Fancy dress Archives - Page 2 of 2

The other day at the gym, complimenting me on my weightloss, my aerobics instructor said, “So is everyone supportive at home? Your kids and husband must be helping you keep your weightloss resolve, isn’t it?” And I, like an over confident smart alec, replied, “Nope. I won’t share credit for this at all… it’s all my effort and nobody elses.”

What a fall I had… me and my pride.

Less than a week from that day Hrit decided to fall ill. There I was, gym, exercise, soups, walks all forgotten, frustrated to tears, worried sick, spending sleepless nights as I watched him struggling first with the mother of all coughs and then with a fever that refused to go down below 102 and now it’s lose motions. Crocin, Meftal, IMol… cold sponging…. nothing worked last weekend. Sundays are now dreaddays to me. Two days and some antibiotic doses later the fever still hovers in the 100s plus he is has to deal with an upset tummy thanks to the strong medication.

Any child confined to bed is a sad sight. But a child like Hrit is sadder than ever. The neighbour’s noticed how quiet our house was. Says he, “Mama I think I must really be sick, I didn’t even ask to go to Y’s house today.” Y is his BFF.. the one he wants to marry… and that quite sums his condition over these last few days.

What’s worse, he missed the ‘solar’ day at school. He was to dress up as an astronaut while Naisha was planet Venus. Venus turned out to be a cakewalk thanks to MM. The astronaut was the tough one and after I’d run around MG Road (my favourite haunt) looking for all it needed, Hrit ended up not going at all. He’d been super excited about it all but was surprisingly mature about not being able to go. “Only my fever will decide whether I’ll go to school tomorrow”, he declared solemnly.

Here’s what they looked like…

Happiest planet ever

… and another pose

A rather serious-looking astronaut

I have to add that Naisha’s being a dream through all this.. not once did she complain about going to school without Hrit, she went to Hrit’s teacher to ask for his homework on her own, she’s perpetually fetching and carrying.. medicines, water, nebuliser. She’s a good girl.

Last Monday the kids had to dress up yet again.. this time as a pilot and an air hostess. And I found out on Friday. I didn’t freak out, which is so unlike me J. (This doesn’t mean I didn’t crib just that I didn’t go crazy with worry)

I thought I’d simply rent the dresses but..

.. they weren’t available. We found just one pilot uniform which was quite tattered. And listen to this.. the rental was Rs 300, deposit Rs 600 plus we had to furnish proof of residence. Gosh.. are we opening a bank account or what???

so I decided to do it on my own.

It turned out to be great fun. It took me three hours at MG Road scouting for white shirts and pants, a red skirt, red shoes, tie, sash and the very complicated cap and shoulder decorations. I found it all and enjoyed every bit of it.

Had it not been for the kids I’d never have strayed from the broad boulevard of MG Road. As a relative novice to Pune I’d never given the by lanes a thought. But it’s the by lanes that hold the greatest of treasures. I was almost done with the costumes except or Hrit’s pilot cap and the epaulettes, both of which I thought I’d have to make.

However my BIL, a passionate Puneri, came to my rescue. Tucked away between scores of canvas shoes and photo frame shops in Kolsa Gulli off MG Road is this shop that manufactures police and army uniforms. As I was struggling to describe what exactly I wanted the guy behind the counter said, “Shall I give you what I gave the others?” I sighed in relief.. three cheers to proactive mums who make life for late-latif’s like me easy. And so I came home with not just the pilot cap but the eagle insignia, the epaulettes and a host of other pilot decorations.

Here’s how they turned out….

Naisha decided the pose.. so all credit is hers

The salute

.. and she has to do it too

…then they forget to be pilots and airhostesses

I wish I had more time to scout the smaller shops behind MG Road. However I’m short on time because the restless soul that The Husband is, we might be moving again after just a year in Pune. Yes people that’s my news. This time it’s going to be a BIG move… tentatively down South. That’s as much as I’m allowed to give away now. Within a week things will be clearer and the school/house hunt shall begin followed by the maid/cook hunt. Sigh!

Tag: Fancy dress

Pride comes before a fall

The pilot and the airhostess and some news