Confessions of the Solitary Shopaholic

I am a shopaholic and I have no qualms in admitting that. But there’s a catch: I like shopping alone! I always look forward to that time of the year when the air in the city becomes heavy with discounts, when shop windows scream SALE . I cannot seem to wait to get my hands on stuff thats up for grabs. Of course, alone! I have often had my friends tell me: Honey, how could you survive shopping alone? Don’t you feel bored? No I don’t. Infact, I feel more comfortable and at ease when I know that I am not keeping my companions waiting outside trial rooms. Two days when I went out shopping: One with my mother and my sister, two: ALONE! On the first day itself after spending five feet-aching hours at the Mecca of shopping in Kolkata- New Market, I came home with just underwear as the only purchase! On the second day, things were slightly more different. This time, I had planned out my whole routine as it were. Since I start my new job on Monday, I needed to fix my face which had become dark and dull in the past two idle months. So a facial and pedicure as a bonus, I started my day out or rather evening out.

After some much-needed pampering of my face, soles and soul, I headed towards Pantaloons. The long queues in front of the trial rooms didn’t annoy me one bit. Infact, I almost enjoyed watching young women parade in and out of the trial rooms, some with satisfied expressions on their faces and most with a look of complete agony as they had to hold their breath so they could fit into their pants/dresses! I loved it! And what opinions the fathers/mothers/boyfriends had to give! That part was even better!

I had primarily come to look for some formal clothes. My budget was tight. And I had to keep reminding myself that since I was fast running out of my savings and loading up on credit, I should keep the “shoppers’ gluttony” at bay. So here I was with three trousers draped over my arms, feeling proud to have kept the ‘monster’ in me quiet!

As I hailed a cab after purchasing just two trousers, I felt a quiet satisfaction spread all over me. For, one: I shopped but didn’t drop! And two: I shopped alone! No smarty pants boyfriends advising me on what to wear and silly parents admonishing me on what not to wear. When I’m out shopping, I’m happily SINGLE!