#100 sareepact 5\/100
\nLong years ago, this stunning Parsee gara literally fell into my lap! I had dropped by to my very talented and dear designer friend, Raja Biswas\u2019s workplace to say hullo. He had literally just wound up a showing of these hand-embroidered beauties in Calcutta. The saris had barely come off the ramp!!
\nI had attended a Catholic convent school all my life (the best one in the whole wide world, I daresay), surrounded by Parsee friends. We were only too familiar with their history, culture, food, language, their heightened westernized tastes in music, attire, and social etiquette and their special place in Calcutta society.
\nSo yes, coming back to Raja\u2026 \u201cThings\u201d were lying carelessly strewn around in his studio, \u201cmake one go weak in the knees\u201d sort of things, you know. Things one could ill afford then, and notwithstanding the Ten Commandments, one still coveted them! Suddenly this beauty caught my attention. Couldn\u2019t take my hungry eyes off it. I guess he saw the covetous yet lovelorn look in my eyes, and asked me in our native tongue, a trifle indulgently, as an older brother would, a younger sister, \u201cTor konta pochhondo?\u201d Which one do you like?\u201d My voice quivering and one finger tentatively pointing to this one, I replied, \u201cOi ta.\u201d
\n\u201cTake it\u201d, was his generous response. And it was mine forever.
\nEvery time I don it, I\u2019m inundated with compliments and it\u2019s a fabulous feeling. Thank you Raja! Last night I wore it to an old friend\u2019s dinner do\u2026and guess what? I once again faced a surge of compliments! The blouse is another story, a stunner and a statement in itself. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
#100 sareepact 5\/100 Long years ago, this stunning Parsee gara literally fell into my lap! I had dropped by to my very talented and dear designer friend, Raja Biswas\u2019s workplace to say hullo. He had literally just wound up a showing of these hand-embroidered beauties in Calcutta. The saris had barely come off the ramp!!…<\/p>\n