Never Ending Story

Courtesy : Google

Today was special, just too special. As she stretched herself like a cat, Dia smiled. She didn’t do her usual running up to the window and furiously drawing the curtains – strangely the morning sun didn’t hurt her eyes. She had a beatific smile plastered on her face as she ran up to Dhiren and planted a wet slurpy kiss on his cheeks. She pushed him aside - I’ll make tea today. Dhiren was looking very alarmed now. What’s wrong with you darling, is everything ok? She smiled her secret smile. Naah, I’ll keep my rendezvous a secret. If Victoria can have a secret, why can’t I?

Dia had asked for a half day at the office today. The drive didn’t seem even one bit annoying to her. Why, she wasn’t even gnashing her teeth. The cacophony of horns almost sounded like music to her, she had to stop herself from tapping her feet.

Her heart didn’t do the familiar plunging-into-abysmal-depth thingie as she entered her office. She had a song on her lips, albeit a little off key. The few hours she spent in office were sheer torture. She had to stop herself from checking her watch every five minutes. Gosh, did she love the pretty diamantes on her pink watch. She was distracted and made a lot of mistakes in her “status report”. When grumpy Kohli yelled at her, Dia had to stop herself from yelling back. Naaah, she didn’t want such trivial things to come in between her and her special day.

When it was finally free to leave, Dia felt like a bird out of its cage. She parked her car at the mall. I hope I’ll find what I’m looking for. Last time she felt so cheated. All this unnecessary baggage – did she really need it? Shut up Dia, focus!

Her heels clicked furiously as she walked, her heart beat faster. She gave an adoring look to her shoes – it was love at first sight for her. True, she had to forego an entire month’s lunch for it – but it was worth every penny. Yea, it did pinch a bit...okay a lot. But it made her feel like a diva. The mall smelt good, oh so good – the smell of coffee wafting around, the excited chatter of shoppers. It felt like home. And then she saw what she had come looking for, a late evening text that had sent her schedule in a tizzy. The love of her life, her passion, the reason for her existence, those four gorgeous letters S - A – L – E.



Dia took a deep breath as she walked inside the store. Gone was the exhilarated smile, her face had the grim expression of a chick on a mission now. Quickly, she scanned through the displays. The store was big...she wanted to cover every inch of it. She was sorely missing her friends today...rather her ex-friends. After the last sale when she literally snatched that divine cape from Shruti’s hands and elbowed Leena so hard that she had caused a broken rib, her two best friends had stopped talking to her. Well, you win some, you lose some, she shrugged. She made a quick mental calculation; she had exactly 4 hours at hand. Yesss, 4 hours in this paradise on discount...

Suddenly, her ears pricked up...where is this sound coming from? As she turned to her left, she spotted about a dozen women surrounding something, chattering excitedly. She was on high alert now. Her eyes picked out the sacred 50% off tag. She was now a tigress out for the kill; Dia had just smelt blood.

A push here, a shove there and she was in front of a humungous pile of all that her heart had ever desired. OMG this jumpsuit is yummy. Damn why is it I can never find my size. She was furiously digging into the heap, like a busy ferret, her brows knit in concentration. Yesss... she finally found something, a gorgeous bolero jacket and it was her size ...Yipeee... Jeez why is it not coming out! Wait. why is it moving in the opposite direction? And she felt that offending hand that was trying to snatch her precious jacket away from her. Her eyes imperiously surveyed her opponent, and she said in a honey-sweet voice. Isn’t that your mobile on the floor? And off she was with her prized jacket flung over her shoulder. She didn’t even look back once to notice the girls’ stunned expression.

Courtesy : Google

The next few hours were sheer bliss – unearthing a gorgeous bag here, spotting a dress in the softest wool there. The feel of satin, eyeing the collection of boots all begging to be picked up...Ufff...this was Nirvana. If Dia had her way, she would spend the rest of her life here, away from the madding crowd.

As Dia stood in the serpentine queue at the trail rooms, she surveyed her booty and gave a smug smile. She hugged the little charcoal dress lovingly, it was just too special. How she had stooped to conquer -stooped low enough to flick it off from a girl’s shopping basket, just as she had put it down to try a hat on. As Dia tried on the fifth pair of jeggings at the trail room, she checked her reflection in the mirror – Her hair was a little dishevelled, her cheeks flushed, her pupils a little dilated. She mouthed “I love you” to herself. The jeggings fit her like a dream.

Her only spoiler for the day was the credit card slip – her heart skipped several beats.

It was very late, when Dia reached home. Dhiren was home waiting for her. Where the hell have you been, I have been trying to call you up all evening!! Why didn’t you pick up the damn phone? She gave him a sheepish smile as she sunk in to the couch. Dhiren’s eyes landed on her 15 shopping bags. He was hyperventilating now. Have you been shopping again! Have you forgotten that we have to pay our EMIs for the house, the car and the fancy vacation we took in Maldives?? You think this is one big joke, don’t you! Dia puckered up her lips as tears welled up her eyes. She was barely whispering now....I managed to save over 3 K today. I try, don’t I?