Who doesn’t love shopping? For that matter which woman would openly declare that she loves window shopping? I would be a singing lark if my hubby dearest threw a few notes in my open palms. Had he to say, “Honey, why don’t you buy yourself that flowery printed dress that you have been dreaming about in your deep slumber?,” I would have been off to the closest shopping malls and making my presence felt. That is just what I did although he didn’t pose the big question.
I parked my humble vehicle on the outskirts and walked towards the heart of the city that attracts crowds from far-off places. That is what crowded Margao does to the city-goer and a shopaholic. One needs to really sweat and pant as the distance between your vehicle and the garments store might be a kilometer, the same distance as between your home and workplace.
A good 15 minutes walk in the scorching afternoon heat did me good. Though the summers have still not exhibited their devastating display of soaring temperatures, I felt more safe with my butterfly printed umbrella as I tumbled along the dug up roads of Margao. I didn’t have the time to layer the sunscreen lotion on my bare arms and legs. I muttered under my breath, “Next time perhaps.” The poor sunscreen lotion had been lying atop the shelf for several months now as I kept muttering my next timers.
As I climbed a mound of dug up mud, the panting caused me to curse the roadside workers for digging anywhere and everywhere. As I thought of mouthing several expletives, my childhood upbringing and conscience pulled me at its seams. I stopped short. Call it the convent education!
I trudged along the road to enter a shoe store. Boots, pumps, slip-ons, sandals, high heels, moccasins, belle shoes….. all lined up on the racks for beaver-eyed customers to take delight and stare in awe at some of the bright colored range of shoes that were available. Yes! Bright blue, raving red, canary yellow, pista green, lovely white, ogling orange and jet black…. Quite a handful to take your pick from.
With eyes as big as dollars, I moved around the store looking out for the footwear that I had spotted last week. Sssshhhh! I couldn’t seem to spot it. It must have gone off the shelf into the home of some shoe lover.
A touch of repentance hit me as I reflected on my misfortune. It was a reddish pair nestling a cute little buckle. Again I muttered to myself, “Perhaps next time.” My next timers were seemingly endless as the strokes of bad luck teased me.
A quick glance at the watch had me hurrying through the open doors and out in the open. Again I clambered up the small mound to reach the spot where I had parked my vehicle and sped to home sweet home.
Upon reaching, I met my hubby dearest at the door with a questioning look in his eyes. He asked, “What did you buy?” Giving him the killer look, I uttered, “Honey, next time.”
