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#100sareepact

A yellow and black favourite ! And a Kaanchi cotton with a difference . The smooth silky cotton with the thin horizontal lines and the temple design has a black silk border woven into it allowing for a perfect fall . I am afraid I do not remember where I bought this beauty from . Racking my brains . It was either Shilpi in Madras or Gaurisariya in Calcutta . And it is over a decade old and much loved and worn.

Teamed it today with the black halter for a much looked forward to Lunch at Alakta and Salim’s home . What a beautiful home they keep . And what a table they lay . Always . Today was even more special as Alakta had deemed it Saree day in honour of the Pact and invited her gracious, gorgeous mother , Chumki to join us too.

Alakta and her family and us , we go back a long, long way . As far away as Venezuela and three decades and more. Ani and Venky were colleagues in the Oil Refinery in Venezuela and Alakta and her sister young girls just older than our little boys and Chumki ? Chumki was the ultimate role model for all the other young wins and mothers like us . Always beautifully turned out in one gorgeous Bengal Saree after another , kind and welcoming her home open to everyone .

I remember my first birthday in at that far away and unfamiliar land and Chumki made it so special by having us over right from breakfast itself and pampering and spoiling me with gifts , food and her warmth enveloping me in so much love.

Chumki and Ani were and continue to be the best dancers ever…seeing them Waltz together was a joy and a few years ago at Ani’s 75th , again at Alakta’s they proved it all over again .

Even after we left Venezuela , we have been together settling down here as neighbours in Thane and our friendship has grown and evolved. Today it is a joy seeing Alakta and Salim as householders and parents to their beautiful children and knowing them all over again .

Being a Sunday and Azim on his well earned holiday , we jumped into an auto rickshaw for the short ride to their place and of course the Saree cried for the colour coordinated Pact Picture . Dear Salim obliged and before we sat down to the delicious lunch the three husbands were falling over each other to take the best photographs for the Pact .

Alakta and I , then , after Lunch had some hard work to do for which I had to help her with some research . I do not have permission to share her project here but believe me it’s going to be simply awesome . Watch this space for more . And please forgive all the pictures that come with this post . Could not leave even a single one out .