Day 69. This afternoon Mamu and Mami took me and my husband to DI (Dalhousie Institute) for lunch and I had what I have there every time…steak and a glass of Wajifta. I have been there on several occasions with Mamu and Mami but one particular afternoon remains etched in memory. I was in school then and my school was just across the road from the club. One evening, Mami called up to tell Ma that she would pick me up from school since she had some work at the club. Ma agreed but I was hesitant. I usually took the schoolbus home and someone picking me up was special. Any other time I would be overjoyed but at this instance I was rather worried. My concern: how could I go there in my school uniform? That would be so boring! I had to be dressed up. When some dilly-dallying and attempts to change the plan failed, I had to voice my concern. Ma was stumped but promptly informed Mami, who assured me that I could carry a change and slip into it after reaching the club. Satisfied, I packed a skirt and a top onto my schoolgirl and waited for next afternoon.
There was no such confusion about what to wear today. Since I was meeting Mami and Mamu for lunch today, I had o wear this maroon and black Orissa cotton borrowed from her.
This sari also reminds me of another sari and its story. A Sambalpuri silk in the same combination. That sari my father had gifted Ma. We were in Hyderabad then and he had come to Calcutta on office work. We would look forward to him returning from these tours as his suitcase would be laded with gifts from everyone, letters and goodies like sandesh and potol and gondhoraj lebu. But on this trip, he had something else for Ma…a sari. He had wanted to buy one and my Matu (Mashi) had chosen it. Several years later, Ma and I had gone to my Matu’s place in Mumbai on holiday and Ma was carrying that sari. Matu and Ma decided to exchange saris and so the maroon Sambalpuri silk remained with her for a few years before returning to Ma’s wardrobe, where it now nestles with the stories of its wearers (and that includes me) neatly tucked into its folds.