Will you be my Sunshine?


The April sun was shining harshly and the mercury was breaking all previous records. In the sunlit garden, with even the birds resting under the shades of leaves, they walked hand in hand. The roundness of her baby face was highlighted by a hint of pink to her cheeks. Both were unaware what ‘moving’ meant; they thought he is going to London and will come back after the vacation. After an hour, when they finally waved hands with a smile, a budding love story was dashed with the craze to settle abroad.

Tans from that April day faded easily but the memories were preserved in the corner of their growing hearts. Life moved on, even her family to a bigger city with more pollution and less time. With a faint memory of a childhood friend, Anjali grew up as a Lecturer in a College in Mumbai. She was happy, she was good at what she does and for the rest, she never cared. One Saturday afternoon when she opened her Facebook account, she received a friend request from a long lost friend, Gautam, a handsome man in his late twenties, with fair skin and a gorgeous smile.  

Perfectly content with her looks till date, she became conscious. She looked at her faded mauve shirt and tanned arms. She thought for a while and asked her younger sister Payal, ‘How do I look?’

‘Since when you started caring about your looks,’ Payal replied without even looking at her sister.

It took Anjali 26 years to wake up as a woman. A desire to look pretty, to dress up, and to be complimented filled her mind. A glimpse of a long lost friend, rather, a handsome man prompted her to type few words on the internet. 


She surfed for hours and concluded that she needs to drink a lot of water, wear soft colors, eat lots of fruits and always wear a sunscreen when she steps out. She could do all that but for sunscreen, she would need some advice. She thought she would ask her colleague Pooja on Monday. While she was on the verge of letting herself go again on the old careless self, she got a message from Gautam. Gautam was coming to India with Mark and his girl friend Kyra in June and wanted to meet Anjali.

With an urge to groom her looks, Anjali called for her mother. ‘Mom, do you know anything about Sunscreen Lotions? I think I need one, my arms are all tanned,’ she asked her mother who was watching the repeat of her favourite soap, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.

‘Wait Anjali, Priya has sent a divorce notice to Ram,’ her mom said in a worried tone, not sensing that a love story is about to stir the life of her elder daughter.

Anjali stared at the television screen but this time she was noticing the heroine and her makeup.

What were you saying?’ her mother asked during the commercial break.

I want a sunscreen, which one I should buy?’ Anjali asked in a casual tone. She didn’t want her mother to read between the lines.

I don’t know much, you can ask your friends,’ her mother replied.

Their conversation was interrupted by the word tanning in a television commercial. They watched the Lakmé commercial intently, looked at each other and said ‘Lakmé’ together. Her mother was using Lakmé products since ages and nodded in approval...


Anjali took the scooter keys and went to the nearby departmental store. She looked for the personal care section and found Lakmé Sunscreen. While she was scanning the products, she also found ‘Lakmé After Sun Range’; she bought both After Sun Range and Sunscreen Lotion to repair and nurture her skin.

Anjali followed a proper diet and skin care routine thereafter. Tans started fading away; with proper eating habits and increased water intake, she started glowing. Not only she became more confident with her looks, she enjoyed the compliments on her ravishing skin. She was carefree, playful and enjoyed everything under the sun...Literally!

Gautam called Anjali a day after he landed in Mumbai. He asked if she could accompany him to Juhu beach later that day, Mark and Kyra wanted to see a beach in Mumbai. Anjali agreed to meet them at Cafe Coffee Day near Juhu Beach.

In the afternoon, when Gautam entered the Cafe with Mark and Kyra, Anjali surprised him. He expected her to be pretty but not breath-taking beautiful. He smiled, fully aware that she had dressed up for him. He walked to the table, soaked some sunshine peeking through the blinds and greeted her with a handshake. After the introduction and enjoying Frappé, they stepped outside. To Gautam’s surprise, Anjali was comfortable in scorching sun like Kyra. He had not thought of an Indian girl being so comfortable going out in the sun in peak summer. His thoughts were seldom still and he was amazed by her level of comfort, as well as, her sparking and refreshing skin.

Kyra and Anjali enjoyed the day, the sunshine, the sand, the water and the company of handsome men. Both girls shared many stories from their lives and not to forget the same ease basking under the sun.  As they say, in every girl’s life, there's a boy she'll never forget and a summer where it all began...It was definitely that a summer in Anjali’s life.

But for Gautam, a day spend with Anjali brought back the memories of the many summer evenings they spend in his garden. After that evening, he met her few more times and each time he wouldn’t miss noticing her ever sparkling face. About a week before he was to return to London, he felt a strong desire to talk to Anjali; the restlessness of his body sent signals; he broke some boundaries, went ahead, called her and asked, ‘Will you be my Sunshine?’

Anjali looked at the Lakmé Sunscreen Lotion kept on the table and smiled.

Comments

  1. Lovely story, Saru! Best wishes for the contest:)

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  2. :-D What do we have here??? ANother winner?????

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    Replies
    1. I hope so, fingers crossed. Thanks for reading and all the best to you too:)

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  3. Love VS beauty,, so well expressed Saru,, and all the best and i pray that u will win this contest...

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  4. ...highly dramatic...can be made into a movie. Great work Saru!
    Best wishes :)

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  5. wow, what a story. Well this is one more of a winner Saru. Wonderful attempt!

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  6. nice post
    really a beautiful story
    thanks
    http://drivingwithpen.blogspot.in/

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  7. Oh god...was wondering why you were pressing so much on the skin....perfect story for a sunscreen ad...:)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much dear. BTW, I want to read your work, please share the link.:)

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    2. So sorry...just saw this message. I think I didn't click on email notifications. You can read me @ www.foundinfolsom.blogspot.com....that's really sweet of you to ask for my link...thank u again...:)

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  8. That's a great story!

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  9. Cute...and nice...and what an ad!!! Good luck! ;)

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  10. Wow excellent writing....I m sure u will win! :)

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  11. Beautiful story Saru Di.. Definitely you are the winner:) Good luck..

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sonia but there is a tough competition out there. Your post is so warm and honest. Good luck to you too:)

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  12. Nice presentation and nice story too...The flow of this post is lovely and superb and compel to get hooked till finish. I can see Your this part also improving. All the best and keep writing and rocking:)

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  13. Wow, nice story and loved the ending :)

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  14. Hi Saru,

    I initially thought Kyra was Gautham's girlfriend and I read the whole thing with that idea in mind ha ha

    Then I read it again and realized that she was in fact Mark's GF.

    Good Luck for the contest!

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    Replies
    1. Jaishree, I read it again and was wondering where I went wrong. Sorry, for leaving that impression and thanks for your wishes.:)

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  15. Ahhh! A cute and feel good story. Definitely filmy but you have narrated their story in a beautiful way. You won 3rd place in the previous contest and I hope you win 1st this time. All the very best, Saru. :)

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    Replies
    1. This is the first short story I have posted on the blog. I have written some but they are all thrillers. Glad that you liked it as I was worrying how would I fare as a story writer. Thanks a lot for your wishes Akshay:)

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    2. You are as good a story-teller as you are as a poet. I would love to read your thriller stories too. :)

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  16. Nice piece of writing! Best wishes for the contest:)

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  17. yeh to filmy hai ji.......:))
    yaa it does feel like a nicely penned movie script....:)

    My best wishes for the contest.

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  18. a lovely, good bollywood stuff!

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  19. Well done , Saru, what a beuaifully crafted tale of beauty..all thebest, for the contest..

    I also wrote a love story but in few lines..last week..there too a face glows.. do have a look..

    http://rameshsood.blogspot.in/2012/05/she-glows.html

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sir and I read your post, it was beautiful. I think brevity is the soul of wit.

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  20. I really liked the structure of your blog...it looks very neat

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  21. No idea about these sun screen lotions, but nice story though .. :)

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  22. Its a perfect script for a shortfilm.Awesome and written very well.
    All the best.Will be waiting to know the results. :)

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  23. Looks like a perfect love story!!!!! The sunscreen does add purpose to the story and all the best.....................

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  24. lilting and tender writing as always:):)

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  25. It was like reading M/B after many many years!

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    Replies
    1. I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks a lot for reading :)

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  26. I love when creativity and imagination take a flight together. Wonderful read. Best to you.

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  27. That was a lovely account of Lakme changing one's life :)
    Maybe they can make it into an ad.

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  28. This could actually be an advertisement for Lakme products.. well written. I knew what was going to happen, but I was glued to the text.

    www.anucreations.blogspot.in

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    Replies
    1. See, how much I lack it bringing the originality. But glad you liked what I wrote. Thanks for reading Anu:)

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  29. cute story& very appropriate use of Lakme-neither too much nor too little.good luck for the contest.

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    Replies
    1. I actually worked hard to maintain that level, glad you noticed. Thanks for your wishes.:)

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  30. Wow! Nice Script. All the best. :)

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  31. I can't stop 'awww'ing! This is your best of prose and you kept me glued till the end. :):) And what a filmy script, Saru :) Also you worked very well on contextually promoting Lakme. My best wishes for the contest...you should win this time too!

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    Replies
    1. Speaking of being in awe, I was in that state today morning when I read your post. How can you come up with a well executed post, that too with elegance. Please Harsha, share your secret. Thanks a lot for the wishes and I won't be surprised if you make it to the winning list.

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  32. Amazingly beautiful story Saru. I am sure you would win this contest. All the best.

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  33. Great writing!! I loved the way you wove the story around that Lakme sunscreen lotion..! :)
    Best of luck for the contest! :)

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  34. copyright it immediately else Ram gopal verma or no no some other person will steal it ..

    Loved reading the story .. beautifullllllllllll

    Bikram's

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  35. Oh my my.. Dis is sooo gud..
    Like sooo much happening in front of u n u just penned down..
    Lovely post saru..:)

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  36. I've put up the first interview on my blog if you'd like to take a look...
    Oh and
    This story is awesome! Such a superb entry, so best of luck! Very sweetly crafted :)

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    Replies
    1. I read the interview and sorry for delaying the reply from my side. And thanks for your wishes:)

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  37. This was one of the best entries that I've read :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you and thats really sweet of you to say that :)

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  38. lovely post saruji...:)
    gr88 story..

    check out mines at
    http://dare-to-think-beyond-horizon.blogspot.in/2012/05/most-amazing-trip-of-my-life.html

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  39. Wow Saru ... brilliant !! This is going to be a very stiff competition for others ... all the best :)

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  40. Feels great to be appreciated by someone like you. Thanks a lot Ash for your wishes and your motivating comment.:)

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  41. Actually, the problem arises when they are looking only on the fairytale aspect of movies. Our movies teach a lot but we shun the realities they project and look the glossy side of it.

    Please don't apologize, glad you shared your thoughts here.

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  42. Fabulous.. All the very best Saru..

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  43. wow lovely n cute.. best of luck :)
    nd sorry for not visiting ur blog since a long time :(

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  44. Very well written about a face that shined with love and care!
    Beauty is indeed skin deep!

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  45. Well written. i enjoyed the whole read from beginning to end.
    All the best and keep the good work going

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  46. Quite an elaborate post... I wish you could have been a bit more subtle while mentioning the sponsor's name or bringing in a picture of a product. With such inclusions, a post tends to remain just another sponsor's post -- it's value gets dated.

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    Replies
    1. I will keep that in mind Sir. Thanks for reading!

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  47. You have did the best ..tanning is the worst skin problem faced in summer..and then potraying lakme as something that canh elp us prevent tanning was a great idea
    all the best with the contest

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  48. Saw everything happening in front of my eyes...you have penned it very well and i do hope that you win this contest ..amazing thinking and i am happy for you :) and yeah about your comment on my fb status...chennai was good and match was good too

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    1. Thanks Ste for a motivating comment and do post some photos on the FB.

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  49. I think the story depicts "Today". Nicely written and more importantly i give 100 marks to the flow which is impeccable. I think you have a definite style and this is waht makes you a winner irrespective of you win this competition or not :)) Keep Writting. Yes...Please start posting your thrillers.

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    1. Your comment is a relief Shamsud. I was worried of what you might think of this writing. Thanks for reading and an encouraging comment.

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  50. this is award winning material for sure

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    1. Thanks, means a lot as this is my first short story.

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  51. don't just think of it as a contest entry. take a printout and pin it to your diary. coz its a pearl.

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    1. Thanks Mani for a motivating comment and welcome here.

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  52. oh ho...Saru Ma'am...this story takes the cake:)

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  53. Wow!! Lovely post!!! Best wishes for the contest :-)

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  54. Lovely flow of thoughts. One of the very few fiction, that I have read completely.

    All the best.

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  55. oh no! creative and hope this wins :)

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  56. beautiful story love the narration
    good luck for contest

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  57. Thank you so much for your comment. I'm glad you like my work. I always look forward to reading your work :)

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    1. Thanks, that story has an interesting beginning.:)

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  58. for me, you are a winner for this contest ..

    loved every bit of it...

    advance congratulations!!!

    regards
    rahul

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    Replies
    1. Awww, thanks for showing faith in my writing...:)

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  59. Kya baat hai, kya baat hai, ek lotion, jo badal de aapki zindagi :D

    Nice story!

    Cheers,
    Blasphemous Aesthete

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    Replies
    1. Ab sponsor ko limelight mein toh rakhna hi padta hai, kya kare! Thanks for reading Anshul!

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  60. OMG, how do you manage to write such great stuff for contests? I keep racking my brain and come up empty and then I back out and say contests are not for me. You make this look so easy.

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    1. Meera you are so good with writing, I can't believe that. You can write whatever you want. Thanks for reading!

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  61. Great post! Surprising when you say this is your first attempt! Good luck on the contest!

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    1. Thanks for reading and your wishes Danny. Welcome here!

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  62. A nice post to read after the break,
    Smart one for the contest!
    Good wishes..BOL

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  63. Chic... this was a great post... until i saw the pic, i had no clue you were writing for a product!! :) you have a great flair for prose and fiction, Saru/... :) Loved this one! :)

    I've missed so much on ur blog..baapre... blame my laziness :P

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    1. Yes! you are lazy and I think you will take some time to settle in Bangalore, then you will be fine. Thanks for a lovely comment, hope the sponsor's like it too:)

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  64. Hie Saru, Read it now... been busy as told ya... I loved the composition... how did the result go?

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    1. Thanks Shesha, waiting for the result. *Fingers Crossed* :-)

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  65. A great story indeed.

    It's a winner for sure.

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  66. Gud story.. simple moments everybody can relate wid :)
    it'd be so gud if in real life care proucts help gals to this much extent..
    balle balle ho jati ladkiyon ki :))

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    Replies
    1. Some products actually help, like shampoos and a good lotion. BTW, dancing reading the last line of your comment.

      Thanks for a lovely comment Jyoti!

      Delete

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