Sari Buying Expedition !

Debbi enjoyed the drive back to Mumbai. The air conditioned car was a relief and with no pressure of a shoot to come, she could relax and take in the views and the bustle of activity. They were settled back in the apartment in Mumbai by early afternoon. "Do you want to go on your sari buying expedition now or tomorrow precious ?" Lawrence asked. "Tomorrow when I'm fresh. Let's just wander by the sea and eat in one of those restaurants on the strip" Debbi suggested. That was cosmopolitan Mumbai.

After a pleasant evening and a good night's sleep on her own with cool air blasting out, Debbi was raring to go in the morning. She joked with Lawrence over breakfast that he had to look after her but that she was taking on the bazaar on her own terms today and warned him that she was feeling mischievous ! She put on fresh lacy knickers, white t-shirt and cotton slacks. She had not packed any bras and so could not have been more conservative, even if she had wanted to be. "You'll have to pretend to be my husband" she instructed Lawrence. "Yes ma'am" he joked.

They both wondered if they would find the same shop again in the maze of backstreets but Lawrence possessed a good sense of direction. As before, they had to put up with a certain amount of low level harassment. Catcalls, hustlers, roving hands. But Lawrence kept a proprietorial grasp of Debbi's arm and she knew what to expect this time. "I think that's it over there" said Lawrence, pointing to a corner store. The proprietor was lounging outside talking to a crowd of his cronies. There was a stir as Lawrence and Debbi approached. The proprietor came alive at the prospect of a sale. "My wife wants to buy an authentic Indian sari but she needs to be able to try the clothes on" Lawrence announced in a loud voice. "Yes, yes sir, no problem. We have very nice room, I'll call my wife" enthused the shop owner. He called to his wife in Hindi, repeating what Lawrence had said, partially for the benefit of any of the men hanging around who did not speak English. Lawrence grinned at the abrupt exodus of these men around the corner to try to get a prime viewing slot at the back room window !

Lawrence stayed close to Debbi as they entered the gloomy interior and the woman Debbi had seen before appeared and began to show Debbi swathes of cloth. Debbi selected a design and the woman guided her towards the back room. "I'll come along with you darling" Lawrence said decisively. He wanted to take a few photos in any case, if the lighting was good enough. It was in fact incredibly dingy but the owner's wife threw a switch and a bank of decrepit fluorescent lights spluttered into life, throwing a harsh strong light onto the room and producing floodlighting for Debbi's fans crowded at the window ! Debbi and Lawrence both played innocent but Lawrence cast a sly glance to see what must have been a dozen faces pressed up against the vantage point of the high level window.

"You'll need to show my wife how the sari is worn" said Lawrence, enjoying his role of the British toff ! Debbi slipped off her sandals and then casually lifted her t-shirt over her head and stepped out of her slacks, leaving herself illuminated under the harsh light in just her lacy white knickers. Lawrence again glanced at the excitement in the window. The owner's wife began to carefully wind the sari around Debbi, explaining how it was worn. Debbi felt very exotic looking at herself in the mirror. "It's very nice but I think I'd like to try some other designs" said Debbi. The woman helped her off with the sari and gestured at Debbi's knickers. "Better worn without these" she said. Debbi laughed. "I think I'll keep them on here though !" she said.

Debbi grinned at Lawrence while they waited for the woman to return. Debbi stretched exaggeratedly, nude apart from the skimpy knickers. Lawrence took a couple of photos, trying to get the faces at the window in shot. "I really do think you're turning into an exhibitionist !" They both laughed. "Do you really think Indian women go commando under their saris ?" Debbi asked. "Outside of my area of expertise gorgeous" Lawrence replied. "Let's see anyway" said Debbi, whisking her knickers off to stand now completely nude ! The Indian woman returned with an armful of different designs and Debbi spent the next half hour dressing, undressing and posing before making her choice and getting back into her own clothes. Lawrence did some rudimentary haggling over the price but it was not a great consideration for either of them. As they left the shop with their parcel, Lawrence recognised the faces back at the shop entrance, eager to get a close up view of the star of the show ! "I'm surprised they didn't ask you for autographs" he laughed.