Dress Sense - a not-so- Short Story

Sudha was a conservative dresser, conscious about her height and her physique. Fashion to her meant comfort and not having to adjust plunging necklines or tugging at tops too short to hide her ample derriere! Salwar kurtas were her clothes of choice and people who cared most had almost always told her that her frame was best suited to the Salwar Kameez. they reminded her of her home in Kolhapur, Amma at her sewing machine, lovingly 'designing' kurtas for Sudha. Yes! They made her feel 'at home'.

Office fashion was undergoing a slow metamorphosis.She wasn't one to follow the trends. So she wore the pretty salwar kameezes, her favourite colours being green and black and white, they seemed to monopolise her wardrobe. But India's commercial and economic skyline was changing, Western companies were affecting the way people thought, ate and even dressed. IZEE technologies, where she worked, was no exception. Suddenly Power Dressing meant Trousers-Suits-Scarves. Sarees were a thing of the past, an attire for another generation, or to be saved for 'special' occasions. India had more options, more stores selling western wear suited to the Indian woman. No longer did one have to wait for a relative living abroad to send something that was one's size and looked good too. And so there was this urge to metamorphose from traditional to trendy. She decided she would invest in some 'westerns'. She would free herself of the mind block and make herself comfortable with this new decision she had taken.

"Wow! Miss Sudha Patil, you look great,pal!" said Tanya and Lata in chorus. They were pleasantly surprised at the sudden transformation. Tanya, Lata and Sudha had joined office on the same day. Similar backgrounds, similar tastes and similar interests brought them together. They were typically birds of a feather and so logically they flocked together.
'Thanks guys, frankly I was a little nervous', said Sudha,tugging at her top for the umpteenth time. 'Amma won't be happy at all', and to think that I invested nearly 10,000 bucks on my card to buy this stuff!,Thank God atleast you liked it'

'This looks fine on you. it will takes us some time to get used to the 'New You'! Though I hope will see you in those pretty salwar kameezes too. And you spent 10 grand!!!! Woah! that's quite a figure,'quipped Tanya.

'Arre yaar! i just thought, we are working in this MNC and everything around us is American, thought i should change with the times. We are working US times, eating hamburgers, why not wear their clothes too...You should try it too. I think in some sense it is liberating...to let go of the Small town Girl tag....and somehow I feel Reema, Riya and Pooja have an edge over us because of their clothes. Don't you think so?' Sudha said.

I don't know! Maybe they do, but really,at the end of the day, isn't it our brain factor than the drool factor that really matters?!' Tanya reasoned.

Anyway this change is for the better and so long as you don't change as a person, that's all that we care about, right Tanya?, Chalo! atleast there's one from our group who is into stylish Western, India's answer to JLo?!! , grinned Lata.

Weeks went by and Sudha dealt with stares, admiring looks, flirtatious glances, she was enjoying all the attention. but she also noticed a major change in her own attitude. she was suddenly more 'open.' she didn't mind a casual touch, a handshake a tad too longer, a lingering gaze, a casual wink. The other day Reema had walked up to her to ask her join her for lunch. it was the first time in the 10 months of having joined IZEE technologies that she was not lunching with Tanya and Lata. She could feel the distance that had crept in between Tanya, Lata and her. They often called her, but she always had an excuse, as though being seen with them was suddenly, a little awkward. She wanted to be 'Reema's friend'. She ignored the warning signals of a friendship at the brink of breaking. Was this truly her? Or is it that people perceived her according to the clothes she wore? Frankly she didn't care because at this time she was relishing the attention.

The most meaningful glances came from him. Jaydeep Mulgaonkar, her boss. Jai was gorgeous. With a curly mop of dark brown hair, freckles and a dimple in his left cheek, he was a real looker. he was a topic of discussion with most of the women in the office who went ga-ga about his looks. Sudha had known Jai's family since she was a kid. They had lived in the same block, went to the same schools and their fathers worked in the same office. In fact it was Jai who had recruited her at IZEE.
She noticed that he often came to the vending machine, diagonally opposite to her cubicle, constantly filling cups of tea or coffee all the while, furtively glancing at her. It sometimes sent a 'happy' shiver down her spine. Sudha always knew she had feelings for Jai, even as a shy teen. She wasn't sure what he felt. But his glances were confirming her secret joys.

Week after week, she noticed him looking at her. At the next team meeting, he took a place opposite her. She was sure that it was to attract her attention. Her persona was changing, the shyness and naivety were a thing of the past. Her obsession with Western wear was taking a toll on her. All day long she thought of combinations to wear, Navy blue trousers-white shirt-red sweater or may be the soft grey sleeveless sweater.... Salwar Kameezes were blase, she had Jai's attention now and she was not letting go. She believed that the Western look had done it!

"I think you should stop it, Su, it looks silly and so obvious that you are all over Jai. it embarasses him too.Agreed you've known him but He is your senior and I think this will adversely affect your appraisals, your work is getting shoddy and this is the 5th time that you are messing up the proposal this month. you cannot do this. What's wrong with you? where is the Sensible Sudha,who was so careful about her presentations, so commited to her profession, so upright and what happened to the precision with which you worked? Did you notice Reema and Riya, they were trying hard to stifle a giggle as you made a fool of yourself at the team meeting. Do something before it is too late," said Lata angrily. Tanya nodded in agreement.

Sudha, however, did not agree.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Half-yearly appraisals were on. Sudha was dead sure, she would get a good score. Sure, there had been hitches in the last 2 months but they would take into account the months of hardwork before this. And to top it all, Jai was doing her Appraisal. She surely had an edge. She had it all planned, after the appraisal she would speak to Jai. Sure she was shy, but as a Woman of the 21st century, she would not wait for the man to propose, she would do it herself. The morning of her appraisal, she took a long, hard look at her cupboard. The salwar kurtis, in neat, untouched piles demanded her attention. As usual she picked a sleeveless,white blouse. A tad too tight, it showed off her curves, she had put on a little more weight, she thought to her self. the trouser too fit a bit too snug. She casually draped a blue printed stole and slipping on her black stilletoes, she checked herself for one last time in the mirror. The mirror told her the truth. Once again she chose to ignore it.

The air in office was ridden with tension. Tanya and Lata sat on their respective seats and smiled, formal smiles. The bonhomie that the 3 had shared was clearly over now and deep down, Sudha felt responsible, but right now she didn't care. Sudha switched on the computer to check the list of people lined for the appraisals. She was the 7th. the last one before lunch. Her turn came at 12:00 noon, she walked in with poise and confidence. Jai sat across the table and asked her to take her seat. The discussion began about her individual goals, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, company goals. He was clearly angry. His kind eyes were clearly disapproving of her and especially of her clothes. She nervously adjusted her blue stole.
'You have changed!, Sudha. Over the last 2 months. I have been hearing constant complaints about you. Your work is shoddy, your look has changed, your concentration is elsewhere.I....I think you should go in for modelling and not IT. The Sudha I recruited is missing now,' Jai's response pierced her heart like an arrow.

The rest of the appraisal was as expected. The ratings were much below expectations and being Team Leader, was clearly out of question.
Dejected, Sudha arose to leave.

" Sudha, wait, I know you are upset but you brought this on yourself. I am sure if you are more focussed, you will give it your best shot.
She nodded, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to trickle. She wanted to leave and not allow the tears to embarass her there. But Jaydeep was clearly in no hurry.

'lets just keep the office matters aside for a while, okay?! let me give you some news. IZee is posting me to the US for 5 years"

"You know Amma has been pestering me to get married. since Didi got married, she is after me to settle down. I finally said Yes and she just sent me the photo of the girl they picked! I know that this is not the most opportune time. But i have to give my answer tonight. Take a look and tell me your honest thoughts."

Jai's deep baritone and the evident sarcasm in his voice angered her. This clearly was not the best time for him to discuss his personal life. She wanted to say 'No' and leave! But after all, he was the Boss and after that terrible appraisal, she could have been demoted or worse, lost her job.

Sudha swallowed the familiar lump in her throat and smiled weakly. Without a word, she stretched out her hand and took the photograph from Jai's hand.

What she saw shocked her! It was a picture of her taken the last time she went home. Graceful, in a white crisp salwar kurta, she almost looked angelic.

" I..i..its Mm..me?

With the picture was a note that said - Sudha, it would make a lot of horse sense to stick with good friends and to this dress sense.....Will You Marry me, Sudha Patil!!!

That's when it made Sense....to Sudha.

Salwar kurtas are now her clothes of choice because people like Jaydeep and Tanya and Lata who cared most had almost always told her that her frame was best suited to the Salwar Kameez.