Sep 26, 2008 03:36 PM
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I slightly pushed open the heavy frosted glass etched doors, not to disturb the goings on inside, by my sudden rush to enquire if they would entertain me. Well, as my eyes began to get used to the atmosphere inside, which was a bit heavy, shades of rich mauve (or should I say a deep pastel purple), and steam generated vapours engulfing my face just slightly…a sweet fragrant mélange of exotic wild flowers also played their magic.
It entranced me instantaneously, and then I took my first couple of steps to the heavily ‘rouged’ attendant with curls falling over her off – shoulder strapless tie around bodice. The large nose bud was very conspicuous, it shimmered in glee, as was the enormous tattoo of a humming bird sucking nectar on the heaving right breast, sitting proudly, though marginally camouflaged by the transparent plastic strap to hold assets in place. But before I could find my voice, my gaze wandered off all around and there I see the smoothest pair of silken long body parts that looked like legs twitching and twirling in a basin of some demonic solution, I do wonder if these had a body to support them at the top.
A strange sight met my eyes, as I saw an Alien held by two nymphets at the limbs, scrubbing them as if to get skin grafts for DNA verifications. The metallic grey head had gaseous emissions appearing in jets from around the torso top. This seemed a rather large head for the fragile body beneath. Have the Martians landed, was the first thought that crossed my mind. And there was another humanesque statuette seated on a pedestal, face covered in some chemically constructed plastic, but the head had been structurally embodied with a thick gluttaneous substance, somewhat like what I had seen in fiction so many years ago, The faint streaks of lights falling created shades which confused my eye balls to strain and pop out vulgarily to explore. I could faintly hear moans of Oohs and Aahs from some corner, or was it a torture chamber somewhere, where each time there was a ‘swishhh’ sound, it simultaneously was accompanied by an Ooh and a painful Aah.
Oh My GOD !! where was I –was this the Satan’s Den and devilic insinuations made me to retract a step, but was stopped drop dead by a heavily accentuated “How may we help you?” I was shaken to the core, even Demons speak in English, and that was a consolation to give me confidence that I would not feel out of place even if my not so “Do One Good Deed A Day” (DOGDAD) took me on my final journey to Satan’s Home. I stuttered and asked, “Do you serve Men here?” “Sure we do, what do you want?” I said, “I need to get a Natural Black No 3 from L’Oreal and a slight trim, and a…” I thought I could go on and on, nervously, but was interrupted once again, “Why don’t you take to the couch, while someone shall attend on you in just a while.” The voice titillatingly said, “Would you like to read something, what do you prefer a Tea, or a Coffee, or…….something else?” It continued, “Please be at ease” and as I turned to move to the lounge section, the same voice was heard in a raised pitch, “Ae Rekha, Sanjay ko bhej, cushtumor hai. Poochh kya lega, magjeen de, aur rate card dikha, pehle bol dena kitna time lagenga.” Harsh reality of the Parlour culture brought me back out of my dream land.
This was how I was envisaging my first visit this Sunday to venture into, as Mr Spock of the USS Enterprise under the suave Capt James Kirk (William Shatner) used to say, to boldly go where no man has ever been before…no no no, not the Ladies toilet, but a Beauty Parlour that opens its doors to Men too on Sundays. Business ploy or Gimmick !! I was provided a selection from the color card for the color I preferred, and then I was informed by Munna about the approximate time it will take and very categorically he asked me questions on how I would like the trimming done, scissors or electric razor, and if I was interested in some manicure and pedicure along with while he was at work on my head, someone would do the rest.
He asked me if I really liked to have a hot cup of coffee, to which I said yes, I don’t know why! The coloring was done with deft hands, and the coffee served within 5 minutes of his moving away and a set of magazines placed near my console to choose from as per the selection available. Another set of hands was playing on a bridal, and one was at the feet in a cabin doing the legs. Another mid aged lady went upstairs and into the cabin to change into a comfortable gown, and then her turn for the hair styling was to start. I was about to leave in precisely in 45 minutes and while settling,I was offered the membership.
It was to pay an upfront Rs 500 for an annual membership, to get a 20% discount on all services for the entire family and even if friends want to come in with my card, they shall be entertained. All services used on Birthdays and Anniversaries shall get a Rs 100 off the bill, and at the end of the year a Rs 500 worth of any service complimentary. My beard trim and hair color would have cost me Rs 240/ , which by normal standards I felt was very nominal (I usually pay Rs 370/), but was offered a 20% off so as to pay Rs 192/-.
All other prices here were also much lower than the normal salon that we (I mean wifey & me) visit, so it is a WIN WIN all the way. SPARLE, run by Alice, has developed something worthwhile for the fashion starved Nerul node of Navi Mumbai, and I heartily wish them All the Very Best, since my first visit here has plummeted me to write about a young Sardar to write about a trim he got and also mention on public platform about the coloring he got done to look even younger (and perhaps smarter), and without any guilt.
It’s a Salute to the effort of good training, camaraderie, business ethics, and above all delight I felt generally for that three quarters of an hour that I spent there. This stands majestically outside the Nerul Station, Opposite the HDFC & ICICI banks and shares the same parking (by the road side, though) with NIRVANA-the Gym on the curve just before the Nerul Police Station. Address : Shop No 11/12, Krishna Kamal CHS Ltd. Sector 21 Nerul-East Contact No : 022 - 2771 9990 E mail ID :
