The other day, I was talking to my mother, she asked "you will be coming home for Durga Puja right?"
As a precap to this discussion, let me give you a little flashback: I have joined T.A. Pai Management Institute this year, commonly known as TAPMI, to pursue MBA. As in any other B school, we will also be having exams at that time. Downhearted, I replied "No Maa, I don't think I will be able to come. I will only be there for Diwali". To my surprise, she sarcastically commented, "Then what is supposed to happen to all your Puja shopping? Pantaloons is going to miss you so bad".
Like any other girl ever born on Earth, I too love to go shopping. To the Girl community out there, I can shout out and say "yes, yes I am a part of you and I believe in shopping!". Shopping, you see, is a stress buster. And to the girls, Its like a habit, a hobby, passion, ventilation, love, affection... what not? Mentioning about Pantaloons, and the shared love we, the girls, have for this store is like relating to an emotion.
I am a Bong girl. Having spent most of my stable years in Kolkata and my home town which is a few kilometres from Kolkata, the essence of Durga Puja runs through my veins. And interestingly, most of Durga Puja, for a shopping enthusiast for me, is spent on finding new trends for the year, giving trials in various festive colours, buying gifts for the siblings… so on and so forth but at the centre of all these things is this one store, Pantaloons.
For quite some time now, this store has made a remarkable place in my life. For all occasions, all festivities, all the parties or whenever the mood be this is the one place that comes to my mind. Housed by some of my favourite brands, this place always gives me a reason to visit. Be it ethnics or indo-western, nothing can go ahead of Rangmanch and Akriti. Even for formals I get Van Heusen and Allen Solly which are the most comfortable formal clothing brands in, maybe, the world. These brands are from the very famous Aditya Birla Group and in some way, they are the ones to bring happiness to people outside home... longing to meet their families.
I finished talking to my Mother, despondent and crest-fallen. I finished my coffee and let the café.
I took the road left from the café to cross the road and to my utter disbelief, I was standing in front of a Pantaloons store. I could not help but let a drop of tear roll down my cheek. "I must have missed sight of this store as I was over the phone." I thought. All memories started replaying as I took the stairs to enter Pantaloons - My Pujo emotions.