B3

She is no Louis Vuitton nor is she a Gucci or Christian Dior. For that matter she is neither a Coach nor a Polo. She does not even belong to the Hidesign or Calonge league. But none the less she is my most favourite and all that I can call her is my Big Black Bag or B3 (B cubed – a result of my mathematical prowess). The name “Big Black Bag” may suggest that she belongs to the genre of bags used to line the garbage bins. In the West especially in England, the black bag means the trash bag. I would never ever want her to be relegated to that because the truth is that she means the world to me. Yes, she is the world to me as she has accompanied me on all my International jaunts in the last ten years. The hand bag is an inanimate object and the English language does not designate it with a gender. But being a lady’s accessory, she can only be feminine.
Now most ladies would agree with me when I say that a decade is too long a period for a hand bag to be showcased. Like all things connected with fashion, these hand bags too have a life span and in most cases that does not exceed 2-3 years. Even the designer ones costing a fortune are meant to be shelved once they become out of fashion. As with all clothes and accessories, the bags too undergo modification by the designers almost on a daily basis. If a clutch is in fashion this season, the next would see a voluminous beach bag as the fashion statement. Thus, in the last decade many colours, sizes and shapes have come and gone. I have a weakness for bags and must have in the last decade purchased or been gifted with at least a dozen of them in various colours and sizes. Some of these bags surely have better pedigree and workmanship, but none of them simply stand up to my B3.
Since I am quite good at going back in time, I can vividly remember the day and time when I went to purchase my B3. We had planned a trip to Australia, Malaysia and Singapore in May 2000. This was my first trip outside India after my return from Saudi in 1995. The bags I had in my possession at that time were the ones I would carry while going visiting and shopping. They were not big enough to hold all the important documents required during a trip abroad as always I am the custodian of anything valuable. Thus prior to the Australia trip it was mandatory that I bought a bag. On one of my earlier trips to Prince Plaza in Egmore I had spotted a leather shop which I assumed was chic. I remembered that the name started with a Hide…., and unknowingly assumed that it was the showroom of the then and now talked about Hidesign. Without even bothering to check and confirm anything, one afternoon, I headed to Prince Plaza and decided to buy from the Hide…. Showroom. The shop was small and I could go through all the shelves in less than 15 minutes. Towards the rear of the shop situated in one of the lower shelves was placed the B3. She was shown to me, when I mentioned my requirements. The bag did seem bulky but on thinking about all the things that she had to hold, I gave her more than a look. The exterior was plain with two dull steel clasps and big straps. She was more like a shoulder bag and had two compartments which were capacious. There were zipped enclosures to hold the most precious of things. I liked the appearance and also thought about the utility value and thus decided to go ahead with the purchase. The bag cost Rs. 1200/- a handsome prize to pay for a bag ten years ago. After making the purchase and while coming out of the shop, I realized that the showroom was called Hideout and that it was a stand alone shop with absolutely no branches.

Although the purchase was made in haste and not from the store, I had in mind, I can proudly say that it was one of the best purchases that I have ever made. The bag has stood me in good stead. The zips have not given way, nor does the leather strap look worn out. The shape is still perfect and the leather feels rich with the passing of the years. The bag has been overloaded on many days what with a bunch of passports, wallets (both Kumar’s and mine), mobile phone, camera, reading glasses and shades, emergency medicines, note pads, maps, travelers guides and anything and everything a trip requires. I have at times carried jewellery in their original cases while going to attend marriages in Kerala or elsewhere. I mention this so that the reader can have an idea of the utility value of the B3.
My B3 has come with me on 7 international trips, and innumerable ones within India a privilege which none of my other accessories including my suitcases have ever had. It seems as if this B3 was made with me in mind, for I have never come across another person carrying anything even resembling this. It has been the envy of some of my friends and I have in vain taken more than one of them to the Hideout Showroom in search of a duplicate. As they say when it comes to food that the name of the person who is going to consume a grain is already written on it, I think the same holds good for every consumer product. Thus the name Usha must have been etched on her while being processed in any one of the numerous tanneries situated near the town of Vellore.
My B3 I am sure, like the B2 of the aircraft will survive any happening but unlike the B2 she has no recorder to enlighten the world of her various sojourns and all the interesting events she got a peek of or was party to.