Can you show me that pink shade? 

I asked the lady, buying lipstick at a cosmetic store.


My daughter,who waited patiently from an hour, 

asked,mamma why do you apply so much of make up on your face?


Sweety, I want to look more beautiful, everyone uses it, 

and so am I, I said while the lady in the store giggled.


She took me to the mirror wiped all my make up and said, 

I love my real mamma,who is simple and beautiful and not a painted one.


I PAUSED for a minute! Her words REFLECTED my thoughts! 

While everyone clapped for us.


-Manasa Hegde