Romancing a Louis Vuitton

"I look H-O-T!" thought Ann. A fleeting smile passed her candy gloss covered lips.
"The mirror never lies darling," James had said.
"I hope you are right James."
"He was rarely wrong", she thought shaking her head and smiling while stuffing her sunglasses into her red leather handbag.
She paused a moment to admire her bag...
'you were such a good buy, you were expensive but oh how I love you. We've been through a lot together!' Ann could and did talk to her bags, belts even shoes.
Don't be ridiculous her brain told her... you are a supposed to be a 'sane'- at least you claim to be one - twenty-six year old independent, soon-to-be-immensely rich- business person. What are you doing- talking to your handbag like that?

She felt the plush leather as she loving caressed  her bag...She remembered the rainy afternoon she had been strolling down the super expensive Blink Boulevard, and there it was... sparkling elegantly in the Louis Vuitton show window which was all dressed up for Christmas. It didn't need to be dressed up she had thought... it's always Christmas in there.

She remembered the panic and how she had almost decided not to splurge on it just as she handed her credit card over to the cashier. She remembered blocking out 'Warren Buffett' from her head and the effort it took.

'I deserve a Christmas present too' she had told herself,  'I am a woman....  I need handbags'... she had rationalised. That's the one that had worked in the end or maybe it was the promptness of the handsome, clean cut guy at the cash counter.

They packed it in a storage bag, she remembered, and then into a paper carry-bag with Loius Vuitton printed boldly on it. Strange how you just know you've bought something incredible (or incredibly expensive)  when they pack it in a storage bag. She had even saved the paper bag for some years.
'It's not everyday you buy a Loius Vuitton... my first Louis Vuitton' she thought while standing in front of her dresser admiring her bag. 'The first of many'  said her wicked handbag crazy brain as her sensible brain had died a slow, delirious death to the bottle of wine she had opened to toast her buy.

She remembered how this handbag had helped her get her first job when she had been so completely broke.Anyone carrying around a bag like that with a degree in writing was a definite asset to a fashion magazine. It had got her a better pay packet than the others as well. The lady interviewer had assumed that she was from a rich family and wouldn't agree to stay at the measly salary they were offering others.

'I haven't forgotten your contribution in my being a fashion model! holding the bag up admiringly as you would your own child.

The reporter had been ignorant enough to think you were an imitation! I had so wanted to sock her but I just let her print the photo of another original LV to accompanying her article on 'budget buys'! Ann remembered, her eyes twinkling with mischief just as they had been in the photo that had come out on the front page of the city edition of the newspaper!

Oh and how could I forget that I met James at the special Louis Vuitton party for people who loved the brand!' the mere thought of him made her eyes twinkle as she fiddled with the diamond ring on her left hand. A handsome, rich man who loved the finer things in life. Where else would I have met someone as perfect? she mused.

But what I still can't believe is how we got our first store. She remembered how tired she had been walking back from her job and... you aren't very light either my beauty. And there in front of the ice cream parlour she had met him... the gentleman in a pink shirt with a cone heaped with 2 scoops of strawberry ice-cream. He had told her that he was into fashion accessories and looking to expand his business....and would offer her a a franchise if she cared... she hadn't believed him for a second. She remembered thinking, 'carbs, gluttony and fashion don't go together, old man. Besides pink was so last season!'  She had thought him to be one of the many con-artists and not a very good one either! "And then your strap came undone," she went back to talking to her Louis Vuitton, "and my eyes fell on the gentleman's Tanino Crisci shoes... I believed every word he said after that. Most people let the finer things go unnoticed. The finer things are important...for the finer people..."

A loud, incessant horn downstairs brought her back to the present.
'It's showtime baby!' she said slinging her bag on her shoulder as she rushed out of her apartment.

A job well done

2 cappuccinos, a crowded Costa Coffee , a beaming mum and her all grown up son.

He has become such a fine young man thought Radha. Was it really only 6 months back when he moved to Noida, a hesitant, lanky, nervous 26 year old to join his very first job. His very first job in a city he had never been to.

She remembered him leaving Karnal with his bags and an apprehensive smile.

She remembered praying desperately that he like his new life and really become successful at his job as an engineer in an automobile company.

She also remembered his frantic calls sometimes when he felt lost and lonely in his new city and life... they were more frequent in the initial weeks she remembered. He is a quick learner my she thought proudly looking at the handsome young man seated across the table wearing a smart pair of denims and a lilac shirt.

My son always had fashion sense, look how handsome he looks! I Guess all the girls in office have a crush on him. That's what kids these days call finding someone attractive.. 'crushing!' imagine that! He looks so like his father. Radha smiled.

He has his father's walk too she thought when he went up to order a sandwich for her. He stopped to let the pretty lady order first, I taught him well. He learnt well. Well! He is a gentleman she thought.

'Ok! Lets see this girl you've been raving about' she said to him when he returned with her sandwich.'

'Sure mum, you'll love her. She really is looking forward to meeting you.' he said placing his hand over his mother's.

'Let me just call to check she's O.K.'He said reaching for his swanky new Apple i phone.

And just when he was dialing her, Radha noticed her son's eyes light up looking at this lovely girl. The formal pants and shirt gave her away that she had come straight from office even though she looked as fresh as ever.

She looked slightly nervous Radha noticed. Arun walked up to his lady love and she seemed to gain strength from his reassuring smile. She bent to touch Radha's feet and just then it hit Radha that she was old! 'What an odd thought!, said a little voice in her head as she quickly hugged her pretty-soon-daughter-in-law-to-be.

Two lattes and a couple of hours later, Radha called for the cheque. Arun promptly reached for it. 'Mum, it's on me' he said showing his perfect set of teeth and the gorgeous dimples.

Radha sighed, smiled and thought Arun really had grown up. A job well done she told herself.