15 Comments

I read it in a rush cos I wanted to read that you made peace with your skin eventually and was I glad to read the end. Exquisite writing and more wings to your imagination as you respond so so wildly to a prompt as direct as an impossible friendship. And now I must wash my face and use the night cream. If only every mundane task had such evocative reminders

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Thank you Charulatha! I love that you are rushing to meet your night cream 😀 Your feedback is making me and my skin preen!

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Jul 12Liked by Manisha Gupta

The perspective you bring to your writing is amazing Manisha! Looking at skin as a friend or foe, in sickness and in health. I had a sudden urge to look in the mirror after reading your essay - have I been good to my skin? Stellar writing.

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Thank you Samira. I always thought my skin was a foe, till this essay came along.

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Jul 12Liked by Manisha Gupta

Manisha! I jumped when I saw your post ..fantastic soothing loving writing this is ! Terrific close to the essay .....it was right there and I didn't see it till I read it ...Bhai wah !

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Roshni - thanks! The Buddha said our vision enables us to look far into the horizon. But we cannot see our eyelashes. Skin is a bit like that. My friendship with my skin is like that - right there, but I dont see it!

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Jul 12Liked by Manisha Gupta

Manisha, skin is such a great friend to have. It takes bare bones and raw flesh and shapes the beautiful us. Just like you have done with words and this essay. Thank you for writing..

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Thank you Sanket. This comment is a micro-essay in itself!

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What a beautiful response.

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Couldn't agree more

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Couldn't agree more

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I loved this piece so much. Am going to show it to my 10 and 13-year old. My mother used to say things like 'you are what you eat' and 'avoid the sun from 11:30 AM till 3:30 PM'. I hear myself saying to them 'hydrate, hydrate, hydrate' ad nauseam in the hope that they will realise sooner rather than later to take care of their skin from early on. Can't wait to do this workshop

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Jul 20Liked by Manisha Gupta

I love how you effortlessly weave magic with your words!

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I’ve never had a maalish done. I cannot tolerate the idea of an alien hand on my body. Even if it is nourishing, massaging, soothing the bones and muscles, I can feel the creeps crawling up my spine. Your maalish scene, I could imagine why you couldn’t wait to wash it off!

I love this intimate conversation with your skin. You need it to stay on your back…

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Thanks Rituparna! Raani's ill-fated entry was short lived in my life. Hahaha!

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