32/100. A dark-grey monsoon morning. A brunch date with an old friend. To be followed by salsa class. And a rather low-on-energy me.

The air – crackling with the electricity of an impending storm – made me reach out for this electric blue crepe saree with a border that begins as a narrow, purple strip and then goes on to incorporate a scribble-like floral design in yellow and purple which then cones into full bloom in the pallu.

The saree is about nine years old and has not been worn for about seven years. The reason? The last time I wore this saree, I was told that just like a bright red does not suit the ungainly lines of an Ambassador, this colour did not suit the elephantine me.

Well, I decided it’s high time I rescued this vibrant saree from the clutches of a nasty memory. Sad fact, but fact nonetheless that I have had to walk a long way to understand that elephantine or not, no one has the right to deny me the joy of wearing a colour or an ensemble I like.

Along this long way, I have undoubtedly shed some kilograms of excess weight, as well as many more kilos of excess stress. And to mark this, I paired this saree with a purple basic camisole from Old Navy – another item of clothing I love but am still wary of wearing without shrugs.

The cami, the bunned-up hair, the purple crystal chandeliers and the purple lippy would work well for my dance class as well. All I had to do was replace the saree with my denims and I would be good to salsa.

So, here it is. The salvaged me in the reclaimed saree. Maybe the camisole isn’t very distinct here, but, baby steps… 😊