Rehana Aftab’s Copper Nail Polish is a poignant Urdu short story that beautifully blends symbolism with raw emotions, reflecting on love, loss, and the hidden battles of a woman’s heart.

The story revolves around a young woman who wears copper-colored nail polish, a seemingly simple detail that carries a deeper meaning. The copper shade becomes a metaphor for her life—neither bright gold nor dull gray, but something in between. It represents her silent endurance, the compromises she makes, and the quiet strength she carries despite her struggles.

Through her reflections, we see how society often judges women by appearances while ignoring their inner wounds. The nail polish, carefully applied, masks the turmoil within her. Yet, it also gives her a sense of identity, a small act of rebellion, and a reminder that beauty and resilience can coexist even in pain.

Rehana Aftab’s storytelling captures the contradictions of emotions: the desire to be noticed yet the urge to hide, the need for love yet the strength to endure loneliness. Copper Nail Polish becomes more than just a story about adornment; it is about a woman’s unspoken cry for recognition, dignity, and self-worth.

In the end, the copper polish gleams as a quiet testimony to her survival—subtle but strong, fragile but enduring.