28/04/2026
“Sakhi”
I still remember how, as a child, I was completely mesmerized by my mother.
I would quietly watch her getting ready in front of the mirror,draping her saree with such ease, placing that big, bold bindi right at the center of her forehead, wearing her round gold balis, and finishing it all with that deep red nail paint. To me, she looked nothing less than magic.
Growing up in a Rajasthani Marwari home, there was always a sense of occasion. Her hands were often adorned with fresh henna, and dadiji would lovingly remind her to dress up well for every vrat and festivity. And she did gracefully, beautifully. Bright cottons, soft silks… she wore them like they belonged to her soul.
I remember her long hair freshly washed, neatly tied into a bun, held together with those soft velvet scrunchies. Everything about her felt complete, effortless, and full of warmth.
And those fasting days… they had their own charm. The simplicity of tea and aloo chips somehow felt like a ritual of its own. But more than anything, it was her presence, her stories, her laughter, the way she would share little moments from her life that made those days unforgettable.
To me, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Still is.
That’s my mom.
“Sakhi”
Handloom Saree edit
Spring summer.
2026/2027
