Shop till I drop! Meri wali Diwali.

 For me, the best part of diwali is the shopping and when it's done along with friends, Sone pe suhaaga!

Amidst the cleanup drive that goes on in my house, there's this ray of escape from the hullabaloo, the shopping time!

Otherwise I am in an avataar, meaning in my old tee and tracks, hair covered with cobweb residues. The black tee turned nearly white with all the dusting and wiping, while the tracks are covered with brown patches from sitting anywhere on the floor or crawling under the bed.

But when it's shopping time, I deck up in fresh clothes, with a dash of light makeup and hair blow-dried, big super-shoper bags to the aid and of course purse loaded with cash (or phones with Gpay)....yes all set to go!

It's like a ritual for us, my group of friends embark on a shopping spree. I need that energy, which I derive from each of their smiling faces, it's like a prime mover that triggers this expedition.

We are ready to hop on a local train or Ola or when available, our private car. Anything works for us, it's just that we need to be synchronous. We have so much to discuss, from saari to dresses, from gifting articles to jewellery, and in between some gossip and venting out, regarding our problems (read in-laws, husbands, kids and maids).

We reach the destination in a blink, well, the distance is in kilometres, but our interesting conversations, make it feel, like teleportation just happened.

I love the streets pre-diwali, the way they shine in hues of bright colours. All shops intensely tinted with the best shades available, proclaiming the arrival of Diwali.

One of us leads the way to the best clothing store, "I had bought beautiful saaris from here last time", she says. And we follow the lead. We get draped in pretty colours and fabrics, "How's this one?", I ask. When I get a nod from all the heads, I reserve the preference. All of us, turn by turn, dig out our choices and we finalise the lot.

"Abb itni saari le rahe hai, discount toh banta hai!", we are in unison on this. And the poor (actually not-so-poor) shopkeeper has to give us a thumbs-up.

The bill is settled and we beseige the next shop. Dresses are selected and turned down, and yet again our birth right, 'the bargain', happens.

We are delighted to get great deals and also proud of ourselves, as to how we saved cash to buy more things now.

After shopping at shops and stores, it's time for some street shopping. Diyas, kandil, lighting strings and teeny-tiny decor articles. From fragrant agarbattis and dhoop, to embellished envelopes, everything is scanned and added to the cart. Now that the bags are heavy and throats are parched, we hunt for a food joint. Munching on our favourite items, we eat till, not our stomachs, but our hearts are full.

Now that we are refuelled, we proceed with the gifts' shopping. From hand bags to potlis, jewellery boxes, oxidised chunky jewellery, stone studded bangles, we try out everything. This is for so and so, that is for him and her, we keep ticking our check list. Once all the boxes are ticked, it's time for mandatory pictures. Most of the times, a 'before' and 'after' pic is evidently clicked, for future 'Awwws'.

Raiding our favourite cafe on the way, we get that coffee kick to overcome the pain in feet and shoulders, after walking for the whole day with loads of bags.

This coffee energises me to the core,

I say, let's shop some more.

Shopping is my weak point, like any other female,

Taking stops, scrutinising products, in detail.

My soul is rejuvenated and my body is all set for more work,

This break refreshes me, though, spending money is my little quirk.

It's not about money spent, 

But with friends, how my happiness augments.

Compulsory feat for us, this is yearly, 

Which makes it an extra Happy Diwali!

PC: My Gallery.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Diwali for me is a festival to be celebrated together....and my friends are it's integral part!

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