COAT

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN OLD
youtn.
the days of my
Istill remember with pride and joy
dress-making
latest fashion in
IWas tailored according to the
Selection Apparel
shop window of M/s
and was displayed in a

in one of the best iocalities of Mumbai. betore

halted
Crowds of people on a Diwali-buying spree
au
at me. I was priced
the window and cast admiring glances
sum.
Rs 750 which, in those days, was a princely me
He looked after
One day a tall, rich tourist bought me.
nis in
W loVing care and took me with him everywhere
at hisS
attractive suitcase. One day after a glittering function
me
hotel, he went to bed at 3 a.m., worn and tired. He had kept
came
on a hager in a the bed. A servant, who
cupboard near

to serve breakfast, saw me and quietly took me away.

servant sold
day my days of decline began. The
From that
in Kalbadevi.
me for Rs. 300 to a second-hand garment shop
care for
There I was bought by a clerk. He used me with great
about two years. He wore me on all occasions, big and small,
I had
just to siow off and impress his friends. By this time,
started showing signs of wear and tear.
During the Diwali festival, he gifted me to his maid-
servant's son. The boy wore me day and night. As a result,
I became dirty and soiled and lost my shine and charm. Soon,
he also got fed up with me and refused to wear me any longer.
omorrow I am going to be used to dress up the effigy of
an old man symbolizing the last day of the year. I will be
burnt at midnight to ring out the old year. After that I shall be
nothing but powder and ash.
Ispree-a short period of doing an enjoyable activity. a princely
sum-a large amount of money. glhtering-splendid and colourful,
decline-the quality of becoming less in amount, importance, quality or
strength. wear and tear-damage caused to something when it is
used for
a long period.
effigy-model made of wood, paper, cloth, etc. of a
persorn.1