Riya woke up late that morning, the sunlight already filtering through the curtains. She dragged herself out of bed, her body feeling heavier than usual. The events of the past few days had weighed on her, and she found it hard to shake the thoughts that seemed to circle her mind like a storm.
As she brushed her teeth, her gaze fell upon the small bottle of fairness cream her mother had left on the bathroom counter. It had always been there—sitting quietly, a constant fixture in the household. Just like the other countless bottles of creams, lotions, and potions meant to "improve" one's appearance. The irony wasn't lost on Riya. Her mother often reminded her, "Don't stay out in the sun, beta. Your skin is too precious."
The same words echoed in her mind as she opened her cupboard. There, neatly lined up on the shelf, were several similar bottles—ranging from brands like Fair and Lovely to Glow & Fair. Some were half-empty, while others were brand new, untouched. They all promised the same thing: lighter skin.
Riya had never really questioned these products before. They were a part of life, just like any other necessity. But now, with everything that had been happening, she started to wonder: Why had she been using them in the first place?
Downstairs, the kitchen was bustling as usual. Her mother was flipping dosas on the stove, the sound of sizzling batter filling the air. Riya took a seat at the table, her eyes still on the fairness cream bottle sitting on the counter. She didn't want to ask her mother about it just yet. Not until she had figured it out for herself.
"Riya, you look tired," her mother said as she placed a plate of hot dosas in front of her. "Don't forget to apply your cream today. You're getting darker, beta. The sun is strong."
Riya didn't respond. She picked at her food, her mind still racing. She didn't want to hurt her mother's feelings, but a part of her felt like the entire routine was suffocating her. Was this what everyone wanted for her? Was this how they measured her worth?
Her thoughts drifted to her cousin Meera. Meera, who had stopped using fairness cream altogether a few months ago. She had started embracing her natural skin tone, refusing to listen to the constant pressure from family members to lighten her complexion. Riya admired Meera for this—she envied her courage to stand against the tide of societal expectations.
But it wasn't easy. Riya remembered the way Meera's relatives had whispered behind her back, calling her "too dark" or "not good enough." They said she was pretty, but if only she could lighten her skin, she would be perfect. It hurt Riya to see her cousin struggle with this constant battle—just like it hurt to see her own mother's obsession with lighter skin.