Tahera Sajid October 5, 2007

Tags: women , society

Inside the exclusive world of women

/> A group of matronly begums sat in the front row, followed by a host of younger women in subsequent rows. The seating order symbolized the seniority of the members…for it would’ve been extremely rude to ignore their age and position. Yes, the Senior Begums, well into their sixties… enjoyed the privileges that went with the age factor. They did mind being labelled as old though, but of course, senior was a very pleasant term as it symbolized the power to get away with almost anything…crude jokes at the expense of the younger lot; the right to meddle in the affairs of the club and defining the code of conduct to be adopted by the members - anything and everything they deemed fit for tearing apart!

“Don’t know what’s the need of arranging a song and dance sequence for charity!” drawled the stiff-necked Begum Mehr, who would’ve had an equally strong argument against a solemn affair…’why, it wouldn’t do to appear very accommodating, now, would it?’

“These silly girls would pounce at the slightest opportunity to show off their talents! It’s next to impossible to catch their attention with anything quiet and cultured…it has to be loud and blaring! A nice lecture on the benefits of giving alms to the poor would’ve elicited a better response, in our days. Charity-wise I mean,” piped in Begum Nafisa, glaring through her thick glasses.

The rest of the Begums nodded their agreement by tsk-tsking loudly.

Zainab and Amina sat in the back row, well away from the senior Begums, to avail the freedom of commenting freely.

“From what Tina told us, it’s going to be a real treat to watch…the parody of Noor Jehan’s song would be a roaring success I’m sure!” Zainab commented excitedly.

“Yeah, and Tina’s sari would stand out among the rest of the gals cat-walking the ramp today!” said Amina, surveying the splash of colour around the room.

“It should, after all the trouble we took to find just the right one!” Zainab rolled her eyes, “and the bargain…Tina would’ve paid twice as much if we hadn’t gone with her…silly girl!”

“‘The headache of haggling’, she says…!” chuckled Amina with a twinkle in her eye.

“Ladies, ladies…May I have your attention, please?” the hawkish Mrs. Javed called over the microphone. The chief guest was about to arrive and she wanted some semblance of order in the room. She had been singled out for this job by the Senior Begums, for her very peculiar talent of making one shrivel and disappear with a mere glare…you needed someone like that to control the unusual variety of specimens gathered there!

Farina sat there, preoccupied with thoughts of the ongoing tussle with her colleague at work.

‘Who does he think he is, anyway…Mr. Universe? His sweet wife wouldn’t have a clue about his Casanova-style pursuits, I’m sure.’ She felt red-hot fury rising in her… ‘Any woman stepping out of her house is fair game?… I should probably tell Anwer…’ the thought of involving her husband brought some ugly images to mind and she quickly decided against it…Anwer was very hotheaded … ‘I’ll handle it myself.’ Her stream of thought was interrupted as she caught a sudden flurry of movement at the entrance.

The chief guest arrived and a semi-hush fell over the crowd. As she took her place, Mrs. Javed started her practiced speech…

“We extend a very warm welcome to our honourable Begum Roshan Abdullah and thank her for taking out the time, from her very busy schedule, to grace our humble efforts for a very noble cause. As you’re all aware, Begum Roshan is…”

Mrs. Javed carried on, displaying her most impressive mannerism for the benefit of the front row…but her smile didn’t quite match her piercing gaze when it settled on the talkative, unruly bunch seated in the back row, urging them to behave!

“There she goes with her sermon, gals…put on your dazzling smiles and close your ears!” whispered Saba to the gang of naughty newly wedded twenty-something year olds. Listening to Mrs. Javed going gaga over the multi-everything personality of the chief guest, was certainly not their idea of fun…there were definitely better things to talk about!

Behind the stage, there was a frenzy of activity…last minute frantic efforts to make sure nothing went wrong, and no one incurred the wrath of the Senior Begums!

Mrs. Niazi was having a tough time in the changing room…

“Everybody, get organized…stand in order of appearance please…Dolly, pull your sari down a little, its not a skirt for Heaven’s sake! Soha, your mascara is running already…somebody wipe it for her …Sophia, come up here will you? Your outfit seems all wrong…WHAT? YOU HAVEN”T CHANGED YET? Then hurry up, girl… not waiting for your nanny are you?!! Oh, you girls will give me a heart attack one of these days…Zoya your make-up is not dark enough for stage, make it a bit dramatic…shush now…I hear Mrs. Javed…shhh…not a sound….”

Tina adjusted her sari and looked in the full-length mirror for the nth time…nervous butterflies fluttered in the pit of her stomach, as she tried to calm herself…

‘Everything will go just fine…it always does, doesn’t it? Well, the sari is absolutely stunning…hmmm…and you don’t look so bad after all, Mrs. Salman!’ she smiled at her reflection. ‘Vanity, thy name is woman…wise guy, that Shakespeare!’ she couldn’t contain a chuckle.

Her thoughts drifted to her husband who was to return the next day from a ten-day trip out of town. She made a mental note to surprise him with the silk tie that he had liked but refused to buy because he thought it was ridiculously overpriced. ‘Spend each penny to get best value’, he always said… Men!’ she shook her head disapprovingly… and then smiled dreamily…‘but he didn’t refuse her anything…’

“Now where is our lead feline? Tina, will you come back to earth and stand with the rest of us mortals?” Mrs. Niazi grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards the queue of the models ready to step on the ramp. Everybody knew when not to argue with Mrs. Niazi, so Tina quickly took her place.

Mrs. Niazi surveyed the models, a kaleidoscope of colour and fragrance…not quite the thin, starved lot though…well, the standards were slightly compromised because one didn’t really expect housewives and mothers to support a Victorian waist…but all in all they made a pretty sight.

‘Don’t let any of them trip over their dresses today, dear Lord!’ she uttered a silent prayer, recalling the horror of the last function.

The melodious strains of Noor Jehan’s popular song filled the air, while Shirin swayed in exaggerated rapture. The audience appreciated the parody thoroughly.

Then it was time for the favourite item of the programme – the fashion parade…

“A big hand for our talented ladies who will be introducing you to the latest and hottest fashion trends!” Mrs. Javed announced in a dramatic tone.

As Tina emerged from behind the screen, a hush fell over the crowd.

The classy party-girls in the crowd scrutinized her from head to toe…

“Don’t you just love her earrings…Italian, I’m sure!” Farah gushed excitedly.

Nadine appeared less impressed. “ Uh-huh…it’s a cheap copy of the one we saw at Serena’s exhibition last month’.

Mirha leaned over and remarked, “ Her sari is a slightly less impressive version of the one I got from Nadya Mistry, last season…cost me a fortune, that one! ”

Zainab and Amina smiled and winked at their friend excitedly. Tina caught their eye but was in no position to respond, so she just kept on smiling that silly smile that models are supposed to keep plastered on their faces!

One by one the ‘cats’ swished and swayed and moved out of sight amid appreciative oohs and aahs and some disapproving tsk-tsks.

“Please welcome our young artist of exceptional talent presenting a classical dance number.” Mrs. Javed announced the next item as Zoya appeared on the stage, graceful as a swan.

The performance went exceptionally well, and Zoya received a thunderous applause from her audience. Blissfully, no photographing was allowed so she was rather relaxed…Zain, her husband, would never have allowed her to come if he knew she was going to dance in the function - never mind it was an all-women affair…

‘Respectable married ladies didn’t indulge in such outrageous behaviour', he would’ve said.

“ Wow! That was just great! Oh, the way she moved…that girl’s got a lot of energy…makes the rest of us feel old!” Zara commented on Zoya’s dancing skills appreciatively.

“Oh, she could barely match pace with the music… I can do better anytime”, Gina, who suffered from the ‘I’m-better-than-everyone’ syndrome, remarked acidly.

Zara raised her eyebrows at Sonya, over Gina’s head, and they shared a secret smile... ‘Nobody could measure up to Miss Perfect, could they?’

And so it went – the songs, the dances, the skits - one wonderful adventure following another, till it was time to come to a close…almost too soon…

Begum Abdullah appreciated the effort behind the venture and donated a handsome amount towards the charity cause, drawing wide, appreciative grins from the Senior Begums.

Everything had gone smoothly. In fact, the show had been a roaring success - much to the satisfaction of the organizers. The smiling, painted faces prepared to depart…how wonderful it had been, to leave behind the drudgery of daily existence and lose oneself in the fantastic world of The Ladies Club…

Disperse…colour, aroma, smiles and glamour…each to her own - till next time…!