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An ordinary day - Part II
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« continued from Part - I
Shola got out from the house. But not in her usual carefree style. Her ground floor flat in an old two story house had two entrances. The entry from the kitchen was rarely used as it led to the backside of the building which remained mostly deserted. Shola opened that door and peeked out carefully. As usual nobody was there or around. She stepped out hurriedly and rushed to the small gate which opened into a small by lane. As luck would have it, an empty auto rickshaw was just passing by and Shola got in with a sigh of relief.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"Link Road, Sierra Mall," Shola said, clutching her purse tightly.
Within twenty minutes, she was standing inside the centrally air-conditioned mall. Shola looked around. There were shops and more shops. They all looked equally alluring and inviting. She chewed her lips for a few seconds and then headed towards a big departmental store. The store having branches all over the nation was one of the biggest in the mall and sold everything from handkerchiefs to diamond jewellery.
Shola was taken aback with the number of people when she walked in. Wherever she looked there were people, mostly women, checking the goods. Shola couldn't decide where to start, but then a pretty young girl, from a nearby counter, smiled at her and the line of action was decided. Shola moved towards the cosmetic section. The girl sprang into action as soon as she saw the elegantly dressed and obviously loaded lady coming towards her. "Yes mem," she asked giving her a well practiced broad smile. Instead of answering her, Shola looked at the cosmetics displayed under the glass case and shelves behind. Everything was so colourful and pretty.
"Mem, some lipsticks?" The girl hinted helpfully, waving towards the Lakme display. Shola shook her head and turned towards the more expensive foreign brand of cosmetics. The sales girl now knew her customer. "Mam, the winter collection from Chambor has just arrived. Would you care to try the new shades of nail colours?" The salesgirl continued while Shola tapped her short nails thoughtfully on her lips. "I have a shade that you would just love." the girl said and without waiting for the answer picked up a trial bottle of nail enamel. Shola let the girl put colour on two fingers and murmured approvingly. "I think I will take it." She said and then as if remembering asked, "How much for it?"
"Just two twenty-five," the girl smiled.
"Ok. Show me some light colours now, for day wear." Shola said.
"Sure mam," the girl turned and picked up a bottle containing pale pink liquid. "The best part is it dries within a minute," she spoke while applying the colour on Shola's left hand finger.
"They all say that," Shola said with mild contempt.
"No mam, this one does. Believe me," the girl spoke as if the reputation of the company was on the line. And then to prove her point, she added, "Let me put this color on all your nails and then we will wait for a minute. You will see."
"Ok," Shola agreed, and the girl got busy. After finishing with the nails, the girl said, "Try the matching shade of lipstick too. It looks light but last for hours." Again Shola let her wipe off the lipstick that she had applied at home and put on the new colour. It really looked better. "Ok, give me ...er, how much for this? She asked looking at the mirror.
"Just seven hundred, "the girl replied and expecting the usual shock from the customer added,"And we are giving away this fabulous lip balm free with it." And as if that decided the issue. By this time, the colour on Shola's nails was really dry .So she bought it after all. "Two nail enamels, one lipstick..." the girl started making the sales slip and then looked up, "Mam, we have to add the lipstick matching the plum shade of your...."
"Yes, yes," Shola smiled.
The girl gave a bigger smile and said very innocently. "Mem, you have such beautiful eyes."
"Thanks"
"I think you should go for some eye make up."
Shola was under the impression that just with kajal, her eye make up was complete. As if reading her thoughts, the sales girl took out a trial kit of eyeliner, mascara and eye shadows. Within ten minutes Shola's eyes took on a totally different look. Now they looked bigger, shinier and of course sexier. Shola stared at the small mirror and the look on her face said it all.
"See what I had told you," the sales girl beamed. She knew she had sold the whole range of eye make- up too, to this rich and happy lady wearing a lovely outfit.
"Ok, thanks a lot," Shola gave a dazzling smile to the girl.
"Welcome mam, and do come again," The girl said and as per custom of the store made a sales slip and handed over a copy to Shola. "Please pay on the cash counter and then collect the products from here."
Shola put the slip in her purse and went to the other corner of the store, which housed the branded jewellery counter. There was no other customer. And the sole young smart looking salesman there smiled at Shola. "Yes mam?"
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