NEXT

When I casually told my hubby (just for you, Bhumika!) that there was a sale at the popular clothing store NEXT, I didn’t expect him to say yes to the outing immediately. I was prepared to coax, cajole, even beg ‘cause I had heard loads about the fabulous next sale every time it was on, but had managed to stroll in only when the shop was 99% raided.

What followed next (ah, the cheap thrill) was us checking out the bus timetable and figuring out if there was a bus early enough for us to be there to take prime position. Yes, what’s surprising is not the store opening time, which was 4:00 am, but us planning to be there at that ungodly hour. The devil does wear Prada to lure you in.

So the plan was to take the last night bus and shock the usual drunken inhabitants of a late bus with shiny bags and smiles before heading for materialistic bliss. The maudlin souls escaped, though, ‘cause a kind friend, already a member of consumerist hell, offered us a hoist up the commute ladder with her car.

I have to say it was worth every lost wink of sleep and I felt like the real-life version of Cinderella. Following the fairytale, the clock did strike twelve for me when I caught up with the husband to exchange notes on our shopping. I was greeted by six huge shopping bags stuffed to the brim, a lazy smile, no sign of irritation and the words “you’ve created a monster.” He hasn’t uttered truer words.

The following day, we went to the city to pick up groceries and no prizes for guessing what we ended up doing. Going NEXT shopping of course! Our pal rushes in saying the shop might close anytime and that he had to make the most of it, comes out with another heavily laden bag, a lighter wallet and a beaming smile. On reaching home, he decided that he felt they were more bargains to be had and has started planning his next visit. I’ve also been hearing the virtues of such sales and how I should have suggested such shopping expeditions long ago and how he’ll never hesitate to accompany me on such outings. I think I need some smelling salts at this stage.