Tuesday 8 October 2013

The Flip-Flop Flop





He looked at my feet and was aghast. ‘What is this that you are wearing?

Um, it’s just flip-flops, papa! What’s so shocking?’ I asked, knowing fully-well what he meant. Each toe was wiggling cozy inside a differently coloured toe in the rainbow socks. In white flip-flops. Just for Rs. 50 from Lajpat Nagar. I was a new student in New Delhi and back home on my first vacation. And it showed.

It looks very funny. And to think you are wearing this to the Masonic family dinner?’ this time the aghast was with a capital A. I was not planning to defile their ‘Temple’ or some such with my informality, but neither was I planning on further defending my dressy socks against his shocks. There was no point. Because I had been his little one growing up in the same house, once upon a time …

And for all 17 years that I was home, my parents made sure that the thin line between comfortable dressing and shabbiness was never crossed. Also, that we children looked as proper as the occasion demanded.

In class 5 I was taught how to ...

[To read further, please click here.]



23 comments:

  1. The sight of those little toes leads me to march on immediately to the link! :)

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    1. :D Those are bigger now, Corinne. But we still have the chappals. :)

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  2. The first few words reminded me of my own college. And I just know what this post is going to be about :D :D Ahhh the flip flops and the harem pants.. those were the days man :)

    Richa

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    1. Ahem. Disappointed, Richa? :P But yes, college days were all about that, and more. ;)

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  3. Sakshi, your pen is like the hand of a old man guiding me down the memory lanes...personally, i am not very fond of branded footwear which are gaudily flashed..they kinda don't have that pure charm of a hawai chappal which in today's sophisticated language is called flip-flop

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    1. The simpler things of life are getting replaced real fast. Just about everyone has moments of nostalgia and missing the past. Thanks for reading, Ritesh. :)

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  4. Awesome post Sakshi and as is the norm, I am going to paste this comment on the Parentous blog as well, but want you to know that I like commenting on this site to give you due credit to this post.

    Regarding the post itself, it made me feel extremely guilty as I have consciously unlearnt all that my father taught me in terms of wearing appropriate clothes for appropriate occasions. Blame it on my hostel life for 2 yrs, or laziness in maintaining my clothes or my IT Job which suddenly made Friday Dressing the norm throughout the week, but the kind of clothes and the ensembles that I wear nowadays make me cringe at the thought of it.

    This post just might have made a small difference though. Let me see :)

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    1. I'm happy to see your comment here, Jairam. This is, and always will remain, the 'Home' of my writing. :)

      Oh lord. While I had no intention of making you feel guilty about the comfortable choices you have made with regards your wardrobe, I am happy yo have set you thinking. Although, it's a free world and one can do as they please and wear as they deem fit.

      I certainly don't want you cringing. There is NO reason for that. :D

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  5. Nice one! Coming from an IT background I can vouch for the lack of understanding most "IT"ians display when it comes to dress code. Flip flops, wrinkled round neck/sleeveless tees are worn under the business casuals tag! I am sure you can tell this is a topic close to my heart :)

    P.S- I will post this comment on the Parentous blog as well

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    1. So we have similar things close to our hearts, Seets. Good to know! :D And thank you for reading. The IT industry seems to be the culprit for the unironed tees it seems. :)

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  6. I have seen so many guys with flip flops in office also

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  7. Its an awesome post! :) Keep blogging! :)

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  8. your write up always takes me to your world... and I love it :)

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    1. Oh, wonderful comment, Sreedevi. That really is a good thing to hear. Thanks a lot. :)

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  9. Convent school... huh... I know... Tip top, no jewels, nothng!!! But I loved those days.... Loved this!

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