This friend of mine was doubtful about many things in life but absolutely sure about one thing- he was madly in love with her. But, there was a serious psychological impediment in his love story, the color of his skin.

He had dark complexion and she was fair.

They knew each other for a long time and were good friends. They even looked forward to each other’s company and spent considerable time with each other.

He secretly glanced at her and basked in her beauty. He often wondered and mused that someday he would say to her, “You are so beautiful, did you know when you smile your face glows like sunshine and radiates fragrance which always smites me”

This friend of mine however could never muster courage to blossom his heart out to her.

 “Will she accept me as her partner, I’m so dark, and she is such a damsel,” shrieked his inner voice.  

His spirit dampened every time he gazed himself in the mirror and vigorously applied more fairness creams to overcome the curse of dark skin. Several tubes of fairness creams had got consumed but his skin color remained the same. He always bought yet another cream tube with the faint hope that maybe this tube would do the magic. It never did.

Rather a friend opined mischievously, “You can win a fortune anytime, just sue the manufacturer of these creams!”   

This friend of mine was certainly furious with the manufacturers who claimed fairness in few weeks through lavish television advertisements but chose to remain silent and sad, cursing his fate.

As it happens, when in love, he approached a sensible friend for solace and confided his distress.

“Look at the brighter side, just see how handsome you are and all the more who knows maybe she also loves you,” assured that friend.

His face brightened up and suddenly his heart filled up with hopes.

“Even lord Krishna was dark but look at the number of Gopis he had, almost uncountable, and you are cooking all rubbish things in your mind that too for just one girl.” Further dose of affirmation came flowing, raising his hopes even higher.

 But “but” interjected my friend doubtfully. “If that is the case then why does Krishna complain to his mother, remember the song- Yosomati maiya se puche nandalala Radha kue gori main kue kala.”

The sensible friend now losing patience declared, “Faint heart never won fair lady- show some courage.”

These words had magical influence, now my friend was determined to propose to his fair lady.

The day was fixed and the agenda pretty much clear, my friend  stood in front of the mirror and rehearsed all the well thought off dialogues, how he would stand, how he would modulate his voice and above all the pace with which the words bearing his love would flow.

Suddenly his inner voice shrieked, “Apply some talcum powder duffer, it may make you appear less dark.”

So he sprinkled lot of talc but soon it formed white marks leaving him feeling disgusted.  He was suddenly reminded of a remark he overhead when passing a group of enthusiastic college goers. “Look, suddenly the area has turned dark,” and they all bursted into laughter. He had faced enough humiliation, so should he go for yet another one, his devilish inner voice clamoured.

After some fretful time he finally decided to go and meet her. He washed off all the fairness cream and the talc. He was mentally prepared to face the outcome with fortitude.

She welcomed him with a smile full of pleasantness and she indeed looked stunning. His heart missed a beat and he again felt smitten.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked her with hesitation.

“What is this, how come you have become so formal?” she chided him affectionately.

“I was wondering, umm… if we have kids will they look like chess boards?”

She exploded in laughter and said controlling her chortle “No stupid they would look very cute.”

My friend didn’t know how to take it, is it an acceptance of his subtle way of saying that he loved her or is she just taking it as all fun. His reverie was interrupted by her now composed voice, “Anything else, that’s all that you wanted to ask?”

“Show some courage,” yelled his inner voice.

“Will you be my friend for life?”

“Hmm…”

“You are so beautiful, did you know when you smile your face glows like sunshine and radiates fragrance which always smites me”

She shook her head and then raised it looking straight into his eyes.  Her eyes had moistened. My friend had no qualms; he was prepared for the worst but had a heart full of hope. He waited for her to respond.

“Stupid, you took so much time to say these words. Do you know how desperately I waited to hear these words from you?” She said with a lump in her throat. She could not speak further.

So, my friend took her hand and said in a whisper, “I love you, do you love me?”

All she could do was nod, gesturing her acceptance.

Several years went by; they got married and had real cute children.

Amidst all these, the fairness creams remained unutilized and the anger towards the cream manufacturers lessened and finally waned over time.