The Pendulum Has Swung!

The next patient arrives with her husband. Excited and beaming from ear to ear, she is eager to find out the gender of her first baby, as promised by her obstetrician. During her previous visit at 12 weeks, her doctor could not determine its gender but had assured her that it would be clearer during the next visit, which is today.

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Saturday Night with Pa

FICTION 

Saturday Night with Pa 

Farouk Gulsara

Saturday is usually a busy day for Pa. After finishing his work at the printing press about 6 in the evening, he hurries home for his routine of fashioning up for his night out with his bosom buddies. Come what may, the appointment must be upheld at all costs, and his grooming and styling must be completed like a religious ritual. After a vigorous shower to scrub the stains of printers’ ink off his skin, he inspects himself in front of a three-sided, half-length mirror, which gives the illusion of a 360-degree view of oneself. 

Pa would powder himself with Himalaya on Ice talcum powder and dab his newly shaved chin with the stinging but aromatic Old Spice aftershave. Hair is next. It must be immaculate, and nothing is better than Tancho nourishing pomade. He dons a crisply ironed shirt and matching pants, creases like knife blades, and the drill is complete. This is no quick endeavour. Pa takes as long to get ready as Ma takes to tie her six-metre-long sari, as well as plaiting her long hair.

...cont.

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