#100sareepact Day 53
Every year, in the first week of October, my silks emerge from the closet where they have been folded and put away six months earlier, for the summers. This threatens to be a warm, warm October with maximum temperatures predicted to be around 38-39 degree Celsius over the next ten days, but the evenings and mornings are cool! You can feel a subtle change in the breeze, in the ambient light – perhaps because of the shift in the angle at which the sun’s rays reach you? The days are growing shorter, the evenings longer – an undefined perception of the earth relaxing just that little bit, after the torrid restlessness of summer and unbridled excitement of the monsoons. And yet, there is a sense of anticipation, of the festive season just around the corner and, beyond that, winter, the wonderful North Indian winter!
The season for silks, satins, brocades and pashminas; for dressing up with woollen scarves, gloves, caps and thick polo necks to protect you from the bracing cold when you dare venture out when the sun is not around, of coat pockets full of roasted pine-nuts, raisins and cashews. Of cuddling in the razai and just those five minutes ( which extend to fifteen) extra before beginning the day’s chores, over-the-breakfast discussions on the thickness of the fog outside the window, of mid-morning oranges and guavas, of dozing over a book on lazy afternoons under a mild sun, of cosy evenings with soups to warm you. We don’t have fireplaces, but I have always longed for one, so we make do sitting around the electric heater. When younger, we would play Uno, Chinese Checkers, Scrabble and other board games to while away the long winter evenings. Now, of course, everyone has their own iPads and laptops. Embroidery or hand-quilting are other things best kept away for this part of the year.
In our extended family, Octobers are eventful – besides the Navratri , Dusshehra and sometimes Diwali, almost every week there is a birthday to be celebrated and more recently, death anniversaries to be observed. Today’s saree is also a part of a mini celebration. It was gifted to me by my prospective mother-in-law and I wore it on my engagement 34 years ago, today. I loved this patola silk with its stylish, modern check contrasted with a broad woven traditional peacock border on first sight. Today, even Meenu, my lady Friday thinks it looks dated. She laughed at me, saying, “Kis zamaane ki saree pehni aaj aapne?”. Sadly, the zari has blackened and this is probably the last time I will wear it. I am mulling over quilt designs into which the body can be incorporated.
Meanwhile, am wondering if DH can be persuaded to buy me yet another diamond ( engagement) ring in place of the three I have lost. Those stories will have to wait.