I have to admit that I had to shed a lot of inhibitions to write this blog because this pertains to a very funny and humorous obsession of mine.  I am fascinated about carry bags and I thought to share it with the readers few of the countless incidents in my life which occurred due to my passion for carry bags.

I remember as a child, whenever I went shopping with my mother, I came home and soon opened all the packets and carry bags. Whichever was nice, I put them under the mattress of my bed.  Before sleeping, every night I used to put the mattress up and check my collection. There were all kind of packets, colorful ones, big ones, small showy ones…. owning every piece of my collection was a pride. This went on for months and then there came a day when every inch below my mattress was a carry bag of some shop and at night if I turned sides then I heard strange sounds of the mattress rubbing against my collection.

During my B school days, I had a wonderful time in Hostel. Every girl in the Girls’ Hostel knew whom to ask in case they needed a carry bag . Whenever  someone knocked the door of my room in hostel, entering  with a pleasing smile , I knew what was coming next….” Nandini, Can you please lend me a carry bag… I need to carry library books.“, or may be…” Some clothes to give to the local tailor to stitch.”….I was their  one stop solution for all their demand of carry bags.

On Sundays, I had  to suffice strange requirements too…..” Nandini, one small request. Please give me a nice one. Something which is very unique in your collection and which belongs to a good brand. Please understand baba,  am going on a date with Atul, what would he think if I carry my stuff in  a simple carry bag of some roadside shop?”

I had my discretion in handling such choosy hostel mates of mine with odd demands.

To all demands, I said with a smile,  ”Sure!“, then turned my back to them to check my collection.  Depending on my equation with the girl, I handed her the carry bag.

In my mind I analyzed… That day when I asked her to pass me the cup of tea in the canteen she just shrugged off her shoulder like a  ”who cares!” attitude and left. She Didn’t even share with anyone of us the common questions for Mid term exams which our accounts Prof, Sharma Sir had given her.

Cancel Gucci Give Kala Mandir.. My mind would instruct me immediately and I would hand her the Kala Mandir carry bag.

” Isn’t there a better brand in your collection?“, she would ask unhappy at what I had given her.

“Sorry dear, not as of now. May be someday when I start earning big.”, Pat I would reply smilingly while it played in my mind………

I could have given you a Gucci packet dear,  had you passed me the cup of tea in the canteen and not been so secretive about the common question of mid term test that Sharma sir had given you. Ha!Ha!Ha!

That was my secret way of revenge and reward to my hostel mates. For every girl who was nice to me, I never missed giving her one of the best carry bags that I had in my collection.

I was particular that whatever was taken needed to be returned to me duly. If someone failed to return, I would not  remind the girl beyond once and if she yet not return me the carry bag then I would mentally strike off her credit worthiness. Next time onwards, however hard she asked, I would hand her a roadside shop carry bag like a “ Verma and son’s bedding store.” Ha!Ha!Ha!

After few days, I realized  that my collection of carry bags was dwindling because of unmanaged lending that I did to my hostel mates.  It was then that I changed my strategy a little. I started keeping two  kit bag  full of carry bags since that time. Every Sunday,  I would sort my collection of carry bags.  In one bag I would store carry bags of roadside shops and smaller brands with average color and shape. In the other bag, I would store the pricey carry bags of my collection,  the ones of  the superior brands and better quality and color. The Kit bag holding  the ordinary carry bags was kept in front,  in full public view while I kept the other carry bag hidden towards the back.

I remember, that for the last few months in the hostel, I preserved carry bags like crazy, stored in the kit bags. Few carry bags were so pretty that even I didn’t use them, waiting for a special day or a good occasion to carry stuff in them.

Days for campus Interview arrived soon, and we all got placed. I was placed in Kolkata  and started packing my luggage to leave the hostel soon. When the last day of the hostel came, I remember, searching the kit bag consisting my pricey collection of carry bags and selecting a few close to my heart,  to be carried back home. The rest, I just had no place to accommodate.

I still have the vision of mine leaving hostel forever. The attendant came and took all my luggage and bedding downstairs. I looked at my room for one last time, a room which had so many pleasant memories. I saw the two kit  bags lying in one corner. I could in no way carry them back home. Suddenly I felt so sad leaving  behind my collection of carry bags.  I remembered the passion with which I collected each one of them and the pride I felt in their ownership. I remembered how I played choosy in handing packets to my friends and felt I could re do things once again . What did I get out of it?  Neither did I use the carry bags nor did I allow my friends to use them and today…. I was leaving everything behind.

Just before I left the room I emptied all the carry bags from the kit Bag and threw them on the floor of my room. As I moved ahead, I looked back at the room one last time and I saw hundreds of empty carry bags flying in the air with the fan being on.

My heart went out at that sight and for months thereafter I stopped collecting carry bags.

But then, once a habit is formed, it’s difficult to get rid of it…and for me it was an obsession.

Once I went on a date with my Fiance, who was unaware of my fascination.  Smitten by love, my fiance decided to buy me few dresses from a renowned International brand shop. Once the shopping was done, we stood for billing. It was a posh shop and after the bills were payed the lady in the counter handed me a carry bag holding my two newly purchased dresses.

” Excuse me, can you please hand me the two dresses in two separate carry bags?“, I exclaimed at her.

Once she obliged me and handed me two packets I said,”  Can you give me one  extra carry bag please?”.

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