Day 10. May 10. And gorgeous ladies numbering 10. What better way to mark my entry into 2 digits for the #100sareepact?

As I was getting ready in the morning for the first Kolkata saree date, I was prepared to meet one friend, two acquaintances and six complete strangers whose only common thread was probably saree love.

But as one woman after another walked in, we knew that this was the start of something special. The stories unfolded, while the sarees were being admired. Tales of love, longing, laughter, and yes, loss as well.

We laughed at a particular lady’s story of how she had to practically force the shopkeeper to part with a saree, laughed even more at another’s knack for co-opting saris belonging to her sundry aunts. We knocked on wood at the impeccable taste one person’s husband has and wholly identified with another’s love for a particular store. Another spoke of wearing her mother’s favourite colour to remember her on Mother’s Day, while her friend spoke of a saree her mother-in-law gifted her even though she was separated from her husband.

The fun bit was in practically forcing a young man to take this saree queue photograph. And in posing with a Harley!

And if any of you Kolkata ladies want to hear more, you will just have to join us for the next saree date.

A cool, printed, kota which manages to breathe delicacy in spite of its tomato red colour was my saree for the day. Silver, pearl and marcasite jewellery and a red bindi completed my look for the day.