Fit for a King

I scooted down to Chicago's Indian district on Devon Avenue with Peter on Friday evening.  He was very excited about getting some "real" Indian outfits with lots of bling.  I took him straight to Al-Raheem Sari Centre, where I often find nice outfits at reasonable prices.  I've bought so many things there that I'm greeted like a family member when I come in.  We went straight to the back and started looking through outfits in sizes 14 and 16, with chest measurements around 40.  Peter immediately fell in love with the cream silk one with sparkles ALL over it, though it was marked $250 and I certainly was not going to pay that kind of money!  The shop's owner came over with piles more outfits in the same price range and when I protested, she said "Don't worry, I give you good price".  She's actually been good to me before, so I allowed Peter to try on and choose 3 outfits which he'll wear day and night at SPICE.  The cream and red ones need to be significantly shortened but the navy one is not a bad fit, all things considered.  I loved watching him admire himself in the mirror, pursing his lips in that funny self-conscious way he does when he likes what he sees.

While talking price with the shop owner, I considered whether I should tell her quietly why I was buying 3 fairly expensive outfits at the same time and see if that would get me an even better price.  Well, I am shameless.  She gave me all 3 outfits for $250, a very good price indeed.  (Never mind that they would cost about half that in India, this is Devon Avenue we're talking about).  She recommended a good tailor and called me the next morning to tell me that she had already spoken to him and asked him to give me his best price for the stitching.  She went on and on in Hindi telling me what a good person I am, etc. etc. etc. (as if she wouldn't have cared for her own child the same way!)  I responded using my rudimentary Hindi that I was just a mother.  She's a mother, I'm a mother.  We love our children.  (I'm very proud that I can say that much in Hindi, since it's all self-studied).  Anyway, I got my point across. 

Then we went on down to Sukhadia's Sweets, where all sorts of goodies (sweet and savory) can be purchased.  The last time we were there, Peter and I both had our favorite snacks and then finished up with mango ice cream.  This time we had to carry our snacks home with us so that I could test Peter's blood-sugar before he ate his.  He brought home freshly-fried pakoras (batter-dipped veggies) and I chose bhel poori (spicy puffed rice and other crunchies with chunks of potato and onion, fresh-cut coriander leaves and a sweet-and-sour chutney to pour over it).  Peter looked longingly at the jalebis (crispy pretzel-shaped fried sweets soaked in rose-flavored syrup).  It's not that he can't have one ... but he didn't beg, and went home happily with his pakoras.

The outfits now hang in our dining room and Peter glows every time he sees them.  I'll be taking them down to the tailor soon.  I settled one important thing when I bought them.  It's good to have that settled.  It'll be the cream one.  I like the navy one better, but the cream is his favorite.