Urges and splurges are two important characteristics traits that most gay male exhibit. Doesn’t matter however long or short they tend to last, yet the ephemeral euphoria make this behavior predictable and repeatable across the spectrum. Remember it is the same urge and splurge that drives popular shoplifters like Paris Hilton on a stealing binge, but I am consciously keeping them out of this discussion.
Now, coming back to the subject – aren’t trial rooms the best place to try out things before you buy them and bring them home? We all want to make sure the “size fits”, fabric flows well, color enhances our value, the cut accentuates our strengths and underplays flab and finally the fitment make us look slim, trendy and cool? Agreed?
I shook hands with him in party couple of months back and that is what he narrated when I drew a blank face and turned around to check if he was smiling at someone. I was not drunk, but still I had no memory of meeting him in the party. May be my memory was dark and more crowded than the club to register his handshake, smile and well sculpted physique.
Be it from the mall or from the party hall, I rarely bring home things in a whiff or huff. Express Mall had barely opened its doors and there I was with my colleagues on a weekday afternoon “checking out” clothing stores for fabrics, deals and discounts. Who doesn’t want to look stylish, fashionable, colorful and attractive, importantly at discounted price?
Those solid arms loosened the firmly held a glass, and reached out for another introduction, hug and handshake. His jaw bones beautifully framed his face; naughty smile lighted up his face and accentuated his sharp features, and a perfect washboard body protecting his heart and highlighting more. His shirt and trouser was definitely hiding more than secrets than Khujraho. He was probably the best dressed man in that stag party. He was leaning against the railing that went around the pool and flashed a smile of familiarity, while my face drew a blank, like my savings account. This was the second time he reminded me of our earlier meeting, I put my arms around him and profusely and sincerely apologized. I didn’t want to grow this unfamiliar, unfriendly and stranger feeling; I extended an arm of friendship.
We all want to touch, feel and drape the fabric before we buy. For some the process of touching and feeling is more appealing than the process of buying and wearing. It is not just the store and clothes that comes in all shapes and sizes, it is us humans too!
Never judge book by its cover or cloth by its fabric. Remember only when you read and wear you discover the comfort. Same is true for friends.
At the mall a few shirts screamed “touch me, try me and take me” but still I resisted their loud cry. There was a time when I used shopped impulsively, but over the years, a little wisdom had dawned. Here is a little secret that I’m sharing with you, Im still awaiting the arrival of my wisdom teeth. Do you have yours in place?
During that stag party our eyes were constantly sifting and searching through the crowd and zeroing in on each other like store cameras. Who is touching him, who is he talking to, who is around him? He confirmed the same feeling when we met for coffee the next time. This is the same feeling you go through when you like something in a store. You always look at it from a distance, go near to touch and feel and give a final glance from a distance before you walk out of the store. We all “check out” and make mental notes though some of us don’t pursue further. But I was not sure what he was thinking and if he would pursue.
My wisdom is simple - set your eyes, watch them often and nab them at an opportune moment when they go on sale. That game of wait, watch and win brings so much pleasure than just the plain vanilla “go and buy”.
Sometimes you take the store number or leave your number behind and ask them to inform you when things go on “sale”. Was he thinking like me? Was he waiting for me to go on discount sale? I had no clue, but I was curious to find out. We exchanged numbers, went our ways but kept comm(unicating) back and forth.
A month later we decided to meet at Express Mall and by then lots more stores were open to public. We took a stroll from one end to another end visiting all the clothing stores. I had no agenda to buy, but urges and splurges leave none untouched. To my surprise the same shirt that I had seen a month ago was on sale and was marked down by 50%. Excitement and adrenalin rush hit my head instantly.
Do you call this a coincidence, shoppers wisdom or providential blessing or karmic recon? I had seen him (read as shirts) earlier on two occasions but didn’t have the instant urge to splurge. And I strongly believed things will definitely come to you if it is truly meant for you, be it a shirt or others. I held the shirt against my chest with a sense of joy, achievement and satisfaction, and his approval added to my joy. But he insisted that I try out the shirt.
Trail…trail…trail….!
On the way to the trial room I found another white shirt (almost a see through material) which was on sale. He was a loner hanging on the rack and I decided to take all three of them into the trial room with me. I was not greedy or gluttonous to take everything inside the trial room, I was just being choosy, and most importantly size matters!
He waited outside while I tried on the new found loves and came out of the room looking for his assent. He checked out the cut and fit and advised me to go for a size less. I unbuttoned the shirt while he requested the sales assistant for the next smaller size. During the next trial he walked into the room and outright rejected the white shirt on the grounds of “size”. Not sure if he approved my hairy chest or the shirt, but the black and purple checked shirt made it to the billing counter without any second thought.
Was he a prudent shopper like me? Did he set his eyes on my and let me grace for a while before he bowed down to my arrow and hunted me down?
Now in a different store I started my trial with trousers. Vertical lines, cotton polyester mix with little sheen, thin loops, frictionless zipper that obeys gravity, straight fit and easy on wallet was my type. Trial and trail, all that changes is the placement of (i).
There was a line waiting to go in the trial room and looking at the line I hesitated if I should try it out or walk out of the store. But by the time we had our turn the trial rooms were empty. He had already seen my torso and I didn’t have to invite him for the next show. I undressed my pants and his eyes instantly caught the attention of my chiseled thighs. He immediately approved and applauded, “seldom we do we see men with chiseled thighs and I’m impressed”.
He checked out the fork line with his hands and outright rejected it. Was it too big or was it too small in his eyes? What put him off? Was it my size or trouser size? Choosing, selecting and approving ones clothes are very personal and I lowered my guard and let him into my space. Incursion or inclusion?
Until then the door was open and he was standing outside and loudly expressing his disapproval. Once I let the trouser under the influence of gravity (shh…well they were not willing to stay in my hip) he walked into the room and bolted the door. I felt like one of those Polo models descended from the billboard to help me with my clothing and more. I ignored the voices that I heard in the next rooms and quickly looked up to see if the trial room was under camera surveillance in the meantime my arrowed was bowing to him.
Aren’t trial rooms the best place to try out things before you buy them and bring them home? This man was of international quality, the stitch was perfect, the cut was trendy, and rest was beyond comprehension and description. I didn’t have to help, nudge or teach him, he knew exactly what he wanted and what to do and how to do. He became a lion at the fork! I caught him looking at the reflection in the mirror and relishing the act. I responded, recognized and reciprocated.
That was our R&R! (Reward and recognition)
What go dumped in that room was the trouser with a tight fork line and what got taken away was the love message written in his hanky. I stepped out first while he dressed himself and walked out with a contented feeling. Be it with men or clothes, we can rarely have the “contented” feeling for long. That evening I walked home with the feeling of content after finding the perfect fit, size and fabric. But will there be another elaborate trial or will I get to keep it forever?
Don’t worry about me….get ready for your trial.
