Mall and Man

 It is disappointing that shopping has not lived up to its promise and failed to be the retail therapy it was meant to be. The blame can be laid on shoes, clothes, and seemingly pernicious of all articles-cosmetics.

The happening clothing stores are like the sea you can never really fathom them even as cupboards are no longer able to hold one's possessions. with the clothes taking over the chairs and other furniture, it's not uncommon that one loses track of one's favorite old garment in the heap and finds it after months even years.

Skincare and cosmetics are another universe, infinite and puzzling. Earlier you bought a cream. Now you buy a hand cream, face cream, body lotion, super glow moisturizer and now even the sunscreen has multiple SPF levels. For nights there is night cream, under eye cream. It is horrifying for my family when a fashion rustic me deliberately uses foot cream on my face with no allergic reactions the next day.

As for shoes, choices have gone past plain white shoes rather there are sneakers, loafers, oxfords, flip flops, and whatnot all of which are meant for a specific purpose and all must be owned.

The outing aspect of clothing has been compromised as malls have become places where you must avoid phonambulists, people walking while staring into their phones. You must also learn to avoid people who accost you to sell credit cards. Checkout counters remind me of queues at AIIMS OPD and the prices of shoes have gone well beyond the salaries of many people you know.

Yet, I am not averse to a visit to the mall with the family, but prefer stores that have a place to sit, even though finding seats in a store is never easy with men not giving these up unless summoned outside the fitting rooms. But once they are called, they rush with eagerness to conclude the purchase and win their freedom.