36 You are what you wear

Lina's training begins.. the very next morning...

"You are what you wear! The clothes a person wears tells us many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. They can tell us about a person's approach towards life, and even a person's current state of mind or intent. Clothes project a good or bad image." Aunt Ning explained Lina, as both of them enter a massive shopping mall.

Lina had never gone shopping for authentic branded clothes. She walked along with Ning, giving complete attention to her words.

Aunt Ning continued, "You can quickly convey a number of things about your character based on the clothing you wear. And, I am going to buy you some clothes that will certainly impress the man," insisted Ning, as both of them enter a massive showroom.

The showroom had hundreds of dresses on display. The cerulean walls that made the dresses visually pop, the crisp wooden floor, the delicate dresses hanging a few inches apart from birch hangers - all promised a rebirth, a clean slate, something to build a life on.

Ning walked slowly as she looked at the dresses and pointed to the ones she liked, for the sales girl to take them out of the hangers. "Lina, you have to try the ones I am shortlisting." Aunt Ning said to Lina as she pointed towards the try room.

Lina tried a number for dresses, and reluctantly modeled for Aunt Ning. Ning was being very choosy. She rejected a lot many dresses just after giving them a few seconds look, and selected some.

"Lets go to another showroom," bossed Ning as she paid for the chosen dresses and walked out of the showroom to search for some more designs.

She was followed by Lina, for whom this was a lonely pursuit. She remembered her own shopping adventures.

Lina was used to being buoyed by the camaraderie among women at the thrift stores, where they were all instinctively complicit even as they competed for the good stuff. They cheered, flattered, or discouraged one another. 'You have to have it, it's totally you.' (Without even setting eyes on the woman). 'No, it's too small through the armhole.' 'A seventies Saint Laurent for $15? We're not letting you get out of here alive without it.' 'That's a bit too Miley for a bat mitzvah, sweetheart.' (This to a tween.)

Old and young women, fat and thin ones, bag ladies and Bergdorf bag ladies, they were a pack, a pod, a herd—birds of a feather. The 'concept of brands' had made fashion a guilty pleasure. And here was Lina, having a taste of this guilty pleasure, as two of them visited a number of showrooms and purchased many expensive dresses.

Ning was satisfied with her purchases. "Now, we have to get you some footwear. I can't tolerate your sports shoes anymore!" remarked Ning as she grabbed Lina's hands and walked towards a footwear showroom.

Both of them entered 'Christian Foot Boutique'- the big guns of luxury footwear! A sea of shiny footwear was displayed before Lina, as she looked at the price tags of a few pieces. Price of a single pair was enough to feed her entire neighborhood for a day.

"Lina, no matter what happens, you will always wear high-heeled footwear," declared Ning as she pointed towards a black high-heeled sandal. "High heels are a girl's best friend— helping them to stand up taller, look more stylish, and feel more confident. Now, put them on.. and walk," ordered Ning.

Lina tried on the pair of a shiny black colored high heeled sandal and decided to walk. After walking a few steps, she immediately took a tumble. "I can't handle these," sobbed Lina as she stood up back to her feet, rubbing her legs that hurt from the fall.

"You have to wear them. There is no other option," yelled Ning as she stared at Lina. "All you need is.. a little practice. I am buying these sandals for you. Take them home.. and practice. Remember, I want to see you walk as comfortably, as you do while wearing these dirty sports shoes of yours," insisted Lina.

"I can't wear these. What am I going to do if I fall before that man?" sighed Lina.

"No, you are not! As a part of this training, I want you to wear these high-heeled sandals daily.. all the time. You will not walk a step without them. You understand?" bossed Ning.

"But, these are not comfortable," insisted Lina, as she struggled to stand still with those high heels under her feet.

"Listen to me sweetie! A woman has to either chose comfort.. or elegance. Comfort and beauty are like two opposite poles. The more uncomfortable you are , the more beautiful you will look. Now.. stop complaining and smile!" consoled Ning.

"How can I smile? My feet are hurting," fumed Lina.

"Learning to smile, always, is a part of this training too. You will smile.. even if you are walking on the pieces of a broken glass," declared Ning. "Men want to see happy and optimistic women before them. They hate women who are always complaining. Besides, you don't have to force yourself to smile for your entire life. Just do it till you get married to the man. Because, after marriage, neither of you will ever smile," laughed Ning.

Ning paid for the high-heeled sandals and asked the sales person to throw away the sports shoes that Lina wore. Ning wanted Lina to start with her practice immediately.

The shopping day was over. Ning was gone. And Lina, sway walked towards the shopping mall's exit door to grab a taxi. She walked slowly, tolerating the weird, strange and uncomfortable feel of the high heels she wore.