Chaudapull

June 10, 2010
Emily and I ventured off to Surat on the local bus making stops literally every 15 minutes. We were seated next to a man who was also going to Surat. His name was Harish Kaka and he suggested a Sari shop called Jagruti in Chautupull. When we got to Chautupull I was so excited because it looked like a huge hidden market. As if it was a secret blessing. Everything one could possibly need was there in all colors, shapes, and sizes! We were directed by Ashok Bhai, the owner of the Sari shop, upstairs to where I fell in love with my first Sari. I grew up thinking I could never wear a Sari beautifully because I was short and well…chunky. Therefore, I was incredibly self-conscious and didn’t exactly know what I was looking for. What was the fashion in Sari’s? I know I don’t want flowers on it? What color should I get? Many colors and patterns later, my eyes skimmed the arranged Sari’s on the window and spotted a blue one with silver circles scattered delicately along the whole thing. I tried it on and I knew I had to have it but was 2000 RS a lot of this Sari? Man, what is my mom going to think? Does this outfit make me look like a grandma? In the end, Emily and I walked out bag-less. We peered into another store dreading the amount of indecisions that may come upon us in limited time. A woman and her daughter were fighting over prices of already laid out Sari’s, dissatisfied , they walked out. A man approached me and ask what my budget was, laughing to myself, I said, “500-1500 rupees” and I was immediately guided to the “old lady Sari’s”. Displeased I looked over at the Sari’s that were abandoned by the previous shopper. I opened a blue and pink Sari and smiled at the beautiful color mix so I asked to try it on. Once I did I loved it but I couldn’t risk another heartbreak so I asked the price before I couldn’t live without it, “Yeh kitna luging hai?” (bare with me on pronunciation and spelling). I crossed my fingers and the sales man said, “ Sale hai- $1500 rupees” YES! I finally bought my first Sari and whether anyone else liked it or not, I loved it and when growing up that is all that matters.
Our next mission was going back to the originally part of town our bus arrived in. However, after a lot of miscommunication the cabby took us to the opposite end to a place called “Escon Mall”. Alright, we’ll have a little adventure so Emily and I walked into the mall with our mouths hanging low at how legit the mall was. First of all-air conditioned- and actual stores like Leevi’s, various Sari, and shoe stores. After exploring the in’s and outs of the mall we decided it was time to find a…Mcdonalds. We had both been craving meat and so we ventured to find it. Oddly neither of us eat McDonalds in the states so going to Mcdonalds here was an odd treat.
We entered shyly taking in the similarities and differences of an Indian Mcdonalds. We approached the line staring at the Mcveggie burger meal, aloe wrap, paneer wrap and then finally…chicken. The manager opened up a new register for us and asked what we would like to order. Emily ordered the chicken burger and I ordered the fish fillet. The fish was not ready as quickly as Emily’s order so we were told to sit down and they will bring it to me. Now that’s service.