzare

Akbar’s friends stopped chatting with him and became unfriend to him. There was not a single message or notification on Akbar’s wall.  Situation was getting terrible for Akbar.

Akbar really got worried and started searching for Birbal. He kept sending messages (on Skype, GTalk) and emails to Birbal but no response. Finally Akbar’s GPS located Birbal's where about. Google Map was showing Birbal in a Westwind resort near Jaipur.  Akbar thought “How could Birbal be so insensitive and leave me alone in this situation where no one wants to talk or chat with me”.  Immediately, Akbar booked the flight tickets from his phone and rushed to airport.
In resort, Birbal was having a very cool and relaxed time. He opened his phone to check today’s tweets.
On my way to Westwind Resort to resolve BalKrishna Issue with Birbal # Akbar 


 

OMG!!!! Birbal shouted “Akbar is coming to meet me”.  Bribal did not know what to do next. He opened Wikipedia to find a solution of Akbar’s nonsense.

Akbar reached the resort and rushed towards Birbal’s room. As he opened the door, he saw Birbal had played fire video on youtube on his mobile and kept the pot of uncooked khichadi one meter away from it.
Akbar questioned him "Are you nuts or what??? How will the khichdi get cooked with no fire? It’s just a video??? What is wrong with you Birbal?"

Birbal, cooking the khichdi, replied "Oh my great King!!! When it was possible for a person to receive warmth from a light of mobile, then it is possible for this khichdi, which is just a meter away from the source of heat, to get cooked."
Akbar understood his mistake. He immediately called a press conference and apologized BalKrishna and Ramdev in front of the media. He requested Ramdev to take back all his protest and revive all his FB and orkut accounts. He also BalKrishna rewarded him Rs. 10 Crore.

Once Again Internet and Birbal’s wisdom has saved Akbar from a mishap situation.

Mobile and Internet has become an essential part of our life.  So, I thought of giving our age old stories of Akabar  Birbal a modern twist.

This post is part of a contest Internet is Fun on Indiblogger, sponsored by Vodafone.
Check this out: www.vodafone.in/fun

Photos via 

Wordless Wednesday - 5

Our very own India Gate

Wordless Wednesday - 4

All in the name of Faith

Watermelon Mojito

Given a person a choice between a slice of watermelon and a pot of gold, and on a warm summer's day, he is likely to choose the former! Who can resist the watermelon? Further, this delectable thirst- quencher is packed with nutrients like vitamin C and A. Salt induces the flavor of the watermelon to strongly combine with the other flavors in this drink. All I can say is "Indulge!"

Preparation Time    :   10 Minutes
Cooking Time        :    NIL
Makes                   :    4 Glasses

Ingredients:
4 tbsp Mint leaves (pudina)
4 tbsp Lemon Juice
4 tbsp Watermelon cubes
4 tbsp Sugar Syrup
2 pinches Salt
3 cups Fresh Watermelon Juice
1 cup crushed ice

Watermelon Mojito

Process:

1. Combine 1 tbsp of mint leaves, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1tbsp watermelon cubes, 1 tbsp sugar syrup, and 1/2 pinch salt in a vessel.
2. Muddle (lightly crush) all the ingredients together using muddler.
3. Repeat the steps 1 and 2 to make 3 more glasses.
4. In each Serving glass, place 1/4 cup of crushed ice and pour equal quantity of the watermelon juice over it.
5. Serve immediately.