When Joy Is Painted Beige and Gold

There is something very special about buying something that you can't quite afford. You yearn for that little outfit which is tantalizingly beyond your budget. It gapes at you as you avert your eyes. You end up looking at it from the corner of your left eye. The golden work on the beige cotton sparkles like gold jewellery. Nobody else notices it. They are too busy looking at the flashier greens and reds and magentas. Yet, the five-hundred-bucks of beige and gold paint seems to have hypnotized you.

You walk over to the rack. Seven beige and gold kurtas greet you. Medium. Medium. Large. Medium. Small. Large. Large. You wish there had been no Smalls on that rack. Now you feel as though that Small was waiting for you. Just for you. Dare you buy it with the Diwali money your Uncle just gave you? The money that you were saving for a rainy day? The money that could have taken care of your next month's phone bill? You decide "No". You will not spend any money.

You look at it wistfully and console yourself with: "Some other time." And walk away to window shop for something else. You are looking for something that will make you forget about this beige and gold dream. But fifteen minutes later you are back at the same rack.

"Dare I try it on once to see how it looks?"

You ask yourself that question once. And then once more. The next thing you know, you are a beauty in beige and gold as you admire yourself in the trial room mirror. And you know that the price tag does not matter anymore. The Diwali money emerges out of that white envelope. Rainy days can go to hell. Even if it does rain, at least you will be well-dressed. And well, if money can't buy you happiness, what is the point of having it anyway?

Cut to now:
The beige and gold kurta is sitting pretty on top of the clothes heap in my cupboard. I just went and stole a loving glance at it. Perhaps the buy was a bit of an over-indulgence. But it made me happy. I have already begun making plans for the inauguration of my new beige and gold acquisition.