The Makeup Artist
"Bridal makeup artist Samira transforms women for the biggest days of their lives. When she's hired by handsome groom Rashid to fix a pre-wedding disaster, she becomes part of his story instead."
The Makeup Artist
"My bride called it off."
Samira stared at the man who'd just knocked on her studio at 10pm. Handsome, shell-shocked, still in his wedding sherwani.
"That's... I'm so sorry."
"The makeup artist for the reception—she went with the bride." He laughed hollowly. "I know it's ridiculous, but my sisters still want to celebrate. Can you help?"
"Help with what?"
"Make them beautiful. Let them dance. Help us salvage something."
She helped. All night, making up his sisters, his cousins, his mother who kept crying.
"You're extraordinary," Rashid said as dawn approached.
"I just did my job."
"You gave us dignity in disaster." His eyes held hers. "Thank you."
They stayed in touch. He needed someone who'd seen him at his lowest. She needed someone who valued what she did.
"This is unexpected," Samira admitted months later.
"This is fate." Rashid took her hand. "She left so you could come into my life. I believe that now."
At his flat—stripped of wedding decorations—they finally gave in.
"Are you sure?" Samira asked. "After everything?"
"Because of everything." He kissed her. "You saw the worst and stayed."
He made love to her like she was the answer to a question he'd stopped asking.
"Meri jaan," Rashid breathed. "You made beauty from ashes."
"We both did."
The wedding—their wedding—was two years later.
Samira did her own makeup.
Best transformation of her career.