Midnight at Mustie’s

Seeing as I’m in absolute delight that Monday is a holiday and that I have an extra day to stay up late, I decided that a late-night jaunt to the local stockist of all material goods in existence is warranted.

Mustie’s functions pretty much like Doraemon’s pocket, except not futuristic. You can get anything you want, at any time you need or fancy. It’s open 24/7 and there are a thousand choices for every consumer product one can imagine. And also for those one cannot.

It is 4 levels and 2 basements, spread over 2 buildings, connected by a sky bridge of a fruit and vegetable department, with goods packed in shelves separated by aisle spaces that barely allow passing. It even boasts of an in-house travel agent, international banking services, post office, money changer, cafe, hydro-massage, and visa processing service (and I mean the kind of visa that allows you to visit a country, not the kind that allows you to delay payment. Well, of course they have the latter too).

I headed in with 4 items on my shopping list:

1. Bath puffy-scrubby-thingies

2. Eucerin

3. Cookie cutters

4. Head scarf

And on top of those, the ever-present crave for Kinder Country means that I don’t have to write it down to remember to pick it up. Mustie’s is the only store on the mother-island, as far as I know, that carries Kinder Country. I think it might not be up every person’s alley, but I love the roasted puffed cereals and grains in it. So earthy and so “mmm-mm”. If you want to give it a try, drop a note. I bought 3 packs of 6 bars. Single serving bars, of course. But in my opinion, a single serving really should be 3 bars.

And so, as it always is in Mustie’s, I ended up not getting everything on my list because I was distracted by something else.

B and I were done picking up the Kinder Country when I looked further along the corridor and spied a section we’ve never visited before. No one can ever boast of having covered every single section of Mustie’s in less than 10 visits. And so I decided that this was the section we were going to con1uer on this visit. (Yes, keyboard is wonky. Won’t produce the alphabet between “P” and “R”. Comes up with a “1″ instead.)

B pointed out that that was the luggage section and we don’t need luggage. I wanted to check it out anyway. And boy, did they have loads of luggages and briefcases. We, or rather I, had a good giggle trying out all the retro briefcases. I decided that if I ever feel the need to be taken more seriously at the workplace, I would pick up one of those maroon metallic boxy briefcases. It’s so retro, so fun and so funny that I’m giggling as I type this.

We moved on to the luggages and almost immediately spied a green retro floral piece. It’s a low-tech cloth and canvas thing, boxy with a single large compartment, single large pocket on the inside, flat pockets on the outside and two straps across. And of course, a flimsy lock that will not deter the most incompetent of thieves. A couple of small stains. Looked at the price tag. $26. Hmm… Should I?

B pointed out that there was a bigger one just further down the shelf. I did see it, but did not think it was bigger. Who needs the bigger of a luggage bag that is not needed in the first place anyway?

As always, B was right about the size. It was bigger. And had no stains. Ooo… tempting! Looked at the price tag. Did a double take. Showed it to B, who also did a double take. $15. Now I have to have it. Where else can one find such a lovely luggage bag, complete with dragging strap and name tag, and most importantly, in such a lovely retro print, for $15?

We debated for a bit, a very small bit, about whether I should get it. I don’t need it. Not right now anyway. But I would need it some time in the future, for sure. And as B pointed out, it is only $15. Yes, I could eat a simple lunch tomorrow and the savings could easily translate into a lovely piece of luggage. $15! Really now, that’s got to be the deal of the century.

And in case you roll your eyes and conclude that I’m one of those girls who go ga-ga over Laura Ashley floral stuff, I have to make it very clear, for my reputation’s sake, that I am not. Floral is only nice when it’s retro. So really, it’s the retro-ness that I fancy.

I was thinking that there was a possibility that at the checkout stand, the lady would take one look at it and declare that the price tag was wrong and that the luggage really cost $55, or some amount like that, which I was not willing to pay because, honestly, I don’t need it and it’s not the most hardy of luggages.

Instead, the lady scanned it and cheerfully announced, “Luggage bag, $15″. B and I leaned in to look into the screen to make sure that it was right. Well, according to the computer and the checkout lady, and you don’t get authority any higher than that, it was. And so, the suitcase is mine.

Ha! And I also picked up a natural tree bark toothbrush at the checkout stand. Yes yes, I know, never pick up stuff that’s shelved at the checkout stand. It’s located and priced to encourage impulse buying. But it’s all of $1.20 and no price is too big for oral hygiene. Plus, no toothpaste needed.

After all that, we adjourned to the the corner cafe for a supper of naan and masala tea. Ahhh… good stuff. And the tea is what’s powering this 3 a.m. post.

Ironically, I was thinking about my finances during the day, wondering why I don’t have any more savings than I do, considering that I’m not much of a shopper, that even when I shop, I delight in lovely low-cost items such as the above mentioned luggage, that I’m not much of a gadget person, owning just one basic model cellphone and no mobile music, game or data consoles of any sort, that I don’t feed any addictive habits, that my cellphone bill almost never exceeds that paltry minimal plan I subscribe to, that I don’t pay any insurance premiums, that I don’t pay any car or housing loan, or any other kind of expense I can think of.

I then concluded that I spend my money mostly on food, craft materials and, oh yes, that rather hefty school loan. That aside, I should still be saving more than I do. I probably don’t feel the need to keep track of what I spend on small items because I know I don’t buy big items. And so I resolved to cut down on small unnecessary items.

Then I met the luggage bag and the resolution went to the toilet.

…

P.S. Notice how I wrote this, by my standards, super long post using only one “1″? Wow… what an under-used alphabet. No wonder my keyboard doesn’t remember how to produce it.

C’mon keyboard! It’s an “O” with a little tail! Or a mirror image of “p”! Or an upside down “b”! Remember?