TAMING OF THE SHOE……………..
With due respect to the dear departed bard, this one has nothing to do with any classic work of literature.

Since New Year’s Eve is at the bend in the road, this winter tale is about how Surtis have prepared to party this year.

Now that we have qualified choreographers to turn our cream crowd into dancing kings and queens, it’s been a busy month of prancing preparations.

Lalas and lalarinas decided there would be no more free styling, hence; original Surti dance styles, like Salabatpura swing, Golwaad gyrations, and Parle Point’s pretence have been shown the backdoor.

Hip hop, Salsa and Waltz is what’s hot, in this chilly month.Whats more; we had some national level teachers to come show steps to the willing to spend brigade.

In Surat, most of the crowd that can afford expensive extravaganzas majorly consists of Richie rich aunties and uncles, so, lalarinas decided to tuck up their sarees and swoosh a bit. Unfortunately for them, their husbands are too ‘prim and propah’ to hang loose in public as a result of which all these ballroom dancing skills might never go public but just stay limited to the mirrors in front of which they have been sweated out.

Getting jiggy with it in Tapi town has never been so easy, along with tutors to show us groovy moves and the’ whats new on the block’ music mixes easily accessible, Surat now, also has unending options for trendy dresses, strappy stiletto’s and fashion accessories for dancers to don.

Nevertheless, for most Surti socialites, anything available locally is,’not good enough’ or ‘too tacky ‘for their taste.So, special trips to Mumbai, the Mecca of modern fashion have been made in preparation to greet the new year.

Along with clothes and footwear, haircuts too have been the reason for the crème ‘de la crème’ to take a ‘snip trip’ and look their best.I hear top in town hairstylists of Bollywood’s basti, are now so overwhelmed with enthusiastic Surti visitors, that they are proposing to set up hair cut workshops regularly in Diamond city to meet up the ‘dressed to demand’ hair stories. I personally think they should keep away, because once they become locally available, they will lose their ‘exclusive charm’ and esteemed clients too.

A word about the clothes here, never before have so many a kind, of well cut, short dresses been available in all colours under the sun. Small shops around the corners have geared up with Bangkok and Thailand apparels to please the lissome ladies, with bows and belts thrown in for good measure. Most dresses look more like gift paper wrapping, rather than clothing (methinks they are taking the concept of being ‘presentable ‘a tad too seriously).
Boys are sprucing up with glittery tee shirts and sleekly cut jackets as well as leather ones, men meanwhile are trying to fit into their rarely used, labeled formal attires, teaming them up with pointy toe shoes.

All in all, whether it’s Goa, Daman, Bombay or good old Tapi town, Surtis are set to usher in next new decade in high spirits, that they hold very dear. Here is wishing you all a very happy New Year.

Tapi town tattle-Pasti ki paathshala.