The other day, three of us, quite spontaneously, decided to catch up for some shopping. One among us took the meeting time a little too seriously. She was there on the dot. Frantically, she kept calling the two of us, who were travelling together. My travel buddy kept reassuring the restless one that we were just about to reach the venue. In reality, we were far from the destination. How she smirked, thinking she had narrated a convincing tale! I sat there partaking in the parody and wondering how much was being bought of what she sold that day.
Oh, by the way, did I tell you what prompted us to shove aside our work and arrange for an almost impromptu coming-together that afternoon? Apparently, it was the pursuit of some perfectly-fitted, voguish, good-to-go-with-almost-any-saree blouses. Yes, you read that correctly. (A blouse is an upper garment that accompanies and complements the traditional Indian garment called the saree.) Deep within, we were tired of the daily rut, and each one wanted a little respite from our pedestrian lives.
The urgency, however, was created due to a friend’s lined-up wedding invitations and family occasions and the other one’s enthusiasm and expertise about the garment. In addition, the latter’s unwavering claim in fetching the most striking ones at the least prices made the meet-up mandatory. An irresistible temptation for sure! Anyway, I was just happy to be there.
The hunt began with a distraction. Spontaneous window shoppers that women are! Our eyes kept roving from bed linens, kids’ wear, nightwear, purses to accessories. In fact, it required a reprimand from our mentor to get us back on track.
The first shop. A lady flaunting a bust-decoding air about her welcomed us. Her forthright glances seemed to have the accuracy of a measuring tape. In no time, two stacks of blouses were placed in front of us. Both my friends and I plunged into the task at hand. Aware of the furtive glances of the seemingly coy, middle-aged man behind the cash counter, we kept sieving through the heap. All the while, holding on to every word uttered by the mentor.
Indeed, this friend, whom I have named ‘the mentor’, is a natural. She knows which style, pattern, colour or even texture would align with which kind of saree. We couldn’t help but drool over her skill set. After a good deal of prompt advice and a great deal of deliberation, my friend fished out two blouses. I held on to a single piece. However, there was a valid takeaway. It busted my preconceived notion that style comes with a high price tag.
The second shop. A more promising and professional one. Unlike the previous stores, this one at least had an inconspicuous make-shift trial room. Our happiness knew no bounds. Again, the mentor confidently stepped in. Here, not only guides us in making the prudent choice but also plays peek-a-boo to approve of the right fit. Meanwhile, I came across a blouse. The present trend of a ‘cold-shoulder’. Keeping up with its rather bizarre name was its look. As if chunks of fabric had been ripped off from its two sides! Ouch, …apologies to those who took it to heart.
My friend ended up buying three. I stood like a defeated warrior, miserably failing to select even one. Didn’t matter as I made a ludicrous discovery. In most cases, price and fabric used (in metres) are inversely proportional to each other.
Contended and consumed, we settled down for tall glasses of iced tea and grilled sandwiches at a quaint tea shop, sandwiched between rows of blouse-peddling stores. What followed was unfiltered fun! We merrily gorged on the food as well as the conversation.
All of us had a great time that day. Indeed, that little carton of delightful moments acted as chests full of oxygen in our steadily stifling structured lives. Being impromptu made it all the more entertaining, and when we left, we were once again ready to deal with the crushing pressure of life and its liaisons.
So, if you are experiencing a shortness of breath (in life!), don’t scream, “Enough is enough!” but show it with calm and care. Go for a delightful discussion or even a reckless rant; head to a parlour or a park; let theatre and not theatrics be your breather, and do anything that helps you to deal with the inconsistent cadences of life. The feel-good feeling might last you only through the next few days, weeks or months till you need another one of those uplifting encounters with yourself. But that should never navigate you away from having experiences that will hold and heal your heart and humour in equal measure!
Shift your identity from being a ‘people-pleaser’ to a ‘soft villain’, and before you know you will have reclaimed power and perspective to evolve into the hero of your own story.
By Promita Banerjee Nag
An avid word enthusiast and content-churner, Promita is fuelled by novel writings, ideas and light-hearted banter. A teacher by passion, she treads the path of unequivocal learning with and through her students. Mother, music and ‘mishti’ mostly convince her. If you wish for a tête-à-tête, feel free to reach out to her at promita033@gmail.com.
