Source: http://pixabay.com/ |
“No, no, no… Why don’t you understand? I’m looking for a fresh face for this campaign. I don’t want to see those plastic beauties no matter how much they are in demand or what their portfolios boast of.”
Debashish sighed in exasperation as he disconnected the call and rested his hand on the parapet of the balcony of his first Β floor swanky apartment, running his fingers through his curly locks that ended around his shoulders into wild ringlets. He lit a cigarette and puffed furiously at the melting evening sun.
Debashish was one of the best photographers in the country and had the reputation of being a perfectionist of a shutterbug. His eccentric ways often delivered amazing results from his lens. It had been over months that he had been looking for a fresh looking face for his upcoming campaign for a brand new discovery in the world of cosmetics, a miracle product, that scoffed at makeup and promised to take years off a face if used diligently, to the extent that a woman would never want to use make up again, after she discovered the natural beauty of her rejuvenated skin. He had skimmed through so many portfolios of super models, upcoming ones and also of some newbies. All he saw was picture-perfect contoured features, layers of makeup and a smile that could put a plastic doll to shame. Steely cold. They could pass off as painted dummies. None of them qualified for the au naturel look he intended to promote through this campaign.
He wondered if such women existed at all anymore, what with the booming of the cosmetics market and the overrated desire for glamour. All these women today looked the same. They preened, pouted and faked glamour with an exaggerated amount of sensuality, without an ounce of grace or dignity. They dressed alike, spoke alike, behaved alike and looked alike – blank and expressionless. That very moment just to prove him wrong, she appeared from nowhere, passing by his balcony wearing a simple beige blouse with a baby pink skirt flowing around her long legs. Her hair was all tousled and out of place. Not a trace of makeup on her face. She suddenly felt his intent gaze on her and turned up her face instinctively. Her eyes lit up instantly with a hint of recognition and her face burst into a spontaneous childlike smile that spoke of unbridled disbelief. She wasn’t a classic beauty so to speak of. But there was something about her. That smile.
“Oh my god! Debashish… Debashish Ghosh, the famous photographer!” she exclaimed chirpily, waving madly at him unable to contain her excitement standing right under his balcony. He waved back at her, adjusting his glasses to have a better look at her and signaled her to wait for him to come down.
He had finally found the face he was looking for all these months. She had a face with a real genuine smile that radiated heartwarmly through her glowing skin and actually reached her eyes.
He just needed a little patience to find his perfect model. =)
Yeah! Men aren't too great with patience anyway π
No matter how much people doll up, the real beauty always outshines it π Well done Vinodini π
P. S. I Love You
Thanks Swathi. Yeah, real beauty is a winner all the way.
A smile that reaches your eyes is pure beauty. Genuine people are gems to treasure, loved your post.
Thank you Sulekha. The smile that reaches the eyes of a person says a lot about them.
Smile is a curve that sets things straight π Sweet post!
Thank you Parul π
Aaahhh, gorgeous… So true and you say it so lovely in the end – that real smile – nothing beats that:-) Enjoyed the read
Thanks Eli! You always have such good things to say. I'm glad you enjoy my posts π
I agree with you on this one. It's so easy to tell when someone is genuinely smiling. It's one of the hardest things in the world to counterfeit. I guess that's why they can be so contagious.
Yeah, such smiles sure are contagious π
Oh, I like this one!!
Thanks Dixie <3
What a 'beautiful' post Vinnie! π I love these lines in particular as it is the reason for my vision of my alternative (nontraditional) children's choir: "All these women today looked the same … They dressed alike, spoke alike, behaved alike and looked alike – blank and expressionless." I'm glad to see that her inner beauty shone right through radiating from her lips to her eyes! π <3
Thank you Elly. That's what most women have started looking like, but thank god, there are still some original and simple personalities out there. Love the way you have worded the inner beauty bit <3
loved the way you described her π a smile that comes from the heart is always beautiful π
Thanks Raj. Yeah, that kind of smile is beautiful indeed.
Nice post, it justified the theme well. But being a regular reader, I was looking for that twist at the end of the tale. The twist never came. [ may be that was the whole twist here]
Good to see you here after a long time Vyoma. I havent been giving twists to my stories off late…just going with the flow of words dear π
A smile is the best accessory you can wear. Good that he found her, just the way he wished for. Lovely story!
Absolutely Shilpa, nothing beats a genuine smile π
Superb Vinodini. I am still looking out for a genuine actress or model who has natural charm over fake airs. Last time was watching the interview of a B town actress who has been a classmate and was shocked to see her transformation from being herself in college to be so fake now.