This year we had the good fortune of going with my in-laws for Onam Shopping. Good fortune because being the generous folks they are, they were planning to buy something for me as well. So, off we went with the entire family entourage for festive shopping.
Mummy had elaborate plans for her grandchild. Thanks to my non-existent fashion sense, she has almost given up on me . Once in a while she try to encourage me with stories of her old bell-bottom pant Bangalore days and urges me to buy at least a new pair of jeans and throw away my 3 year old faded jeans. I , on the other hand ,was proud of the fact that I can still fit into something( or rather the only thing in my wardrobe) that I had brought three years back. Why would anyone need more than one pair of jeans anyways.
That being the backstory , Mummy had pinned all her hopes on her only grandchild to hold her fashion traditions high. We proudly marched into brand factory, with my lil imp leading from the front. She knew exactly where to find her stuff and Mummy was more than proud of her self sufficient ways. I left them on their own , and wandered off to find something for myself. The princess is not going to like anything we select for her, a fact that I knew already and something that Mummy is going to learn the hard way before we are done for the day.
Soon I could hear a loud commotion coming from the other end of the shop . My family is blessed with the best vocal cords in business, touch wood, and never had any difficulty in attracting an audience no matter where they are. Mummy and the lil imp were having an argument over the selection of clothes, which went something like this ,
"I dont like it"
"But Sanju, this will look beautiful on you"
"No"
"Its so nice, just try it"
"If you buy it, you can wear it..I don't want it, not in my life"
"Sanju.."
"No..."
Things were getting a bit dramatic here. I noticed that my better half was watching the whole proceedings with an amused look on his face. He is so annoyingly proud of his daughter's theatrics and often says proudly "She will become an actress when she grows up". I rolled my eyes at him and pitched in to handle the situation. After few minutes of pleading, cajoling and threatening, she finally agreed to try something on..Thanks to the festive season, there was a large queue before the trail rooms. I suggested that she try on her new clothes on top of what she is wearing.Ms attitude wouldn't budge. We had a small argument over this, and she was garnering sympathetic glances from some morons who were waiting for their turns outside the trial room. .
We got into the room when our chance came and thus began the ordeal of trials. After trying about half a dozen clothes, she decided that she wanted to buy only 2.Meanwhile people who were waiting outside were enjoying the live commentary of what was going on inside
"Amma, put that button.."
"I dont want to try it.."
"Amma, is this how you wear it, you don't know anything.."
"I wont wear it, Promise.."
Mummy dejectedly put back all the clothes that she has picked up with so much hope. I could sense the realization dawn upon her that her fashion wavelength doesn't match with a single soul in the family. I felt sorry for her and convinced her to buy a pista green kurta for herself . It was looking good on her and I guess that cheered her up a bit . The trip ended with Mummy making an announcement that it is the last time ever that she is going to take up such an adventure . Thankfully she also added that she would continue to fund our shopping on special occasions, but would not accompany us by any means.
Looking at my lil imp showing off her loot proudly to my parents later that day,I had a flashback of the times when I and my sister used to go shopping with our parents. My father would sleep peacefully in the waiting area of the shops, while my Amma struggled to manage our shopping tantrums. Not to this level maybe, but almost there. I couldn't
stop musing to myself "what goes around, comes around!!"
