#diwali special suit

[pyoorofficial]

Light Up Your Diwali with Beautiful Pakistani Kurta Sets

As Diwali approaches, families across India are busy preparing for this vibrant festival of lights. One of the most exciting aspects of the celebration is choosing the perfect attire, and there's nothing quite like a Pakistani kurta set to capture the essence of this joyful occasion. In this post, we’ll dive into why these outfits are the go-to choice for Diwali and how you can make them work for your festive celebrations.

Why Choose Pakistani Kurta Sets?

Pakistani kurta sets are beloved for their stunning designs, rich colors, and comfortable fabrics. They strike a beautiful balance between tradition and modern style, making them perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re headed to a family gathering, a Diwali party, or a religious ceremony, a diwali suit will ensure you look polished and festive. Plus, the variety of styles available means there’s something for everyone.

Picking the Right Colors

When it comes to selecting a Pakistani kurta set for Diwali, color matters. Traditional shades like gold, red, royal blue, and emerald green truly embody the festive spirit. These colors symbolize joy and prosperity, adding to the overall celebratory vibe. A vibrant diwali suit can really uplift your mood and make you feel special as you join in the festivities.

Fabrics That Feel Great

The fabric of your Pakistani kurta set can make all the difference in comfort and style. For Diwali, lightweight and breathable materials like cotton, silk, and chiffon are ideal. Cotton is great for keeping cool as you mingle with friends and family, while silk brings an element of luxury to your look. Chiffon adds a delicate touch, making it perfect for evening celebrations. Choosing the right fabric ensures you not only look fabulous but also feel comfortable throughout the festivities.

Beautiful Designs and Embellishments

One of the things that sets Pakistani kurta sets apart is their gorgeous designs and intricate details. From delicate embroidery to stunning beadwork, these outfits often showcase remarkable craftsmanship that reflects the rich heritage of Pakistan. When selecting your diwali suit, look for unique patterns and details that resonate with your personal style. Whether you prefer traditional motifs or modern cuts, there’s a kurta set out there that tells your story.

Styling Your Pakistani Kurta Set

To pull together a complete look with your Pakistani kurta set, pay attention to styling. Accessories can really elevate your outfit—think statement earrings, beautiful bangles, and eye-catching rings that reflect your personality. Pair your diwali suit with comfortable yet stylish footwear, like juttis or embellished sandals, that add flair without sacrificing comfort. A lovely dupatta can also add an elegant touch to your ensemble, making you feel graceful and festive.

Perfect Occasions for Your Attire

The beauty of Pakistani kurta sets is that they can be worn for more than just Diwali night. These outfits are perfect for various occasions throughout the season, whether it’s family gatherings, religious ceremonies, or casual get-togethers. Each event calls for a different style, so having a few diwali suits in your wardrobe lets you express your individuality while staying true to tradition. Choose heavier kurtas for grand celebrations and lighter ones for more intimate gatherings.

Shopping for Pakistani Suits Online in India

Thanks to the digital age, shopping for Pakistani suits online in India has never been easier. Many online platforms offer a wide range of styles to fit every taste and budget. When you’re browsing for your outfit, be sure to check size guides, read customer reviews, and look at return policies for a smooth shopping experience. Pyoor is an excellent destination for finding beautiful Pakistani kurta sets that blend contemporary trends with traditional craftsmanship.

Caring for Your Kurta Sets

To keep your Pakistani kurta set looking its best, proper care is key. Follow the care instructions specific to your fabric, which you can usually find on the label. Gentle hand washing or dry cleaning is often recommended, especially for intricate embellishments. Make sure to store your diwali suit in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent color fading and maintain its quality.

Incorporating Pakistani kurta sets into your Diwali wardrobe is a wonderful way to celebrate the festival while embracing cultural elegance. With their rich colors, luxurious fabrics, and intricate designs, these outfits not only enhance your appearance but also contribute to the festive spirit. So, as you prepare to light up your Diwali, consider investing in a beautiful diwali suit that reflects your unique style and celebrates the joyous essence of this special occasion.

[pujakhandelwal20]

Last-Minute Diwali Gifting Struggles? Here’s Your Go-to Gift Hamper Guide

There’s nothing quite like the joy of giving. When words fall short, a thoughtfully chosen gift can speak volumes. According to Merriam-Webster, gifting is defined as something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation. It’s a simple act that can brighten someone’s day and, in turn, make your day a little brighter.  

But what happens when someone gets caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life and suddenly realizes they've forgotten to pick up a special gift? Panic might set in, but there's no need to worry. A thoughtful gifting guide can help, offering personalized hampers tailored to suit every coffee lover’s taste and preferences, making last-minute gifting simple and stress-free.

The Perfect Gift for Coffee Lovers  

If your loved ones believe that coffee isn’t just a beverage but an experience, we’ve found the perfect gift for them. At Blue Tokai, they understand the love affair between coffee enthusiasts and their favourite brew, and their gift hampers are curated, keeping that thought in mind. Each hamper is a celebration of coffee in its many forms, designed to delight anyone who appreciates a good cup of joe.  

Whether they’re a fan of ready-to-drink coffee cans or prefer the ritual of brewing their own cup with roasted and ground coffees, tailored for their taste preferences—be it light, medium, or dark roast, they have something for everyone. Their selection includes an array of easy-to-brew Easy Pours too, that you can enjoy on your way to work or while travelling far away. And because no coffee experience is complete without the right equipment, they’ve included everything needed to brew the perfect cup.  

But it’s not just about coffee. Where there’s coffee, there ought to be something delicious to munch on, right? That’s why their hampers also include a variety of baked delights, from wholesome cookies to an assortment of pocket snacks like trail mix, roasted cashews, and nuts. These treats are perfect for pairing with coffee, making their hampers more than just a gift— an expression of our love and affection for them.  

When the festive season kicks in, you needn’t look elsewhere. Their gift hamper baskets are the perfect way to show your appreciation and spread joy. The combination of specialty coffee, paired with delicious snacks makes for a heartfelt gift.   

A Diwali party in the office and you don’t know what to get your boss? If they’re a coffee lover, they’ll surely appreciate Blue Tokai’s gift hamper boxes.

You can explore the selection of gift hampers online through Blue Tokai’s website, and Amazon where you’ll find a variety of options to suit different tastes and budgets. Simply choose the hamper that best suits your needs, and they will take care of the rest.  

Whether for a coffee lover or someone who appreciates the finer things in life, their gift hampers are the perfect way to show care—even at the last minute. So next time you’re in a gifting fix, remember that Blue Tokai has you covered. Happy gifting!

[shagunpitara]

Unique Diwali Gift Ideas for Your Loved Ones

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time to celebrate with family and friends. Choosing the perfect gift for your loved ones can make the occasion even more special. Here are some unique Diwali gift ideas that will brighten up their celebration:

1. Personalized Gifts

Personalized gifts add a special touch. You could get custom-made items like photo frames, mugs, or keychains with their names or a memorable date. These gifts show thoughtfulness and create lasting memories.

2. Handmade Candles

Handmade candles are a beautiful and practical gift. You can find candles in various shapes and scents. Opt for ones with a festive touch, like those in the shape of Diwali diyas (lamps) or with fragrant spices.

3. Decorative Lanterns

Brighten up their home with decorative lanterns. Choose ones with colorful designs or traditional motifs. They can use them to add a festive glow to their Diwali decorations.

4. Ethnic Wear

Traditional clothing, such as sarees or kurtas, makes for a stylish and appreciated gift. You can choose from a range of fabrics and designs to suit their taste and the festive mood.

5. Sweet Treats

Diwali is synonymous with sweets. Instead of the usual store-bought boxes, consider gifting homemade sweets or gourmet treats. You could also include a recipe card for a personal touch.

6. Artisan Crafts

Support local artisans by gifting handmade crafts. This could be anything from intricate jewelry to beautiful pottery. Artisan crafts are unique and help your loved ones discover something special.

7. Eco-Friendly Gifts

For those who are environmentally conscious, eco-friendly gifts are a great option. Think along the lines of reusable items like bamboo utensils, organic cotton bags, or plant-based products.

8. Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are a fun and ongoing gift. Choose one that matches their interests, whether it’s gourmet foods, books, or beauty products. They’ll think of you every time their box arrives.

9. Indoor Plants

Indoor plants not only add a touch of nature to their home but also help purify the air. Choose low-maintenance plants like succulents or peace lilies that are perfect for indoor settings.

10. DIY Gift Baskets

Create a personalized gift basket with a mix of their favorite items. You could include snacks, candles, beauty products, or small gadgets. Tailoring the basket to their preferences shows extra thought and care.

Choosing a gift that reflects the personality and interests of your loved ones will make your Diwali celebrations even more memorable. Happy Diwali!

[fishnets-fingers]

Six Months - Part Twenty Four

Summary - Layla desperately needs a vacation and her Aunt and Uncle come to her rescue. So, at twenty two, she packs her bag and jets off to America. Harry took a break from education and is now a full fledged content creator on OnlyFans. At twenty, he makes more money than almost all of his friends. What ensues when these two meet and realise the windows in their rooms face each other? How will paper airplanes bring them closer together?

PAIRING - camboy!harry x indian!oc

a/n -  it’s the one with the wedding and the family celebrating diwali (maybe a tryst in the backseat of harry’s range rover). it’s almost the end of november in the story, which means it’s almost time for layla to bid farewell. thank you so much for reading and loving spy!harry. i’ll probably be writing another part very soon with the princess and the spy, so be on the lookout for that. reblog and like as always. have a wonderful weekend. happy reading!

Word Count - 10.6 k

Warnings - fluff, angst, smut (choking, spanking?)

Masterpost (find previous parts here)

“I have hot gossip,” Layla announces when she gets to the table they’ve been assigned to. The sangeeth has been a spectacle and was currently on a momentary pause as the bride and groom had gone to slip into their third outfits for the night. Three outfits changes for a single evening was too much, even by Layla’s standard of a big fat Indian wedding but she wasn’t complaining. Besides, the grander the wedding, the more fun it was for the guests because Tamil weddings barely have time for the bride and groom to take it all in. 

The party didn’t stop with the absence of the bride and groom though. The DJ had invited people onto the dancefloor to give the performing family members a breather. Harry and Layla were the only two at the round table, which was decorated with a centerpiece with overgrown orchids and tealights, and the occupants had abandoned their seats to take part in the festivities. Anne and Earl were chatting away with people who lived on their street, whatever they were talking about seemed spirited from the way the two gesticulated and threw their heads back to laugh. She spares a glance towards Abi and Vasanth swaying on the dance floor to a slowed down version of Unnakul Naane. Vasanth had requested the DJ to pull up their special song, and proceeded to whisk his wife for a dance.

“Lay it on me,” Harry chuckles, turning his body towards her. 

“I just heard from a very credible source, aka Dhruv and Ashwin, that the bride and groom are in the stairwell lighting up a blunt,” she tells him, bending down to shuffle the billowing fabric of her lehenga skirt in place once she’d sat down. “Invitation’s open to us too.”

“I wouldn’t risk getting high and walking into this room.” Harry had a point, the giant banquet hall of the hotel had been turned into a wonderful display of colours with the strobe lights and décor, scent with flowers and a concoction of perfumes, and sounds with high energy beats pounded the bass as members of the family danced and put on a show. 

“Fair point.” 

Ever since Layla professed her love for him - earlier that morning - by the lake, the two were detached from the festivities, preferring to sit back and revel in their feelings. Layla couldn’t tear her eyes away from Harry - in his muted blue grey suit and a mint green shirt that was the perfect amount of see through. She’d even go so far to bet that one else in the room was put together as him whilst also playing with colours. He’d styled his hair to look tousled and it drew more attention to his forest green eyes. 

“You look really nice. Pretty even,” she whispers, running her palm down his thigh.

“I’ve been told,” he chuckles. He catches her hand before it could reach the apex of his thighs and brings it up to his lips, pressing chaste kisses to her knuckles. “Feeling me up every chance you get is a great reminder.”

She kisses the corner of his mouth, a quick peck, reaching up to wipe the berry stain of her lipstick from his skin. “Can’t help it,” she shrugs, with an exaggerated pout.

“You don’t look all that bad, baby,” he teases with a kiss to her temple, throwing an arm around her shoulder and pulling her against his side. He was captivated the minute he’d saw her in the foyer of the house, bending down to fasten her heels in her lehenga. It was grey and filled with motifs of deers, peacocks, and flowers with colourful thread. She’s left her hair down in loose waves and had parted her bangs in the middle. She’s opted to forgo jewellery other than her giant jimikis that she’d pinned in her hair behind her ear. 

“If you want to get laid tonight, I’d suggest you work on your compliments, idiot. I’d take words like ravishing and enchanted,” she giggles.

“We both know that -”

“Layla,” Pooja interrupts. “I’m heading to the powder room, do you want to-’

“Yes.”

They both walk towards the restroom when an older man approaches the two of them, calling out Pooja’s name. He approaches the two of them engaging in chit chat, directing a warm smile at Layla when Pooja introduces her as a neighbour of her parents’. He talks about motherhood with his hands clasped behind his back, which only pushes his gut out more, making him look rotund. 

“She’s quite chatty, no? Cooed the whole time I had her in my arms,” he tells Pooja.

“Oh yeah. Baby’s been doing that non stop these days. Almost like I gave birth to a pigeon,” she laughs.

“She’s real cute, ya. It’s a good thing she takes after her dad. We were all worried that she was going to end up a கருப்பு குட்டி (dark skinned baby - derogatory) like you.”

Layla’s jaw drops, watching the older man prattle about how she should add some saffron to her milk to help boost her own complexion. Pooja’s face falls but she doesn’t say anything, opting to look down at her shoes.

“Uncle,” Layla interrupts his monologue. “That’s incredibly rude, what you just did. You just insulted her at her own brother sangeeth, dampening her mood. It’s not okay to say whatever thought that pops into your head. Or did you not realise கறுப்பி (blackie) here also has feelings like you. How would you feel if I called you a bald fat man? I’m sure that even if her baby was dark skinned, they would have loved her just as much as they do now. And I think it’s high time you stopped talking like that to anyone.”

“Look, you’re being disrespectful! Apologise-” he starts before Pooja cuts him off.

“I don’t think she was very respectful with what she just said, Uncle. If anyone was being disrespectful here, it’s you. Now, if you could excuse us.” She turns her heel and walks inside the restroom with Layla following behind her after giving the man a dirty look. 

“Can’t believe I just did that. Feels quite liberating. If I can only muster up the nerve to do that with some of my relatives.” Layla shakes off the pent up energy that was still left over from her confrontation. “Shit, I don’t know if I caused any trouble for you,” Layla tells her, pulling out a sheet of tissue and handing it over to Pooja.

“You didn’t. Thank you so much,” she says, with a sniffle. She dabs the tears away from the corner of her eye before they have a chance to stream down her face and ruin her makeup. 

“It’s just a tissue,” Layla chuckles. 

“No, for standing up for me. I can’t believe people calling me கறுப்பி (blackie) affects me even now as a thirty year old. I’ve been called that a lot growing up and I’ve convinced myself that I don’t care. Apparently, I still do.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what that does to your self esteem. I don’t get why people are so hung up on colour. We’re all brown, are we not?” 

“True. Colourism fucking stinks.”

Layla agrees, digging out her lipstick from her sling bag. “You know when I was born my dad told me the first thing he did was let out a sigh of relief because I had a lighter skin. I still don’t get how that could be one’s first thought when they look at their child for the first time.”

“The first thought I had when my daughter was born was ‘not again’ because they’d asked me to push again to deliver my placenta.”

“Gross,” Layla laughs, holding up the berry coloured lipstick wand to her lips. “Don’t let people let you feel like you’re less than just because you have more melanin in your skin. If it’s any consolation, I think you’re very hot,” she feels a warmth spread across her cheeks.

“Oh yeah?” Pooja giggles, adjusting her nose ring.

“Have quite the crush on you,” Layla winks.

“Just the confidence booster I needed. Thanks, babe.”

The rest of the night goes by smoothly without any uninvited comments from strangers. Although Layla noticed the Uncle giving her disapproving nods from time to time, which she brushed off easily. Pooja, Ashwin and Dhruv came over and pulled Harry and Layla to the dancefloor and that’s how the rest of the night flew by - dancing to Ranjithame, Thaikelavi, and Thodakkam Mangalyam. Layla’s positive that all the dancing made her burn off all the parottas and okra fry she’d managed to scarf down from the buffet. Anne, Earl, Vasanth and Abi had all joined in for the cha cha slide and let out surprising laughs when Vasanth and Layla raps Ludacris’s part flawlessly when Yeah played. 

It wasn’t long into the night that Abi, Vasanth, Anne and Earl decided to head home leaving Layla and Harry dancing along. Halfway through the dancing, Kadhal Sadugudu pours in through the speakers. The two blush thinking back to the time Harry had gone down on her for the first time as the familiar strums of the guitar reverberates through their heart strings. 

Harry had ducked down to whisper, “Let’s get out of here,” against the shell of Layla’s ear and that’s how the two of them ended up in the emergency stairwell of the hotel, with Harry pressed up against the wall.

Layla is on her tippy toes, her hands ravenously tugging the locks at the back of his head while their tongues swirl around. Harry mewls when she gives him a hard pull, pulling her face even closer to his with the way his palms cradle her cheek. 

“Fuck, need you,” she pants into his mouth as his lips make their jaw down her jaw to that special part in her neck. 

“You’ve got me, Lails. Right here,” he murmurs with honesty, pointing out that she’s had him wrapped around her pinky and that he’s out here in the stairwell ravenously making out. 

“Oh,” she whimpers, as he sucks on the spot near her jugular and she can’t help but rub on his clothed fattening prick to reciprocate the pleasure singing through her veins. 

“Been handsy with me the whole day. That badly gone for me, yeah?” He smirks against the nape of her neck. 

“Yeah. Been super horny all day, I must be ovulating or something.”

He laughs, the boyish one that makes him straighten up and throw his head back as his eyes disappear behind the crinkles in the corner and his dimples flaunt their full glory. 

“What?” She asks, poking his side.

“Ovulating?” He shakes his head, wiping the tears from his eyes with a toothy grin. “You’re so lucky I’m willing to look past your ineptness at dirty talk because I love you. Now come on, let's get out of here.”

////

The windows of his Range Rover were fogging up despite the frigid temperature of the pouring rain outside. Harry had quickly zipped the two of them to the lookout spot in Chapel Hill. The minute he’d turn off the ignition their lips found each other again with a ravenous lust, as they both climbed to the back seat unceremoniously. They’d been whispering dirty promises and exchanging passionate kisses as For Emma, Forever Ago was crooning through the speakers. 

He licks and nips on her chest as Layla fiddles with the small gold hoop in his ear. “I really like this. Makes you look like an arrogant prick,” she remarks as her chuckle cuts off into a surprised gasp when Harry suckles a mark on the plush of her breast.

“Never not insult me when we’re having sex, dickhead,” he laughs, booping her nose. 

“It’s a rite of passage at this point. Like how you call me sweet girl.”

“I do not call you sweet girl only during sex,” he says with faux defensiveness, swooping her now shoulder length hair away from her neck.

“Ow!” Layla flinches with the tug at her earlobe, hands coming to detangle the hair that had knotted itself in her earring.

“Fuck. Sorry, baby. I didn’t-” Harry begins, his deft fingers help her get her hair out of the way before she rips some of it off.

“No, I should have taken them out the second I got in the car. Not very practical,” she remarks, taking off the giant jimikis and tossing them on the passenger seat. She sighs in relief when she massages her angry red lobes, shoulders sagging. “Now where were we,” she smirks, hands looping around his neck, nuzzling her nose against his.

It doesn’t take long until Layla’s lipstick is smeared all over Harry’s mouth with each heated kiss. Fading berry stained tattoos haphazardly trailed down his unbuttoned chest. They’d both managed to maneuver her poofy skirt and tossed it on the dashboard right next to his trousers and briefs. Layla pumped her fist around his throbbing dick in a tantalising pace that made him blurt out a bead of precum. “Love feeling you get hard in my hands,” she says, swirling the bead around his ruddy pink head as his chest heaves in wanton. 

He grunts when the tips of her fingers tease his frenulum, wrapping his fist around her hair tugging it back as her boobs press right up against his face. “Sit on my face. Sit on my face, Lails,” he murmurs, voice hoarse with arousal.

“Later.” She tells him, searing an ardent kiss on his mouth, as desire voraciously spreads through her body. “Want to fuck you.”

“Yeah?” His fingers dance against her engorged clit, making her choke out a breath.

Even under the dim yellow light from the roof of the car, Layla could tell that his pupils were blown out in desire. She licks down the column of his throat as he dips two fingers inside of her.  “So bad.” She moans when he gets knuckle deep, the cold metal of his rings tingling against the heat from her centre, scissoring them as he savours her warmth. 

“Getting so wet for me,” he pants into his mouth as he speeds the ministrations of his digits, curling them up to coax her sweet spot. “Love you so much you know,” his hot breath washes against her ear and all she could do was give him a garbled moan as her fingernails sinks into his shoulders, using them as leverage when she moves her hips to aid him in sending her over the edge. 

“Gonna come,” Layla warns.

“Want you to come around me, sweet girl.” He whispers, retracting his hand and licking her slick. He makes quick work with the condom rolling it down his length, and tugging himself for good measure.

Layla heedlessly peels off her blouse down her arms, climbing onto his lap. She sinks down on him, as Harry lines himself up, the sensation making the two cry out. Harry scrunches his eyes shut as her scorching hot walls squeeze around him. “Missed this,” he confesses, when she settles against his lap. They haven’t had sex since their fight and Harry wants to travel back and smack himself for acting like a proper knob and pulling his shoulder. 

“Missed feeling you inside me too, Har.” She moans, she’s had him in her many times but the stretch when he slips in was delectable every single time. She raises herself up using her knees but he’s quick to hold her down.

“Gimme a couple of minutes. Haven’t done this for a hot minute and I’m trying hard not to nut.” She gives him her signature evil smile as she squeezes her muscles around him.

“Mother of fuck, baby,” he moans out loud, a hand curling on the headrest of the front seat. “Are you trying to end me?!?”

Layla laughs, and squeezes her pelvic muscles around his throbbing dick again enjoying the way his jaw drops with the way his breathing hitches. “Bet I can make you come with -” She yelps when Harry swats her bum.

“Did you just- Dude, you just spanked my ass!”

“Wanna come with you, dickhead,” he whines, hands tracing down her thighs before making their way up to palm the globes of her ass. 

She presses a kiss on his lips, a gentle chaste one, as she traps his bottom lip with her teeth. She uses the muscles of her thigh to rock slowly, as he helps her along. 

Licentious moans cut through the sound of heavy rain outside as Layla quickens her pace, despite the protest of the muscles in her inner thigh and calves - dancing around in her high heels for a whole night was catching up. She brushes it aside, using her knees to bounce on him to move them to the edge, as his mouth toys with her nipples, suckling them.

“Oh, Har,” she noisily groans, when he thrusts up making her jolt up. 

Layla steadies herself by clinging on to his neck, as she moves her hips in circles, giving her clit the friction it craves. Harry’s lips crash with her, teeth clanging as his tongue greedily licks into her mouth. The heat from their core ravenously makes every cell in their body ablaze with desire. 

He wordlessly brings his hand up to hers, where it was clutching his neck, and squeezes hers as a form of encouragement. “Choke me,” he pleads into her mouth. 

She cautiously presses her hands to the sides of his neck to create more pressure and it makes him whimper. Her pace stutters as one of his hands slips down to rub harsh circles on her clitoral hood and that’s all it takes for her to pulsate around him. 

“Say it,” he whispers as he pushes a few rouge strands of stands away from her sweaty face. They were both so close to tumbling over the edge, hearts pounding against their chest, sweat dripping down their backs, wet sound of skin slapping against each other as they move in tandem, stealing each other's moans as they tumble out of their mouths. 

He didn’t need to clarify what he wanted her to say, she knew it and her hands migrates from his neck to cradle his face in her palm as her eyes flicked up to him. “I love you,” she says with sincerity, as she comes, quivering as the waves of her orgasm wash through her.

“I love you too, sweet girl.” He follows suit immediately after, from her words as her walls flutter around him, he thrusts up three times before burying his head in her chest as he spills into the condom. He could feel her heart pounding against his cheek, a heart that has now fully let him live inside. He knew they belonged in each other's heart, so it was easy for him  to bare it to her, and now she did too. He softly kisses her chest, right over her heart, closing his eyes as they come down from their highs as the speakers in the strums of the guitar echo the last lines from Re:Stacks.

It’s the sound of unlocking and the lift way

Your love will be

Safe with me.

////

“This is a great sign,” Layla declares, staring at her reflection in the mirror as she stamps her coral cream blush onto her cheeks.

“How so?” Harry pokes his head out from her bathroom, turning off the noisy hair dryer. Beads of water trickle down his chest from the shower and her eyes follow their journey to where he has a white towel secured dangerously low around his hips. 

“Corrections mean they are willing to print it in their journal.” 

Anne and Harry had come over to Layla’s to get ready for the wedding. Anne needed help with draping her saree and Abi suggested that they get ready together, and Harry had just followed suit thinking he could hop in the shower to get a quickie in with Layla. But when he’d walked in, she was already sitting on the floor in her robe, doing her eyeshadow with her hair meticulously braided and pinned back.

“It seems like a lot to do with their deadline. We have to run the stats again,” he says, walking over to stand behind her, teasing his hair with his fingers and setting them in its place.

“They’ve given us a week. We just need to eliminate some outlier scores and run the t-test again. I don’t know why I didn’t catch on to the fact that the tests didn’t come out significant despite the difference with standard deviations,” she shakes her head, before dropping her brush and picking up an egg shaped sponge to blend out her blush.

“I was the one who ran those tests. I should have figured too,” he mumbles. They had woken up to an email from the publisher asking them to make a few corrections to the paper they had submitted. 

“It happens to the best of us,” Layla shrugs. 

“I have two shoots this week.” He grumbles.

“I’ll do it. If I focus, I can finish it in a day tops.” She spritzes her face with some setting spray, and fans her face with her hands. 

“That’s not fair to you. We’re coauthors.”

“I'm not gonna take away your credit or something,” she chuckles, twisting back to look up at him. 

“Do you not want me to do it with you?”

“I didn’t say that, Harry.”

“I feel like you did. You did this all the time in college, did you not? Work on group assignments yourself because Layla’s the smartest and professors worshipped the ground you walked on.”

“You’re turning this into a me problem,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes. “I offered to help. You don’t get to do that. Check yourself.” She gets up brushing past him, picking up the saree that she’d laid on the bed.

“Just tell me that I’m not smart enough, so you’d rather do it yourself,” he tells her. “Come on, Layla. You know you do.”

“I never said that, I’m sorry you feel that way. But none of what I said was intended to make myself seem smarter than you. I just didn’t want you to stretch yourself thin. I know you have a job and I didn’t want you to feel like it was your fault to fix.”

Harry takes a shaky breath in, “Sorry, it really fucked with my head that most of the edits were the parts that I did. I’ve had a long break from academia and I’m terrified that I’ve fallen off the wagon and I can’t get back up again.”

“Come here,” she pats the spot on the bed and Harry sits. Layla drops her saree and settles next to him. “I’m terrified that I won’t be able to get back into the groove too and I only took a year long break. You can’t think like that. You still update yourself with new research, you read books - cut yourself some slack, you haven’t finished undergrad yet. There was no one I hated more than Kothari because Research Methodology was the one class I had to work my ass off. My professor held my hand through the entire journey of my first ever paper. You’ve done so much all on your own. So, I’d say you’re smarter than me-”

“But you helped me,” Harry cuts her off. 

“I helped after you put in the hours to understand. You did a giant chunk of the heavy lifting. Don’t demean your work like that. This paper would not have existed if not for you, babe.” Layla squeezes his palm to provide reassurance.

Harry sighs but she continues. “It’s minor corrections and it’s a good thing. This is not a subpar journal where they publish anything that gets emailed to them. It’s one of the leading journals for behavioural science. Ecoanxiety is such a hot topic at the moment. We have an edge over other papers - we're looking at things from an earth science and mental health point of view. The fact that they gave us time to tweak stuff means they liked it enough to feature it in their next quarterly print.”

“You’re right. I just got too in my head…”

“That’s okay,” she tells him, leaning up to place a soft kiss on his cheek. “We’ll talk about it more when we get back.”

On cue, Vasanth pokes his head in the room after a sharp knock, looking at his niece and her boyfriend who were still in their clothes. “Kutti, why are you two not dressed? Aunty and Anne are almost done! You’re gonna make us late!”

“It’s a quarter to seven. Calm down, we have lots of time!”

“The ceremony starts at seven thirty, Layla! Get your ass up and put your clothes on,” he says, walking into the room, fully dressed holding one of his veshtis. “Go change in my room. Aunty is in there and will help, otherwise you’ll take forever.”

“Ugh! You need to chill. We’ve got forty five minutes-”

“No, we don’t! The drive to the venue takes twenty minutes-”

“Fine. I’ll go,” she grumbles, picking up the green silk fabric and walking out of the room.

Vasanth shakes his head mumbling to himself in Tamil. “Here,” he hands the gold fabric to Harry. “The straps have velcro on them, so it’s easy to wrap around.”

“Can you give me a hand, please?” Harry asks nervously, he watched a tutorial on YouTube but still was unsure on how the veshti was going to stay in place.

“Of course, Harry.” Vasanth locks the door as Harry heads to the bathroom to put on his boxers. 

 Harry wraps the cloth around his hips as Vasanth helps him tug and tuck it firmly into place. “There,” Vasanth says, stepping back to check if things look okay. “You can let go now, Harry.” He notes chuckling at the way Harry’s clutching their makeshift skirt to his body.

“Is it okay if I wear a belt?” Harry asks, eyes wide. “What if it comes undone?”

“Well it won’t unless you step on it but I think it’s better to be on the safe side. Mine did come undone once.”

“Really?”

“Yup. It was my first time wearing a veshti. It was at my cousin’s wedding and my Dad had helped.” He chuckles, shaking his head. 

“No way! Did you step on it?” Harry asks, lopping a belt around his waist and shimmying it down to the gold border.

“Layla did. She just started walking - it wasn't so much walking, it was more waddling. I remember it so well,” heat floods his face from the embarrassing memory that was etched into his brain. “I was laughing with my cousins at the back of the room. She was calling for me, squirming from her mothers arms and reaching for me. Her mother put her down and everyone’s eyes were on her because it was the first time the extended family got to see her walk. She managed to toddle all the way across to my feet but tripped on the carpet and came tumbling down. She managed to grip onto my veshti bringing it down with her.”

“Shit,” Harry says, pursing his lips to hold his laughter back.

“You can laugh,” Vasanth says. “I’d managed to hold onto it before I flashed my underwear to everyone. No one cared though, they were busy tending to her crying. My cousins never let me live it down though. One even managed to film it.”

Vasanth noted that Harry skipped the matching gold silk shirt of his and had buttoned on a satin green shirt. Harry gave him a shy smile and told him that he’d wanted to match Layla. The master walk in closet was filled with giggles and the strong scent of hairspray for it being very early in the morning. When the boys walked in to hurry them along, Harry caught Layla pinning jasmine onto his mother’s hair. She was wearing the same outfit from Vasanth’s wedding -  sans the heavy jewellery, it made Vasanth sigh wistfully thinking how quickly years flew by. Vasanth had hurried over to his wife, kneeling down to help her fix her saree pleats, and to help slip on her wedges. Abi had clipped on a nose ring on Layla that she pulled off in minutes, saying it made her feel like she was about to sneeze. Harry and Layla had even managed to sneak into her room and recreate the Gucci and Crocs pose - one of Layla sitting on his lap, Harry’s hands looped around her waist as Layla cradles his face smushing their noses together. By seven fifteen, everyone was ready and was herded into the car by Vasanth, they’d made their way to the venue. 

////

The bright orange and yellow leaves had been replaced with barren branches. Everywhere Layla looked had small mountains of dried leaves piled in the corner of people’s yard. The days were becoming shorter and colder. The temperature in the evenings dipped down to a four and two and Layla was learning to adapt to it. There were patches in her face, where the skin felt stretched thin and started to hyperpigment, Abi had given her one of her heavy duty moisturisers to help curb it. Layla had been begrudgingly using the thick cream on her face, cursing her water like gel moisturisers for not being occlusive enough. The plunge of the temperature also came with Layla complaining that the heating was not enough for her at night. Instead of turning the thermostat high to warm up the whole house, Vasanth purchased a portable heater that she religiously plugged in, next to her bed, at night. 

On the other hand Layla was delighted to drink soup almost everyday. She had access to many cuisines here than she did back home, so this particular afternoon, she had ordered a tub of Tarhana Çorbası and vegan shawarmas for Harry and Earl. Harry had popped in the For Emma, Forever Ago vinyl - he’d picked up earlier that day from the store - on the record player, and the croons of Creature Fear filled up the room. 

“So, he made this album by himself in a cabin in the middle of nowhere?” Earl asks Harry.

“Uh huh, he got his heart broken and moved to his father's cabin in the middle of winter and wrote this to help himself heal,” Harry replies, spooning some soup into his mouth.

The two were in deep discussion for the past hour, and Layla was happy to sit back - wrapped in a fluffy throw - listening to the two talk animatedly about the arrangements, the use of stripped back production and how the scratches in the recording added a level of intimacy. 

“That’s not entirely true,” Layla chirps in.

“So Emma is not his girlfriend?” Harry asks.

“I think she is but Justin Vernon said that it was more of a headspace. The pain one gets stuck in.” Layla picks up the oyster mushroom that had slipped out on the plate from her roll and pops it into her mouth.

“Interesting,” Earl says, reaching forward to grab a glass of water. “The lyrics are very vague. Hard to discern.”

“Layla has all sorts of theories. She was the one who introduced Bon Iver to me. She’ll ramble for hours.”

Layla laughs. “I only went on a deep dive for re:Stacks. It is such a sad song-”

“I don’t think it is. I think it’s a very hopeful one,” Harry cuts her off, cheeks staining a deep red as he remembers their moments of passion in the backseat of his car.

“I disagree. I think it’s of him finally making his peace with sadness and acknowledging that it will always be a part of him. But I can see how it could be hopeful as well.”

“Isn’t that hopeful, Layla. Coming to terms with distress?” Earl asks, scratching his brow.

Layla brows furrow when she notices Harry’s lips move downward in a frown but doesn’t linger on it, turning her attention to Earl.

“Again art is subjective and this is my two cents, but I don’t think sadness passes nor does grief. Speaking from experience, it’s like a tidal wave at first consuming every cell in your body. You get pulled in by the current and when you manage to break through to the surface and take a breath, everything is wonderful and then after sometime there’s another wave. And I think that’s how it is until one day the waves become weaker and you’re becoming better at paddling away. It doesn’t mean the waves aren’t there and it won’t pull you under if you stop paddling,” she explains.

“You can swim to an island. Just saying,” he shrugs. “Some people choose to be in the water, almost like they want to romanticise suffering.”

Are you implying that I do that? Is the question Layla wanted to ask but she holds back, settling on arching her eyebrow at him instead. “I suppose, but swimming takes up a lot of courage. Just food for thought. The island thing makes sense too.”

Earl clears his throat. “There’s no wrong answers in art. How far along are you with the edits on your paper?” 

“We’re almost done. Just a few more hours,” Harry says.

The two tell him more about their paper, and Layla tells him that this is her first paper where the coauthor is not one of her professors. Earl lets Harry and Layla know that he’s proud of them and that he has a bottle of champagne in his fridge they’d open once it’s their paper gets published. The conversation turns to the wedding and Layla explains some of the traditions that happened in the ceremony for Earl, using Google to confirm certain things. When they’re done eating, Layla throws their takeout containers in the trash as Harry loads up the plates and cutlery into the dishwasher. Earl hands his wife’s cookbook to Layla and she quickly takes a snap of the Crawfish Étouffée recipe she wanted to try out for dinner. Harry runs to the loo before they head out to the post office as Layla heads over to the living room and slings her tote - one with the three paintings that she needed to ship - over her shoulder. 

 “Shopping?” Layla asks, handing over the green Gucci bag that he’d asked her to get from his office.

“Yes but not for me. It’s for Harry.”

“Cute,” she chuckles. “You already wormed his way into his heart with Gucci.”

“Harold,” Earl calls out, when he hears the flush in the bathroom.

Harry saunters into the kitchen island, looking at the two with expectant eyes. “Hmm?”

“I know I bought Layla tickets to Disney as a thank you for helping out, so I thought I’d treat you too.”

“You did. The trip to Disney World. I’m going too,” he shrugs, looking over to Layla wordlessly asking her what he had up his sleeve.

“Yeah but I still wanted to get you something. Here,” Earl hands the sage green bag over to him. 

“Gucci? Uh… thank you. This must have been so expensive,” he says, looking into the bag.

“It’s not like I’m taking my money to the afterlife. Open it, will you,” Earl urges.

Harry pulls out the small box in the bag and undoes the white bow. His eyes bug out of his head when he pulls the lid off, and bites down on his bottom lip to keep himself composed.

“It’s a charm. I didn’t know what to get, so I’d settled on the one fruit you beeline to when you visit me,” Earl explains. “I’m not familiar with jewellery. Hell, I hadn’t bought one since my wife passed. But you pull them off so well and -” he’s interrupted by Harry’s snickering.

“Harry, stop laughing! You’re being very rude,” Layla says and Harry bursts out laughing, hand coming to clutch his peck as his green eyes disappear behind the crinkles, dimples stretching out as the two blocky front teeth make their full appearance.

He wordlessly pushes the box over to her and she sneaks a peak and starts giggling along with him. “Earl! It’s a-” she breaks out in a cough, which only seems to spur on their laughter. “That’s not a ban-” Harry howls, wiping down the tears that escape from his eyes.

Earl picks up the luxurious box that Layla had abandoned on the counter, and squints to get a better look at it. It was an oxidised silver charm, with a pop of yellow for the peel. It looked like an ordinary banana, he didn’t get why the two were on the hunched over his counter gleefully giggling.

“Glasses,” Layla manages to get out. “Please put them on,” she barks out.

He slides the pair that was hanging off the pocket of his shirt and pushes it up the bridge of his nose. The tiny charm comes into focus again, and this time he notices the subtle grove at the tip of the fruit, and it was something he hadn’t noticed while he was ordering from his computer screen because he didn’t have his glasses on. Instead of it being an innocent gift, it  had turned out to be a phallic symbol. “Oh dear,” he mutters feeling the heat flood his face.

“It’s a penis,” Layla snickers.

“No. No. A banana penis!” Harry chakles. 

“We can return it,” Earl says. “We could get something else. There was this ring-”

“No returns! I l want my banana penis!” Harry interrupts, taking the charm and sliding it on the chain with Layla’s help, adjusting it until the banana penis proudly hangs in front of the gold cross against his chest.  

////

Despite a thick duvet covering the two of them, Layla had the air conditioner turned on in the home theatre room in fear that the PlayStation would overheat and explode. It wasn’t an irrational fear, but the whizzing of the fan got noticeably louder with each passing hour as she played. But the machine had quietened down when she’d turned on The Blair Witch Project. The DualShock no longer had a blue glow it did settling into nothing as it powered down after several minutes of inactivity. 

Harry was splayed out on top of her, quietly snoring into the crook of her neck, nestling in between her breasts as one of his hands clutched the material of her ratty tshirt. He’d strolled into the home theatre room late afternoon in a hoodie and the tiniest shorts and flopped on top of her grumbling about taxes. She’d  pulled up the movie on her console to help him unwind, only to find him out cold forty minutes in. She wonders if it’s due to exhaustion or if he was freaked out. Mitch had  told her found footage horror gives Harry the ‘heebie jeebies,’ when they were watching Paranormal Activity on FaceTime - where he snoozed through the second half of the film. She wonders if it’s a way to get out of watching the movie; she rarely ever woke him up and he ended up blissfully unaware.  

When the infamous scene with an up the snotty nostril shot of one filmmakers, her phone repeatedly buzzes. She squints at the display, eye slowly adjusting to the bright screen from the dull cast of the projector, to find that it was a group FaceTime request and it doesn’t take long for her thumb to swipe across the screen. Her friends’ face beams from the rectangular squares echoing a varied response of hellos. 

“Wassup wassup?” Layla says quietly, reaching for her controller to pause the movie. 

“Are you sleeping? We can barely see your face right now,”  Heidi says. 

“Why are you whispering?” Grace asks. 

“Was watching a movie and someone’s fast asleep,��� she replies, tapping the button to flip the camera to show them the brown locks of Harry’s crown. She flips it back to her face soon after, the free hand that’s not propping up her phone slithers inside the hem of his T-shirt to draw aimless teardrops down the skin of his back. 

“She’s such a hypocrite,” Ramya shakes her head. “She’s such a snob about watching movies with us and her boyfriend gets to droll all on her when the movie’s playing.”

“I’m not a -”

“You are!” Susan cackled. “You kept shushing us every five minutes when we watched It at Sathyam.”

“You all were making jokes from the minute it started. It ruined my immersion,” she shrugs. 

“You and your immersion. You ruined clowns and the circus for me, you fucker.” Heidi flips her off. 

“Why did you come to the movie about a murdering clown then?”

“Shut up,” Heidi sticks her tongue out at her.

“I guess taking sexy pictures and posting them online is laborious,” Ramya comments at Harry snoozing away.

“Okay. That’s enough,” Layla’s eyes narrow.

“It was a joke! Not judging,” Ramya throws her hands up.

“He actually works hard, which is wild to me because I thought OnlyFans was the easiest thing to do. Like he works out everyday because he feels like he needs to because people are paying him to look a certain way, and then there’s the planning of the shoot and the editing. The editing takes forever,” Layla sighs. “He was telling me yesterday that there was this user who was being demanding with him, that it crossed a lot of boundaries.”

“Can’t he just block them?” Grace asks.

“It’s not that easy. This dude has been tipping him - quite generously - and been a subscriber for a while now, so if he did block him, he’d have to give back all the money he’d ever sent to him.”

“That fucking sucks! That’s the site’s policy? I assumed for it being one of the main platforms of adult entertainment, they’d have more stuff in place to protect the creators,” Susan sighs.

“Yeah. I read some of the messages and it’s scary but he’s dealing with it. This is not his first time, apparently.”

“How long does he see himself doing this?” Grace asks.

“I don’t know. He started it to not be financially dependent on his mum after the move. And education is fucking expensive here, unless you get a good scholarship - which I am sure he would. But he likes doing it, I think. His shoots are quite creative and I think he likes the idea of expressing himself…so I don’t know,” Layla shrugs.

“Did he manage to save up? Or..” Ramya trails off.

“Oh yeah. He’s managed to save up quite a bit. His closet has a good chunk of designer stuff - Gucci especially. He owns a two bedroom flat in London that he rents to his friends. He drives around in a fucking Range Rover. He gets me expensive things… He has an accountant and all. He had a meeting with him earlier this afternoon. I think they have to file taxes in two months, so he was talking about W2 or 1040 or something. He’s rich. Scrooge McDuck rich. Richer than all of us,” Layla whispers, emphasizing the last part. Right before he’d flopped on her - tired from his meeting - he'd told her that he’d got a great return from the IRS.

“Speak for yourself,” Heidi chuckles. “I just saved up all my money from Wollys and invested in three gold biscuits.”

“You never told us,” Grace says.

“Yeah and I live with you!” Susan accuses.

“Appa (Dad), sends me money every month anyway for everything. So I saved up all my Wollys money and asked Appa what’s the best way to freeze it because with each passing day I just wanted to spend it, so he’d bought gold biscuits.”

“Next time you decide to be all wise, let us know, so we’d make sound finance decisions too. I was just gonna put all the money the college is paying me in the bank,” Layla says.

“I managed to save two lakhs from my alary and I put it in a fixed deposit,” Ramya says.

“I haven’t even thought of how I am going to save,” Grace says. “And I get paid next week.”

“Next week?”

“Oh yeah, Susan, I get paid bimonthly.”

“How was your first week at your first proper job?” Layla inquires. 

“Fun. Scary. Felt like a proper imposter the entire day. Especially the first day when my manager was showing me around and telling me about all the departments, I was like what the fuck am I doing here with all these smart people.” Grace replies, “Especially since I was the youngest. The clothes helped a bit. Thank you for that by the way.”

They had got on a call three weeks ago to help Grace decide on her best officey outfits, what to keep and what to return. Layla had been no help half asleep in the middle of the night telling her that she’ll look great as long as everything was black. 

“Did anyone compliment your outfit?” Ramya asks. 

“Nope. They all wear jeans and T-shirts. My manager was wearing ripped jeans when she was showing me around. I was told by my coworkers that it’s casual unless they have to be in a meeting with a third party. So I’m glad I only kept three outfits and returned the rest.

“But I’m still figuring out what I’m doing and the office culture and all that but with each passing day, I surprisingly handle it,” Grace tells them. 

“Alright! That’s how you kick ass! Watch out New Zealand government, Grace is coming!” Heidi exclaims. 

“Speaking of kicking ass at the workplace,” Susan says, “Ramya here looked so much like a teacher on her story yesterday!” 

“Oh my god, yes! That kaajal bleeding down and smeared, and her hair in that unflattering bun,” Grace agrees. 

“That bindi and her jhumkas. Everything was so perfect!” Heidi chimes. 

“Yes, I’m so glad that you find my underpaid, overworked teacher at an NGO look hot,” Ramya says dryly. “Now stop flirting with me.”

“Don’t be like that! I need you to teach me a lesson, mommy,” Layla teases. 

“You’ll be a good girl now, won’t you?” Ramya giggles. 

“Yes. I. Will.” Layla says without missing a beat, making everyone crack up. 

They ask Ramya what her plans are for her birthday and she tells them that she’s planning to take off from work that day to try and sleep in, go out for lunch with her parents and brother, and head to a slam poetry event she was performing at. When asked why she didn’t want a party, Ramya told them that she would most likely go to some afterparty thing at one of the performers houses - parties with those types of crowd were invariably filled with cigarettes, tetra packs of Old Monk Rum, plastic bottles of coke, and  one person pulling out a guitar to sing along. Layla despised that crowd but she did go to one of those after parties once on Ramya’s insistence, only to book it home thirty minutes later - when her wheezing flared up from the incessant huff of tobacco smoke of the crowd -  after her mother’s face lit up her phone screen and three texts from her father. She was eternally grateful for having the world's strictest parents that day. Meghna and Ramya had officially parted ways, Meghna didn’t want to get into a relationship with someone who didn’t want to be with just her and Ramya respected that. She had been dealing with the heartbreak better than what Layla and her friends anticipated. They’ve chalked it up to all those videos that Ramya had sent of them detailing the tantric sex escapades she’s been having with Krishna - who was tagging along with Ramya to the afterparty. Layla sniggered while watching them before agreeing with everyone that all of Ramya’s hippie dreams are materialising with her new girlfriend.

“Guys please tell Heidi to stop making friends with the men I bring home,” Susan exasperatedly groans. 

“Excuse me?!? Fuck you! What do you expect me to do when there’s a man standing in his ஜெட்டி (boxers) in my kitchen early in the morning?” Heidi counters. 

Layla sucks in her lips to keep herself from laughing at the two, but Ramya and Grace giggle.

“You need to stop Heidi,” Grace says, “It makes it harder to boot them to the curb.”

“I thought you didn't bring boys home. You usually go to theirs and slip out no?” Ramya asks.

“I did but this boy-”

“Okay! I’m gonna tell them!” Heidi cuts Susan off.

“Don’t you dare bitch!”

“She’s bonded with this boy,” Heidi whispers to her friends, like Susan wasn’t on the call and in the room right next to hers.

“I have not!” Susan vehemently shakes his head.

“You don’t bond with anyone!” Grace whisper screams. “How?”

“Because he-” Heidi stops bursting into a fit of laughter.

“What?” Layla, Ramya, and Grace all ask in unison.

“It’s nothing,” Susan insists.

“It’s not n-noth-nothing,” Heidi manages to sputter between bouts of giggles. 

“Tell us!” Ramya insists.

Heidi takes her glasses off to wipe the tears that have streamed down her cheeks. “Last week-”

“You promised not to tell!” Susan says.

“Don’t listen to her. Tell us!” Layla urges Heidi.

“So, Susan was doing it with his guy last week and I get a call at like one in the morning-”

“I swear to God,” Susan groans, hurrying up from the bed, leaving her phone to flop over and have the camera point to the white popcorn ceiling. Three seconds later, they see Heidi’s door burst open to have Susan stomping over and Heidi’s camera frame shakes as a squabble breaks out in Tamil.

“They were fucking so hard and he managed to yank her earring and split her earlobe in two!” Heidi howls in laughter and Susan smacks her shoulder, cursing her.

“Aiyo! Christ!” Layla gasps.

“Fuck! Are you okay?” Grace asks concerned.

“How did it even happen?” Ramya implores. 

“I made her promise not to tell,” Susan mumbles, falling onto Heidi’s mattress in defeat.

“Why not? It’s just us,” Ramya says.

“It’s embarrassing! People in the emergency room were laughing,” Heidi snorts. 

Susan lifts her hair up and out of her face to show them her right ear lobe, which now had a white bandage taped over it. “It doesn’t hurt. Had to get my lobe sewed together though. The doctors said they’ll take out the stitches in a few days and I can wear earrings after it fully heals. It happened so fast. We were doing it hard and fast doggy style and I think he bent over to pull me up or to grab onto my hair - anyway and the next minute there was blood and he had my hoop in his hand. Safety tip from now, if you’re wearing big earrings, especially hoops, take them off before you have sex,” she mumbles sheepishly.

“I had to go to the emergency room and thank fuck for insurance but after I knew that she was okay, I laughed for like ten minutes, because I thought she was dying or something,” Heidi explains.

“I wish I did. It was mortifying,” Susan buries her face in her hands. 

“Ever since then, the dude’s come over a lot since then and he's also Tamil and likes Vijay movies, so my friendship with him  was instantaneous,” Heidi shrugs.

“A man with a fine taste,” Layla agrees. “I’m with Heidi on this one. Anyone who’s a fan of Vijay is an automatic friend.” 

Susan rolls her eyes, when Grace beats her before she says something, “Is he feeling guilty? Is that why he’s coming around?”

“He is definitely guilty but we just sit and watch 80's Tamil movies together now.”

“Who knew that ripping Susan’s earlobe in half was all it took to ignite some type of feels,” Ramya chuckles. “What happened to that white British boy you were hooking up with from your class?”

“Oh, he’s been avoiding me like the plague because he insisted on anal and I told him it’s only fair that I get to do it to him before he does it to me,” Susan shrugs. “I think it’s a fair trade.”

“It totally is. Dudes should know what the experience is like. Jake has been trying to do anal with me  for like three months now and I can just about tolerate the second biggest buttplug,” Grace says. 

“And you don’t wanna?” Layla raises her brow. 

“God no. I like giving up the reins when I’m having sex. Like the bed is the only place when I love being submissive.”

“I don’t think I’d survive being with someone who owns a penis,” Ramya grimaces. “I don’t know how you all do it.”

“What’s their obsession with putting it up your colon? Like is the one designated hole not enough for you?” Heidi rolls her eyes.

“I have no clue either. But I think Layla and I are on the right track with these Brits though,” Susan says.

“What track might that be?” Layla questions.

“Colonising the colonisers,” Susan’s eyes glint mischievously, and everyone bursts out laughing. 

“Colonising the colonisers,” Layla repeats her pun, shaking her head as she snorts and guffaws. Harry startles awake from the way her body convulses beneath him.

“Wha’?” He blinks lazily, propping himself up to look around.

“I’m sorry, babe. Susan said something funny. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she softly says, cradling his face, cooing as she gets him back on her chest. 

“Huh,” Harry lets out a small sound, eyes already drifting shut from the way Layla’s fingers move his hair away from his eyes, and the lazy scratches, from blunt nails of her other hand, down his back. 

“It’s okay. Go back to sleep, Har. It’s alright.” She lulls him back, waiting for a few moments after his breathing evens out before picking up her phone to find her friends pouting.

“Who knew you could be so gentle,” Grace teases.

“Can you come put me to sleep like that?” Heidi chuckles.

“Okay. Okay. Shut up.” Layla rolls her eyes. “I’ve become a softie. Let’s move on.”

“How does it feel to have a buttplug in your bum?” Ramya asks Grace. “How do the logistics work?”

//// 

Deepavali in Chicago looked vastly different from Deepavali back home in India. If Layla was with her parents, then the entire house would be in shambles - cardboard boxes everywhere, piles of old books, newspapers, and clothes to give away. Her mother scrubbing every crevice of the house, her father up in the lofts demanding that Layla hold on to the step ladder so he could get down. Her grandmother vigorously sifting rice flour and prepping to make poli, achumuruku and thattu vadai to gift friends and family. Her grandfather calling her every three hours asking her what firecrackers she wants from the shops, even if it’s been years since she had the desire to light up a sparkler. Distant sounds of boom and a gleeful laugh of children echo from the street on the days leading up to the day, praying out to the gods to part the grey clouds for sunshine, so they can burst all the new crackers they’ve stashed away.

Layla had chalked up Deepavali at Apex to be more of the same with the neighbours and the throng of Indians her Uncle and Aunt were friends with; she'd even imagined lighting up a sparkler with Harry in the evening. Her notion of an almost homey celebration was dispelled the minute Vasanth had told her they were leaving for Chicago to celebrate with Senthil, his first cousin. They’d initially planned to pop over to Layla’s other Uncle’s after the New Years but that quickly fell through when her flights got preponed a week. So, they packed their bags and flew over to spend four days with Senthil. 

His two bedroom flat was sparsely decorated, the grey walls had nothing lively bouncing from them to permeate guests with warmth. Layla tutted with disappointment when she walked into his bedroom to find him still sleeping on a blowup mattress. 

“You’ve been here for ten months and you didn’t have time to buy a bed?” She’d asked him. 

“I sleep in the hospital, kutti. You think I have time to come home, much less decorate it,” Senthil reminded her. He moved to the States for a three year foetal and neonatal surgery program at Leurie’s. 

Being the youngest of the cousins, Senthil practically was closer to Layla’s age. So, when he’d taken Layla, Vasanth, and Abi to see the lit up trees at the zoo their first day of visiting, he begged Layla not to call him Uncle in front of his friends. But Layla being Layla came up to him as he was waving his friends off, “Can we head to the gift shop and get the giraffe soft toy, Uncle?” She tugged at the end of his coat sleeve, giving him and his friends her sweetest of smiles. 

When his friends’ brows dipped, gazes moving to and fro from Layla to him, “I became an Uncle when I was seven,” he muttered sheepishly, readjusting the scarf around his neck. 

When they’d left, he locked his arm around her neck, yanking her to him to twist her ear. “Happy now, குட்டிச்சாத்தான் (demon baby)? Come I’ll get you your toy,” he rolls his eyes, walking in the direction of the gift shop.

“I don’t care for one,” she giggled. “Just wanted your friends to know that you have a grown ass niece.” She shrieked, running towards Vasanth and Abi for cover when Senthil chased after. 

Deepavali morning consisted in all of them bundling up heading to the Chicago Bean and bimbling around the neighbourhood, in the early hours. Grey clouds and sticky skin was replaced with biting frigid wind and pink noses. They started on making lunch - or a very late breakfast - getting on FaceTime calls with Layla’s mum and grandmother to guide them along in making the dishes, so they’d taste like they were cooked back home. This Deepavali was quieter, less about celebration but more of enjoying each other’s presence. Layla could not remember the last time she did that with the people back home. Layla was grateful that she wasn’t given the lecture of why paying respects to the Gods is vital from her parents and grandparents and disapproving of her atheism. As much as Chicago’s Deepavali was distinctive from the one’s she’d had back home, she finds herself missing the chaos and fanfare of Chennai. 

“So you’re not going to be a clinician and practice?” Senthil asks, peeping at Layla’s laptop screen; she was filling out applications for schools.

“I didn’t enjoy my clinical or counselling internships. The fun ended right after I figured out the diagnosis. I’d much rather work behind the scenes, plus it’s not like I won’t get to use my psychotherapy skills in research, especially with participants.”

Vasanth turns around walking towards the two, with a ceramic bowl in hand. “Admissions have started ah?”

“Yeah. They have been for the past week. Already done applying to University of Boston and UMass. Thought I’d apply for Northwestern when I’m in Illinois.” She picks up the bowl from Vasanth, and starts mixing the hung curd, honey, and turmeric into a paste with the spoon.

“We’d be so close! Northwestern is like thirty minutes from here!” Senthil exclaims, adjusting the flimsy plastic shower cap on his head. “I could drop you off everyday.”

Layla laughs, noting the way Vasanth frowns at the corner of her eye. “Don’t go making plans yet. It’s a private uni and it depends on my stipend and fee waiver.”

“Yeah and you're heading back to India in two years, so she’d have to look for apartments smack in the middle of her doctorate when your fellowship is done,” Vasanth reminds him

“Or she can just stay here and find a flatmate,” Senthil tells him. “Four more applications to go. Deadline’s the first of December. Seems like you got this,” he pinches her cheeks, before grabbing the television remote. 

When Abi keys into the apartment, with a plastic bag containing all the ingredients they need to make Mysore Pak, the sight in front of her cracks her up. She had all but popped over to Trader Joes for two hours and was mystified about the things that transpired in that short time span. Senthil had a transparent shower cap on and Abi could make out the slick paste of black hair dye underneath. Vasanth had his hair pushed back in one of her hairbands and had a thick goop of pastel yellow paste spread evenly on his face and neck. Layla’s hair was oiled, tied into a braid with her bangs clipped away and donned the same yellow mask on her face as her Uncle. Abi’s sure this is all her niece’s handiwork; she had a knack of making her Uncles bow down to her whims. The three were dancing in the middle of the living room rapping Madai Thirandhu from the noughties. 

////

Harry refreshes his inbox again, maybe his MacBook was glitching. He rubs the sleep away from his drowsy eyes, making sure his brain wasn’t playing tricks on him. Maybe it was just a dream, the kind that starts out with rolling out of the bed with unruly hair, reaching over to his pen and journal from his nightstand, and being distracted by a chime from his laptop. 

A notification pops up on the top right of his screen signaling that Layla had sent him an image, he clicks on the text instead opening up his iMessenger screen to a selfie of Layla standing underneath the Chicago bean. Her hair was up in a ponytail, bangs pushed to the side, her face being swallowed by a fuzzy red scarf as she winked at the camera.

Layla: happy deepavali from the bean!

Harry: Morning Morning! How’s the celebration coming along?

Layla: we’re just planning to eat until our stomachs are ready to pop. oh and senthil uncle says hi!

Senthil had swiped through Layla’s photos from her trip to Wilmington as she was animatedly talking about her much needed beach day. He found the picture of Harry making kissy faces at the camera on the oyster boat, and Layla immediately snatched the phone away as a knee jerk reaction. He’d laughed when she went teary eyed beseeching him to not tell anyone in India. Senthil was surprisingly cool with it, but it didn’t mean that Layla was spared from the lecture about relationships and responsibility.

Harry: Hello to Senthil Uncle! He’s the one who was in fourth grade when you were born right?

Layla: affirmative. miss you lots 🙁

Harry: We FaceTimed last night, remember? 

His face floods a wash of pink recalling their desperate whines and lewd grunts as they helped each other relieve themselves. He went to bed with a dopey smile on his face when he’d pressed the red button wishing her happy dreams.

Layla: how could i forget… made me lose my bearings from 800 miles away 👀

Harry: And don’t you forget it!

Layla: i’m being shouted at… gtg. see you tomorrow morning! i bloody love you babe 😘  

Harry: Love you too Lails!

He closes the program to be met with his inbox again. Letting out a heavy sigh, he opens the email again frowning when it doesn’t change. As eyes scan the words ‘Dear Mr. Styles,” his stomach churns knowing what's coming next but before he could read it again, he’s gunning it to the toilet slapping a hand over his mouth. 

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK SO FAR!

[maybeimamuppet]

matildamas day 12: christmas eve

hello everyone!! happy christmas eve to all of you who celebrate and welcome to the last chapter of the 12 days of matildamas! it’s been an absolute delight seeing all of your reactions to these each day. thank you so much for all the kind words in your comments and every vote/kudos/like/reblog and all those wonderful things. they’re definitely the best gift i’ll get this christmas :))

tw for

discussion over the reality of santa

mentioned previous abuse

mentioned death

otherwise please enjoy the last day and merry christmas!!

—————

“Mummy?”

“Yes, lamb?” Jenny responds.

“Is Santa Claus real?” Matilda asks softly. Jenny pauses.

“What do you think?” she responds softly before she continues fiddling with the tinsel on the tree. Matilda ponders this.

“I don’t think so. I wasn’t always nice, but I don’t think I ever warranted a spot on the naughty list, and I still never got anything from him. And it doesn’t seem possible for a single person to be able to fly ‘round the whole world in just a night, even if he is magic. And accounting for time zones,” Matilda says. She frowns a bit and adds, “But I did have telekinesis.”

Jenny laughs and sits on the couch, beckoning her over. Matilda sits next to her and leans into her side. Jenny gently rubs up and down Matilda’s arm as she explains.

“You’re right, he’s not real in the way we usually think. There’s no magical man in a red suit who flies around with reindeer. That’s just an old tradition from a few different cultures that we keep going for fun, and to entertain children. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not real.”

“What do you mean?” Matilda asks, looking up at her.

“Well, what does Santa Claus do?” Jenny asks.

“He… delivers gifts to well-behaved children,” Matilda explains. “And eats cookies.”

“Exactly. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think you have to be magical and wear a silly costume to be able to do those things. Santa is all about the spirit of Christmas, and there’s plenty of things you can do that make you the real, live Santa Claus. Giving gifts to friends, enjoying some special holiday treats, being kind to people you meet and spreading joy. Spending time with family. All that is what Santa is about. So whenever you do those things, you’re sort of like Santa Claus, in a way.”

“Oh,” Matilda says with a soft smile. “I like that.”

“I like it too,” Jenny says with a grin. “Now, what do you say we channel our inner Santa and eat some of these cookies we made, hm?”

Matilda nods eagerly and goes rushing off to the kitchen to fetch the container. Jenny chuckles and follows her.

—————

Mrs. Phelps joins them for a lovely Christmas Eve dinner. Mrs. Phelps doesn’t celebrate Christmas herself, and Matilda is delighted to learn all about the Diwali traditions she’s recovering from preparing with her family last month. She invites them to join next year, and Jenny has to admit she’s only slightly less excited than Matilda, who starts dancing in her chair and nearly falls.

“You’re more than welcome to join us for Christmas dinner again next year as well,” Jenny says, selfishly hoping she agrees.

“I’d be delighted,” Mrs. Phelps replies. Jenny smiles sheepishly down at her ham and mashed potatoes, and gives a warning glare in response to Matilda’s smirk across the table.

Once their bellies are all stuffed, Mrs. Phelps very kindly helps with the washing up and gives them their Christmas gifts. Matilda excitedly hands over hers (a very nice new lemonade pitcher) and Jenny’s (some of her favorite books as donations to the library bus) as well.

“Merry Christmas!” Matilda says as they wave Mrs. Phelps goodbye in the cold night. She replies in kind and waves until she’s out of sight.

“Alright, my little elf, bath time for you,” Jenny says, hugging Matilda tight before sending her up the stairs and closing the door to block out the chill.

“Will you help?” Matilda asks quietly from the top. Jenny smiles and follows her upstairs.

“Of course.”

She runs some warm water into the tub and plugs the drain, before adding in some gingerbread scented bubbles and folding Matilda’s towel and pajamas on the counter to wait for her so she won’t get chilly when she gets out. Matilda smiles as she sees the foam rising from the tub and carefully slips off her Christmas dress. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, love. I’ll be downstairs, give a shout if you need anything,” Jenny responds, kissing Matilda’s forehead.

“I will,” Matilda says. Jenny smiles and leaves her to her bath in privacy.

—-

Matilda comes downstairs after about an hour, clean and dry in her jammies and smelling absolutely delightful. “All clean?”

Matilda nods happily and plops herself on the ground at Jenny’s feet. Jenny chuckles and reaches for the hairbrush and comb. She pretends to complain, but this is secretly one of her favorite parts of having a daughter. Getting to do this little thing to help the very mature six-year-old care for herself.

She tenderly brushes all the knots out of Matilda’s damp hair and twists it into a braid down her back. Matilda tips her head up once she hears the small rubber band snap into place. “Thank you.”

Jenny chuckles, leaning down to kiss her nose. Matilda scrunches it with a giggle. “You’re very welcome. I’m off for my shower, and then maybe we should get a nice fire going?”

“Oh, yes please,” Matilda says, moving so Jenny can stand.

“Sounds like a plan,” Jenny says. “Just wait ‘til I get back, please.”

“I will!” Matilda says in exasperation, grabbing a book from the shelf to keep herself occupied in the meantime.

“I mean it.”

“I know,” Matilda says. Jenny almost gives her a talking to for the eye roll she uses to accompany the words, but Matilda’s loving smile as she peeks at her over her book undoes anything Jenny was feeling.

“Cheeky. Back in a tick,” she says. Matilda nods and tucks in to her book. Jenny grabs a soft towel from the linen closet and heads into the bathroom herself.

Her hair doesn’t need washing today, so she tucks it delicately beneath a waterproof cap as she slips off her clothes. She turns the water on and waits for it to warm, smelling the lingering aroma of Matilda’s gingerbread bubbles. She hums to herself as she reads the bottle and sees it doubles as body wash. Sold.

She lets out a relieved sigh as she steps in and the hot water runs over her skin, melting all the stresses of the holiday season away with it. She rolls out her shoulders and her neck to get rid of some tension and just stands there for a minute.

Jenny knows she didn’t have to push herself this hard to make Christmas magical for Matilda. She wanted to. She may have gone a little bit overboard, but it is Matilda’s first Christmas. She thinks. She hasn’t actually asked what Christmas was like for Matilda before, but Matilda’s said some things that lead her to believe it was never a very jolly time.

She bought and made tons of presents, enough to spread well away from the tree and a few boxes tall. She wrapped them as neatly as she could manage in pretty paper and shiny bags, with ribbons and bows and glittery tissue paper adorning them.

They’ve made no fewer than six batches of cookies and eaten them all before the day was out, and made handmade decorations. They spent all day playing in the snow together earlier in the month, and had some delicious hot chocolate to warm up afterwards. They put up and decorated the tree together, and made a cracking Christmas Eve dinner, if Jenny does say so herself.

But most of all, they’ve spent the time together. They did everything together. Usually one of them or the other is busy with school or friends or other commitments, and although they make it a priority, they haven’t had this much time to spend just with one another in a very long time.

And it’s been wonderful.

Getting to spend so much time one-on-one with her has reminded Jenny just how bright Matilda truly is. She’s brilliant, and she’s funny, and rambunctious and mischievous and sweet and loving and everything Jenny could possibly want for her daughter to be.

And Matilda is hers.

Jenny scrubs herself clean with the gingerbread body wash and rinses quickly, before toweling herself dry and changing into her own pajamas as quickly as she can so she can rejoin her daughter downstairs.

Matilda looks up at her as she hears her creaking down the stairs, already a solid third of the way through her thick book. “Hi.”

“Hello,” Jenny responds. “How’s the book?”

“It’s different in English,” Matilda responds, sounding neither pleased nor upset about it. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Hm. Well, you’ll have to let me know if it’s a good or bad different once you finish it,” Jenny says. Matilda puts Tolstoy to the side and sits up, looking curiously at Jenny.

“Are we making a fire now?”

“I did say that, didn’t I?” Jenny chuckles. “Little pyromaniac.”

“You brought it up!” Matilda defends. Jenny laughs and beckons her over for a hug.

“I did. It’ll be nice once we get it going, but we have to brave the outdoors to get the wood,” she says. Matilda slumps a bit against her, and Jenny laughs again.

They both put their slippers on and look at each other. Jenny nods, and Matilda undoes the lock and pulls the door open. They run out onto the porch and around to the side of the house where the wood pile sits, squealing at the cold and the damp of the snow. They grab as many logs as they can carry before running back inside and slamming the door shut behind them, bursting into peals of laughter.

They didn’t get much, but they got enough wood to have a nice fire going for at least a few hours. They deposit their logs by the fireplace in the living room. Matilda watches curiously as Jenny stacks them inside, looking to see how she does it.

“Would you like to light the match?” Jenny asks knowingly. Matilda nods happily and scoots closer. Jenny is nearby to prevent a disaster, but she knows she probably would do worse at it than Matilda.

It takes a few tries, some fanning, and some encouraging words, but eventually they have a roaring fire and close the little grate so they can feel the warmth without getting the carpet covered in ash.

They sit back, on the ground and against the sofa, both looking proudly at their creation. Matilda leans against Jenny’s arm and hugs it gently.

It’s quiet for a long moment, the only sounds being the creaking of the house and the peaceful crackling of the fire.

Eventually, Matilda asks softly, “What was Christmas like when you were a kid? When your father was alive?”

“Oh, they were wonderful,” Jenny begins fondly. “We had huge dinners on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Big and hearty. And filling, my goodness. My father said they never came out as good as when my mother cooked them, but I always thought they were absolutely delicious.”

Matilda looks up at her. Jenny looks back, leaning her cheek against the top of Matilda’s head, and continues.

“He always put a photo of her up on the mantel, and he hung her stocking in between ours. We decorated the tree together every year. He’d always say he wasn’t tall enough to reach the tippy top, so he’d pick me up and let me put the angel on. He put up streamers and stickers on the windows and lights way up on the roof and tinsel everywhere. He had this ancient Bing Crosby Christmas record that we’d always listen to, and he’d sing along. I always thought his voice sounded like chocolate. Rich and smooth.

“We used to make food for the reindeer. It was just oats and colored sugar, but I thought it was absolutely magical. We’d leave it on the porch and some cookies for Santa on the bench. I always asked to wait for him so I could say hello, so my father would put on his coat and get me all bundled up, and I’d sit outside on his lap and watch for the sleigh in the sky until I fell asleep.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Matilda says softly. Jenny smiles.

“It was,” she replies in a whisper. “And I always, always got to open just one present on Christmas Eve.”

That gets Matilda’s attention. Jenny laughs.

“Would you like to?”

Matilda nods. Jenny sends her over to the packed tree.

“Pick one. Any one,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back to watch. Matilda grabs a small, flattish box wrapped in red plaid paper with a gold bow and looks at her curiously. Jenny nods, so Matilda scoots back over to her and gently tears the paper off.

She carefully opens the box and pulls aside the tissue paper inside. She tips her head when she sees what’s inside. “A scarf?”

Jenny smiles, pulling out the white scarf and wrapping it gently around Matilda’s neck. “My mother made this for me when I was still a baby. To match hers. I was always looking at it, even as such a little one. My father said she spent weeks knitting it for me and I never went anywhere without it. I found it in the attic a few weeks ago.”

Matilda gently holds the end of the woven thing in her hand and looks up at her. “You’re giving it to me?”

“Of course,” Jenny says, wiping a tear from Matilda’s cheek. “I have the real thing now. And I know my mother would’ve loved to see it passed down to her grandchild. That’s your own special white scarf, now.”

“I love it,” Matilda says softly. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” Jenny responds, gently patting her cheek. Matilda suddenly stands and goes running off. “Where are you going?”

Matilda thunders up the stairs to her room and back down so quickly Jenny is worried she’ll fall. She returns with a small, neatly wrapped gift. The taping job is a little shoddy, but it’s otherwise very well done. “Here.”

“For me?” Jenny chuckles. Matilda nods.

“Oh, but… it’s all I could get for you,” she says sadly. “If you open it now you won’t have anything to open tomorrow morning.”

“Would you rather I wait?” Jenny asks, resting her hands gently on the gift.

“…No. Unless you want to.”

“I’ll have just as much fun watching you open your things. Let me see what you’ve gotten for me,” Jenny says. She gently undoes the paper and gasps softly as she pulls out… a book. The book.

“Mrs. Phelps helped me,” Matilda says shyly. “But I wrote it myself.”

“This is what you were working on so hard?” Jenny asks with tears brimming in her eyes. “All those drawings?”

Matilda nods. “Yes. Do… do you like it?”

“Oh, darling, I love it,” Jenny says, letting out the softest of sobs as she pulls Matilda right to her. Matilda clings to her neck and rests her head on her shoulder. “I can’t believe you wrote a whole book just for me. I’m so proud of you, your first book.”

“Thank you,” Matilda says, sounding the slightest bit choked with how tight Jenny is hugging her.

“Can I read it?” Jenny asks as she lets her go. Matilda nods.

Jenny rests it carefully on the ground and opens the front cover, lying on her stomach in front of her to read it. Matilda lies next to her and watches both the pages turn and Jenny’s reaction to them.

The Butterfly and the Bird, by Matilda Kate Honey

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful hummingbird. She had green plumage and a blue tail. Her grey wings carried her gracefully between all the flowers in the meadow she called home.

She was also a very special hummingbird. It was her job to teach all the baby hummingbirds how to collect nectar from the flowers, too. She had done this for many years, and was very good at it.

One day, a little blue butterfly fluttered over and landed on the top of her beak. “Hello,” cheeped the hummingbird.

“Oh, Miss Hummingbird, you must help me,” the butterfly pleaded. “I see you teaching all the other hummingbirds how to collect nectar from the flowers. My butterfly parents won’t teach me, and I’m so hungry. Will you please help?”

“Oh,” said the hummingbird. “We are different species. I’ve never taught a butterfly before.”

The butterfly looked defeated and began to flutter away.

Before she could get too far, the hummingbird chirped, “But I’ll try as hard as I can.”

They flew off across the meadow together, pausing at all the best-looking flowers so the butterfly could learn. The hummingbird found out that even though the butterfly didn’t know how to collect food, she knew lots of other things. The butterfly knew the names of all the flowers, and all the grasses that grew in the meadow too. The hummingbird thought this was very interesting.

After that first day, the butterfly came bright and early to join the class of the hummingbirds. The hummingbird smiled every time she saw the butterfly, and let her ride between the blossoms on her head so the butterfly wouldn’t get tired trying to keep up.

But their lessons didn’t go unnoticed.

In the meadow, there was a big, terrible, ugly, mean old hawk. So big and so terrible it could’ve swallowed them both up in a single gobble.

Everyone was afraid of the hawk. The hummingbird was very afraid of the hawk. As a fledgling the hawk had nibbled on her wing and made it too hard to fly. She had been stuck in one place for many, many, many years until her wing had gotten better, but she still flew the slightest bit lopsided.

One day after hummingbird school, the hawk approached the hummingbird. “Hello, Miss Hummingbird.”

“Hello,” the hummingbird replied politely.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the hawk said with a snarl.

“There is a young butterfly across the meadow. I’ve been teaching her how to collect nectar with my other students so she doesn’t starve.”

The hawk tilted her head and sneered at her. “A butterfly? In a hummingbird class?”

“Yes. She’s very smart,” the hummingbird says.

“Ridiculous. Butterflies can’t be smart. They don’t even have brains!” insisted the hawk.

“Of course they do! And this one has a big one,” the hummingbird said bravely.

“Are you calling me a liar?” growled the hawk.

“N-no, of course not,” stuttered the hummingbird.

The hawk took big, slow steps, closer and closer until their beaks were nearly touching. “Then listen when I say. You are forbidden from teaching the butterfly any more. You’d better listen. You know what I can do.”

The hummingbird couldn’t do anything except nod frantically. The hawk got up and flew away to her tree overlooking the whole big meadow.

The next day, the butterfly came flying over for class like always. The hummingbird looked at her sadly as she landed on her beak. “Oh, dear butterfly,” she said. “I’m not sure I can help you anymore.”

“Why not?” the butterfly asked after a moment’s consideration.

“My boss says I can’t teach you anymore,” the hummingbird explains. She apologized and said they would have to figure something else out. “We will have to figure something else out. I won’t give up on you.”

The butterfly smiled and tickled the hummingbird with her antennae in appreciation. Before the hummingbird could respond, the butterfly lifted up and started flying away.

“Where are you going?!” the hummingbird called after her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find you tomorrow!” the butterfly replied.

The butterfly came back the very next day. Nothing seemed any different to the hummingbird. “Hello again, little butterfly.”

“Hello,” the butterfly replied.

“What was so important yesterday?” the hummingbird asked.

“Oh, I just had to check something,” the butterfly replied. The hummingbird was suspicious, but she didn’t mention anything. “Has the hawk done anything?”

“Not recently,” the hummingbird replied, flying after the butterfly into the meadow.

“I watch from my bush sometimes. I don’t think the other hummingbirds you teach like her very much either.”

“No, I don’t think they do,” the hummingbird admitted.

Suddenly, they heard a snap of a beak and a snarl from behind them. “Miss Hummingbird.”

They both froze and slowly turned around. “Y-yes?”

“I told you not to see this butterfly ever again,” the hawk said threateningly.

"You did.”

“Then why did you? Do you not fear what I’m capable of?” the hawk growled, stepping closer and closer to them on its terrible legs.

The hummingbird stood fast, trembling from beak to bottom. “I do. But I won’t let this creature suffer because of your rules.”

The hawk leapt at them, snapping its terrible beak and flying after them as fast as it could.

“Run!” yelled the butterfly, and they both took off. They ran and ran, over the meadows and through the woods, as fast as they could, with the hawk chasing them all the way.

Eventually, they made it to a very particular tree. They both landed on a tiny, thin branch way, way up high, too thin to support the hawk’s weight.

To the hummingbird’s surprise, all of her hummingbird students were there too, sitting next to a massive pile of the itchiest pollen the butterfly had gathered during her lessons. Everyone took a clump in their wing, and hurled it at the hawk.

They bonked and bounced and hit the hawk from every angle, but still she persisted. Then, the butterfly took one clump, the last one, in her little wing and threw it as hard as she could. It hit the hawk square up the nose, and she sneezed so hard she flew backwards for miles and miles, and was never seen again.

The hummingbird took over as queen of the meadow, and the butterfly moved into the closest bush. Every day they met for tea, and every night they took turns sleeping in the others nest.

And all the air, and all the land, and even all the water, belonged to them, together.

And they lived happily ever after.

Matilda has been gazing intently at her face the entire time she read, looking for every small little hint of emotion. Jenny carefully flips the last page over and stares down at the back cover. “Did… did you like it? I-it was a lot harder to write the story down instead of just saying it out loud like I usually do, so it… it…”

Jenny slowly sits up and hauls Matilda into her lap, squeezing her tight and burying her face in her hair. She tries not to let Matilda see her cry, but she feels a few tears slip out of her closed eyes. “Oh, Matilda. I loved it. This is my favorite book I’ve ever read. And the best present I’ve ever received.”

Matilda wiggles until her face is exposed to air once more and quietly asks, “Really?”

Jenny nods and leaves a lingering kiss on her daughter’s soft little cheek. “Well, the best gift I’ve really ever gotten was you. But it’s definitely the best book in the whole world. I absolutely love it.”

Matilda smiles and cuddles back into her. Jenny holds her close and smiles at the book still resting on the floor.

They’re content to stay like that for quite a while. Jenny gently rocks Matilda from side to side every now and again, but other than that, they’re still and silent for a long time.

“Have I got to go to bed now?” Matilda asks quietly after a while. Jenny chuckles.

“Not tonight, unless you’re tired.”

Matilda shakes her head. Jenny is confused when she pries herself from her grasp and pads over to their bookshelf. Matilda stands on her tiptoes to grab whatever she’s after and comes back. Jenny recognizes it immediately. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. She smiles and pats the ground next to her. Matilda pulls their cushiest blanket off the back of the couch and spreads it on the ground, and their softest one goes on top of them as they lay side by side to read.

“Do you want to read it or shall I?” Jenny asks when they’re all comfortable.

“Oh, wait!” Matilda says, and she’s off again. Jenny sighs affectionately as she hears her making a great cacophony of noise in the kitchen. She runs a hand over the smooth plastic dust jacket protecting the hard cover of the book as she waits.

Matilda comes back after another little while with two mugs of steaming hot tea carefully resting on a tray, and a large pile of the Christmas cookies they made sitting between them.

“Ooh,” Jenny says when she rests the tray on the ground nearby, but far enough away that it won’t get accidentally bumped. “Thank you, love. This is just perfect, now.”

Matilda just nods with a wide smile on her face. She settles back in and pulls the book open. “Let’s switch for each chapter. But you go first.”

“Alright,” Jenny says, sliding the book the slightest bit closer to herself and beginning to read aloud. “Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner.”

Matilda folds her arms and gently rests her head upon them, gazing fondly at Jenny, not that she quite noticed, and the out-of-focus glow of the Christmas tree behind her. The fire crackles in the hearth nearby, and they both sip slowly at their sweet tea and nibble on cookies as they read.

They don’t get too far into the book before they both get quite tired. In fact, the book lies open partway through even as they drift off to sleep just after the clock strikes midnight.

But just before they do, they both listen to the old grandfather clock upstairs chime twelve long times, and they smile the faintest bit at one another.

“Happy Christmas, Matilda,” Jenny whispers, tucking a strand of Matilda’s hair behind her ear and leaving a hand on her cheek.

“Happy Christmas, Mummy.”

And they both drifted off to a sound sleep thinking the same thing.

It’s already the happiest I’ve ever had.

—————

thank you all once again for all the love and all the reads. it means more to me than you know <3

and of course another big thank you to everyone who helped this little series happen. all of you, and especially to @churchoftheconfusedchicken (here and ao3) and @serene-sapphic (here, serenesapphic on ao3). much love to them <3

if you celebrate i hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and if you don’t i hope you had a wonderful few weeks and enjoyed these chapters.

i’ll see you all in the new year!! thank you all for making this very tough year a little bit brighter :)

lots of love,

ezzy

[sitaram-designer]

Why Does Every Womens Wardrobe Must Have Traditional Ethnic Wear

The women's traditional clothing of a culture is an essential component of a lot of different societies, not to mention a classic fashion statement. These articles of clothing, including sarees, kurtas, and lehengas, are steeped in history, tradition, and culture, and they have the ability to lend a one-of-a-kind quality to any wardrobe. Keep reading to know why your wardrobe must have traditional ethnic wear for women.

The adaptability of traditional ethnic clothing for women is one of the primary reasons why every closet ought to contain some of this clothing. These articles of clothing are appropriate for both business attire and more relaxed settings. For example, a saree can be worn in a manner that is traditional and formal for an event like a wedding, or it can be worn in a manner that is less formal and more modern for an occasion like hanging out with friends. Because of its adaptability, the product offers excellent value for the money.

A person's cultural history can be celebrated and honored in several ways, and possessing traditional ethnic clothing can be one of those ways. These articles of clothing are an essential component of many different cultures and can be worn as a display of pride and admiration for one's ancestry and tradition. One method to honor one's Indian ancestry while also celebrating the celebration of occasions like Diwali is to dress in traditional Indian garb, such as draping oneself in a saree. You must buy traditional ethnic wear for women online for better options.

In addition, weddings, festivals, and religious rituals are all occasions that call for special attire, and one option that is both exquisite and fashionable is traditional ethnic apparel. The fact that traditional ethnic wear for women typically has sophisticated designs and is covered with lovely embroidery and embellishments makes them well-suited for the events in question. They offer a means by which one can distinguish oneself from the crowd and express one's individuality.

Traditional ethnic wear for women is not only significant in terms of culture and fashion, but they also offer a choice that is sustainable and kind to the environment. The majority of these garments are hand-woven, and they are constructed out of natural fibers such as cotton and silk, both of which are non-toxic to the environment and biodegradable. As a result, compared to rapid fashion, wearing traditional ethnic wear is the option that is more responsible and better for the environment.

Last but not least, traditional ethnic wear for women from a particular ethnic group is frequently an heirloom that is handed down through the generations. They are frequently appreciated and cared for, and as a result, they might be considered a unique thing by many people. These garments have the power to bring back happy thoughts and feelings from the past, as well as offer a sense of connection to the past.

If you have been looking for the best online womens clothing store, you may get in touch with Sitaram Designer. Our brand has the most amazing designs of traditional clothing. Shop them now!

[barkhatank]

NEWLY ARRIVAL: Size M to XXL

✅ Lowest Price

✅ Free delivery

✅ Cash on delivery

✅ 7 DAYS returns

✅Festive special

✅New lonch

Buy on Amazon

https://www.amazon.in/s?me=AIAUYB9ROY6U3&ref=sf_seller_app_share_new

Buy on Meesho

https://meesho.com/LAXMIGLOBAL?_ms=1&page=1

#indianbridefashion #bridal #suits #bridalehngas #bridalmakeups #mehndi #disinersareemumbai #disiersaree #disinersareehydrabad #black #blacksuit #foryou #with #wedding #DIWALI #shopping #onlinefashion #womensfashions #bridalehngas #disinersareekolkata #disinersareesusa #indianstree #mongoosekart #sareeschennai

[varmanfashions]

Why You Should Buy Indian Men's Kurta Online in the USA with Varman Fashions

 Indian fashion has always been known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant styles. One of the most popular garments in traditional Indian wear is the kurta. Whether it's for a wedding, festival, or casual outing, the Indian men's kurta is a versatile piece of clothing that can be worn in a variety of ways. If you're in the USA and looking to buy Indian men's kurta online, Varman Fashions is your one-stop shop for all things traditional and stylish. With a wide variety of kurtas and kurta pajama sets available online, you can now bring the elegance of Indian fashion to your wardrobe, no matter where you are.

Why Buy Indian Men's Kurta Online in USA?

The internet has made shopping easier and more accessible, allowing you to purchase anything you desire from the comfort of your home. If you are living in the USA and are craving some ethnic Indian fashion, online shopping for Indian men's kurtas and kurta pajama sets offers numerous benefits.

Wide Range of Styles and Designs When shopping online, you have access to an extensive range of designs and styles that may not be available in local stores. From simple and elegant kurtas for everyday wear to elaborately embroidered designs for weddings and festivals, online stores like Varman Fashions offer a diverse selection of Indian men's kurtas. You can choose from a variety of fabrics like cotton, silk, linen, and brocade, depending on your preferences and the occasion.

Convenience and Accessibility Shopping online for Indian men's kurta pajama sets means you don’t have to leave your home to explore stores. All you need is an internet connection, and you can browse through different options, compare prices, and pick the one that suits your style. With Varman Fashions, you can order from anywhere in the USA and have your outfit delivered right to your doorstep.

Customization Options Another great advantage of shopping online is the possibility of custom tailoring. Many online stores, including Varman Fashions, offer customization options where you can select your preferred size, color, and fabric. This ensures a perfect fit and personalized experience, so you don’t have to worry about compromising on comfort.

Affordable Pricing Online shopping often allows you to find great deals and discounts, especially when shopping at reputable stores like Varman Fashions. By purchasing your Indian men's kurta online, you can compare prices across different websites and find competitive rates without the overhead costs associated with physical stores. Plus, there are often seasonal discounts and promotions that help make high-quality Indian clothing more affordable.

Convenient Delivery Varman Fashions offers fast and reliable international shipping, ensuring your kurta or kurta pajama set reaches you in a timely manner. Whether you're attending a wedding, a cultural event, or a festive celebration, you can rely on their efficient shipping to receive your purchase within the expected delivery window.

The Perfect Indian Men’s Kurta Pajama Set in usa for Every Occasion

Whether you're looking for a traditional kurta pajama set for a special occasion or something more casual, Varman Fashions has got you covered with an array of options. Let’s look at the different kinds of Indian men's kurta pajama sets available online in the USA:

Casual Kurtas For everyday wear or casual gatherings, a simple kurta pajama set in cotton or linen is ideal. These kurtas are comfortable, breathable, and easy to style with your favorite pair of sandals or shoes. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon with friends or a casual day at the office, casual kurtas are versatile and stylish.

Wedding and Festive Kurtas If you're attending a wedding or a festival like Diwali or Eid, you’ll want a kurta pajama set that stands out. Look for sets made from luxurious fabrics like silk or brocade, often adorned with intricate embroidery or embellishments. These Indian men's kurtas exude elegance and will make you look your best during special celebrations.

Designer Kurtas For those who like to make a bold statement, designer Indian men's kurtas are a great option. These kurtas are created by renowned designers and feature unique patterns, luxurious fabrics, and custom stitching that set them apart. A designer kurta pajama set can be perfect for high-end parties or exclusive events.

Comfortable and Stylish Whether you're buying your kurta pajama set for a formal or informal occasion, comfort is key. Online stores like Varman Fashions offer comfortable yet stylish options that don't compromise on design. The combination of modern cuts and traditional elements ensures you look stylish without sacrificing comfort.

Why Choose Varman Fashions for Your Kurta Shopping?

At Varman Fashions, we understand the importance of finding the right Indian men's kurta for any occasion. That’s why we offer a curated selection of high-quality, fashionable kurtas and kurta pajama sets that suit every style and need. Whether you're looking for something for daily wear or need a showstopper for a wedding, we have something for everyone.

Premium Quality: Our kurtas are made from high-quality fabrics such as cotton, silk, and linen, ensuring durability, comfort, and style.

Wide Selection: From simple to embellished, our collection features a variety of kurtas and pajama sets that cater to different preferences and occasions.

Customization: We offer customization to ensure you get the perfect fit and style tailored to your requirements.

Affordable Prices: We provide our products at competitive prices, making high-quality Indian fashion accessible to everyone.

Fast Shipping: With our efficient shipping services, you can get your order delivered quickly and safely, no matter where you are in the USA.

Conclusion

Buying Indian men's kurtas online in the USA has never been easier. With Varman Fashions, you can shop for high-quality, stylish, and comfortable kurta pajama sets that will help you stand out at any event. Whether it’s for a casual day or a grand occasion, our diverse range ensures you'll find the perfect outfit. Visit Varman Fashions today and explore our exclusive collection of Indian men's kurtas designed to elevate your style.

[threadvibeliving]

Diwali Return Gifts for Friends and Family

Diwali is a time of joy, and one of the most cherished traditions is exchanging gifts with friends and family. Diwali return gifts are a thoughtful way to show appreciation for our loved ones, making the festival even more special. This guide offers some great Diwali return gift ideas to help you find something memorable for your friends and family this 2024 Diwali season.

Types of Diwali Return Gifts

There are plenty of Diwali gift hampers available online, each featuring a mix of items that make wonderful return gifts. You can also create your own hampers by choosing items based on personal preferences.

1. Laxmi Ganesh Murti

A Laxmi Ganesh murti is a meaningful and auspicious gift for Diwali, as it represents blessings of prosperity and success. A marble-look Laxmi Ganesh statue is an excellent choice for friends and family, and it’s a perfect addition to any Diwali gift hamper.

2. Tea Lights

Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, calls for beautiful decor. Tea lights are a popular and elegant choice to include in Diwali hampers. They’re not only decorative but also create a festive ambiance, making them a perfect addition for Diwali celebrations.

3. Brass Lotus Diya

A brass lotus diya is another lovely option for Diwali hampers. Diyas add a warm glow to any home and have functional uses during Diwali and other pujas throughout the year. They’re a simple yet meaningful gift that friends and family will appreciate.

4. Diwali Dry Fruits Hamper

For a last-minute option, a dry fruits hamper is always a lifesaver. There are various dry fruit and sweet combinations available online, so you can easily find one that suits your budget. This classic choice is both thoughtful and convenient.

5. Stainless Steel Vacuum Flask

A stainless steel vacuum flask is a useful Diwali gift, especially for office-goers or anyone who travels frequently. It keeps beverages at the perfect temperature for hours, making it ideal for everyday use. Copper bottles are another stylish option that could also be included in your hamper.

6. Mirror Work Potli

Potli bags with mirror work are trendy and make a beautiful Diwali return gift, especially popular among women. These colorful bags add a touch of fashion and tradition to any hamper and are sure to be a hit with your loved ones.

7. Diya Metal Urli

For a more traditional Diwali gift, consider a metal urli with diyas. Often available in sets of three, these are perfect for pujas or as decor for home temples, adding a classic touch to any Diwali celebration.

8. Brass Bowl Set

A brass bowl set is a simple yet elegant choice for Diwali. These bowls are useful for pujas, and if you’re looking to spend a bit more, you could choose a mango-wood bowl set as a sustainable and attractive alternative.

Diwali is a time to gather with friends and family, sharing joy and gratitude. Giving return gifts is a wonderful way to make the celebration even brighter. We hope these ideas inspire you to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones this Diwali!

For any questions or assistance with your Diwali decoration ideas, feel free to contact us at Threadvibe Living.

Contact Number: 9650034933 Business Email: care@threadvibeliving.com

[thetorres010]

Why You Should Get Sterling Silver Ring This Festival Season?

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a joyous celebration of new beginnings, prosperity, and cherished traditions. We are one of the Top Jewelry Showrooms In Mumbai, and a sterling silver ring makes a perfect gift for Diwali season for several reasons:

Symbol of Good Fortune and Prosperity: Silver is traditionally associated with good luck and wealth in many cultures, making it a meaningful gift for Diwali, symbolizing blessings for the year ahead.

Timeless Elegance and Versatility: Sterling silver rings have a classic beauty that suits any style. Ideal for daily wear or special occasions, they bring a hint of elegance to any ensemble.

Affordable Luxury: Sterling silver offers the look of luxury at a reasonable price, allowing you to give or wear a high-quality piece of jewelry without overspending.

Lasting Quality: Sterling silver rings are durable and long-lasting, ensuring that your Diwali gift will remain a cherished piece for years, embodying the memories of this festive season.

Thoughtful and Personalized Gift: A sterling silver ring can be selected to match personal tastes, adding a layer of thoughtfulness to your Diwali gift, perfect for family, friends, or loved ones.

We are known for the Sterling Silver Ring Designers In Mumbai, and we always ensure that each design is carved precisely. We also offer an option for customization, which means that you can get your desired silver ring from us as per your preference. We have years of knowledge in this domain, and that is the reason why we have become the top choice of the people all around who are looking for the best silver rings. Apart from silver, we also deal in gold and diamonds, and all the ornaments come with hallmarks and certification. So, why wait? Make your Diwali season mesmerizing with the help of our silver & gold jewelry.

Credit:- https://thetorres010.blogspot.com/2024/11/why-you-should-get-sterling-silver-ring-this-fesstival-season.html

[lagompatisserie]

Best Online Cakes in Bangalore: Where Quality, Customization, and Convenience Meet

Finding the perfect cake in a vibrant city like Bangalore can be a challenge, especially with so many options available online. The quest for high-quality cakes with unique designs and reliable delivery can lead to countless searches. However, one of the best places for online cakes in Bangalore combines convenience with beautifully crafted, delicious creations that arrive right at your doorstep.

From classic flavors to innovative designs, these cakes are made to suit every occasion, be it birthdays, anniversaries, or festive celebrations. Read on to discover why this online cake shop is celebrated as one of the best for online cakes in Bangalore and how it stands out with its wide range of themes, impeccable quality, and seamless ordering process.

Why This Cake Shop is Among the Best Online Cakes in Bangalore

1. Premium Ingredients for the Best Tasting Cakes

When searching for the best online cakes in Bangalore, it’s essential to find a bakery that uses fresh, high-quality ingredients. This cake shop goes above and beyond by sourcing premium ingredients to ensure every cake is a delight. With a strong emphasis on freshness, you can taste the difference in each bite. Their cakes boast a rich, satisfying flavor, whether it’s a classic chocolate, an elegant vanilla, or an exotic fruit-based flavor.

2. Expertise in Customization and Unique Themes

Customization is what makes this cake shop one of the best options for online cakes in Bangalore. Here, cakes are more than just desserts; they are tailored to match your vision. The shop specializes in theme-based cakes that add a personalized touch to every celebration. Popular themes include:

Birthday Cakes: Choose from whimsical designs for kids, trendy minimalist themes for teens, or classic, elegant styles for adults.

Festive Cakes: They offer unique festive cakes for Diwali, Christmas, and more, with special designs that match the holiday spirit.

Corporate Cakes: Whether you’re celebrating an office milestone or hosting a corporate event, their customized corporate cakes add a professional yet delightful touch.

Wedding and Engagement Cakes: Known for romantic and intricate designs, these cakes make weddings memorable with style and sweetness.

This expertise in creating theme-based cakes has made them a top choice for online cakes in Bangalore, as customers appreciate the ability to fully customize each aspect of their cake.

3. Simple, Reliable Online Ordering Process

With online shopping becoming a norm, ordering cakes online should be easy, and this cake shop has made it incredibly convenient. Ranked among the best online cakes in Bangalore, their streamlined ordering system lets you place a custom order with ease. Choose your cake, select any special design requests, specify delivery details, and you’re good to go. Their timely delivery system ensures that your cake arrives fresh and beautifully presented, making it an ideal choice for busy Bangaloreans.

Diverse Range of Flavors to Delight Every Palate

This online bakery has quickly become one of the best for online cakes in Bangalore, thanks to their wide variety of flavors. Some of the popular choices include:

Chocolate: A rich, classic choice that’s always a crowd favorite.

Vanilla Bean: Delicate and sophisticated, this flavor pairs well with many designs.

Red Velvet: A visually appealing and delicious option that’s perfect for special occasions.

Fruit Flavors: Fresh options like mango, strawberry, and mixed berry are especially popular.

Exotic Blends: For those looking to try something new, flavors like pistachio rose and hazelnut praline add a unique twist.

By offering these delicious choices, this cake shop has earned its reputation as a go-to spot for the best online cakes in Bangalore. Each cake is baked to perfection, ensuring that you and your guests will savor every bite.

Seasonal Specials and Festive Gift Hampers

During festive seasons, this cake shop stands out even more. Apart from offering some of the best online cakes in Bangalore, they also create festive hampers filled with sweet treats that are perfect for gifting. For Diwali, they offer an array of treats packaged beautifully for gifting, while Christmas features seasonal cakes and goodies to bring holiday cheer. These seasonal offerings are thoughtfully designed to add a festive touch to any celebration and can be ordered online for easy delivery.

Why Customers Consider This Bakery the Best for Online Cakes in Bangalore

This bakery has established itself as one of the best online cake shops in Bangalore, consistently winning customer loyalty through its quality, creativity, and reliability. Here’s what makes it a favorite among Bangalore residents:

Attention to Detail: The cakes here are not only delicious but also crafted with precision and artistic detail that elevate any occasion.

Commitment to Freshness: Every cake is made to order using the finest ingredients, ensuring that it arrives fresh and flavorful.

Reliable Delivery: With Bangalore’s traffic, delivery can be challenging, but this bakery ensures your cake arrives on time, no matter where you are in the city.

Sustainable Packaging: This bakery uses eco-friendly packaging, aligning with Bangalore’s eco-conscious values.

With these qualities, this cake shop has earned its place as one of the best for online cakes in Bangalore, making it a trusted choice for celebrations across the city.

How to Order the Best Online Cakes in Bangalore

If you’re ready to place an order, here’s a simple guide to buying the best online cakes in Bangalore:

Visit the Website: Browse through their online store to see the various designs, themes, and flavors available.

Choose Your Cake: Select the size, flavor, and any customizations you’d like for your cake.

Specify Design Details: For theme-based or custom cakes, add any special design instructions to make it unique.

Set Delivery Date: Specify the delivery time and date for your cake to ensure it arrives exactly when you need it.

Complete the Order: Once you’ve made your selections, proceed with payment, and you’re all set. Your cake will be prepared fresh and delivered right to your doorstep.

Customer Reviews: Experiences with the Best Online Cakes in Bangalore

Customers across Bangalore praise this cake shop for consistently providing some of the best online cakes in the city. Here’s what a few satisfied customers have shared:

Radhika M.: "The birthday cake we ordered was stunning! It was exactly as we requested, and everyone loved the taste."

Ashwin K.: "The festive Diwali hamper was beautifully presented and filled with delicious treats. It was the perfect gift."

Priya R.: "Ordering online was so easy, and the cake arrived on time. The red velvet flavor was amazing!"

These testimonials highlight why this bakery is a top choice for online cakes in Bangalore, thanks to their quality, creativity, and reliable service.

Conclusion: Order Your Next Cake from the Best Online Cake Shop in Bangalore

If you’re on the hunt for the best online cakes in Bangalore, this bakery should be your top pick. With high-quality ingredients, the ability to customize, and reliable delivery, it’s never been easier to make any celebration extra special. From festive treats to one-of-a-kind theme cakes, this shop has everything you need to make your event memorable.

Ordering online means you can bring a touch of sweetness to any occasion without leaving your home. So, explore the best online cakes in Bangalore today and let this cake shop deliver a delightful creation that exceeds your expectations.

[indian-suppliers]

Diwali Packaging Trays: Sweets, Chocolate, and Bhaji

As the festival of lights approaches, everyone gears up to celebrate with loved ones, exchange gifts, and share delicious treats. Diwali is not just about lighting lamps and bursting crackers; it is also about sharing happiness in the form of sweets, chocolates, bhaji, and bakery items. The tradition of gifting during Diwali has become more exciting with the increasing variety of gift packaging, making the presentation just as important as the contents.

Packaging plays a key role in ensuring that these products reach customers in perfect condition, and it adds to the overall festive experience. At Uno Plast, we specialize in producing high-quality packaging trays in bulk for manufacturers, making it easier for them to package their products efficiently while ensuring safety and appeal.

Variety for Every Gifting Need

During Diwali, people love to give a variety of treats to their friends, family, and colleagues. Hence, we offer packaging solutions that make packaging more efficient, hygienic, and attractive.

Sweets: Our trays are ideal for traditional Indian sweets like laddus, kaju katli, and barfi. The sturdy design ensures that these delicate items are protected from breakage, while the food-grade materials keep them fresh.

Chocolate: We offer specialized chocolate trays, ensuring that each piece stays in place and is showcased beautifully. Whether you’re packaging gourmet chocolates or simple candy bars, our trays are customizable to suit your needs.

Bhaji: For savory snacks, we offer trays that can handle oily or greasy items without compromising on hygiene. These trays are designed to maintain the freshness and quality of bhaji, making them perfect for gifting during Diwali.

Bakery: Our bakery trays are sturdy enough to handle delicate items like cupcakes, cookies, and pastries. With compartmentalized designs, these trays keep bakery items separate and fresh, making them ideal for festive packaging.

Our Manufacturing Unit

At Uno Plast, we use state-of-the-art vacuum forming and thermoforming machines to produce packaging trays in bulk. These advanced technologies allow us to create high-quality, uniform trays at a large scale, ensuring that we can meet the demands of high-volume manufacturers during the busy Diwali season.

When it comes to food, safety is paramount. At Uno Plast, we use only food-grade materials for our packaging trays to ensure that they meet all safety standards. Our materials—HIPS, PET, and PVC—are specifically chosen for their ability to protect food items and maintain freshness. Here’s why each material is ideal for Diwali packaging:

Customization to Fit Every Product

We understand that every manufacturer has different requirements when it comes to packaging. That’s why Uno Plast offers a range of customization options for our packaging trays. Whether you need a colored tray, a golden tray, or a transparent tray, we can customize the packaging to suit your specific product and branding needs.

For manufacturers, being able to offer visually appealing packaging is just as important as ensuring that the product stays fresh. Our customizable trays not only provide protection but also enhance the product’s presentation. Whether you're packing sweets, chocolates, bhaji, or bakery items, we can adjust the size, color, and material of the trays to match your product requirements.

Why Choose Uno Plast for Your Bulk Packaging Needs?

At Uno Plast, we understand the unique challenges faced by manufacturers during the Diwali season. Our bulk packaging solutions are designed to make the process of packaging sweets, chocolates, bhaji, and bakery items easier, faster, and more efficient. Here’s why manufacturers choose us:

High-quality, food-grade materials for safe and hygienic packaging.

Customization options to match specific product requirements and branding needs.

Advanced vacuum forming and thermoforming technology for large-scale production.

Bulk order capacity to meet high-volume demands during peak seasons.

Diwali is a time of joy, celebration, and sharing, and nothing brings people together like the exchange of delicious treats. At Uno Plast, we ensure that your sweets, chocolates, bhajis, and bakery products are packaged in high-quality, food-safe trays that enhance their presentation and keep them fresh. If you’re a manufacturer looking for reliable bulk packaging solutions this Diwali, Uno Plast is your trusted partner. Let us help you make this festive season brighter with our premium packaging trays!

[noahwill87]

Benefits of Shopping Minimalist Jewelry with Jeluxa Coupons Code This Diwali.

As Diwali approaches, the excitement of gift-giving and festive shopping fills the air. One of the best ways to celebrate this festival of lights is by choosing meaningful gifts that reflect elegance and style. Jeluxa, a renowned minimalist jewelry brand, offers exquisite pieces that are perfect for this occasion. By utilizing Jeluxa Coupons Code, shoppers can enjoy fantastic savings while selecting beautiful jewelry gifts for their loved ones. This blog explores the benefits of shopping for minimalist jewelry from Jeluxa during Diwali and how coupon codes enhance the experience.

The Appeal of Minimalist Jewelry

Minimalist jewelry has gained immense popularity for its simplicity and versatility. Unlike more ornate designs, minimalist pieces focus on clean lines and understated elegance, making them suitable for various occasions. Whether it’s a delicate necklace, sleek earrings, or a subtle bracelet, minimalist jewelry complements any outfit effortlessly.During Diwali, gifting jewelry holds special significance. It symbolizes love, prosperity, and good fortune. Choosing minimalist designs from Jeluxa ensures that your gifts are not only stylish but also meaningful. These pieces can be worn daily or saved for special occasions, making them a thoughtful addition to anyone's jewelry collection.

Exclusive Diwali Promotions

Jeluxa is known for offering exclusive promotions during festive seasons, and Diwali is no exception. Shoppers can find a range of discounts on their favorite jewelry items, making it an ideal time to purchase gifts. By applying Jeluxa Promo Code, customers can unlock additional savings on already discounted products.For instance, Jeluxa often provides coupon codes that offer percentages off your total purchase or specific discounts on selected items. This means that you can buy high-quality jewelry at a fraction of the original price, allowing you to stretch your budget further during this festive season.

Benefits of Using Jeluxa Coupons Code

Instant Savings: Applying a Jeluxa Discount Code at checkout provides immediate discounts on your purchase. This instant gratification makes shopping even more enjoyable.

Stackable Discounts: Many times, Jeluxa allows customers to combine coupon codes with ongoing promotions or sales events. This stacking capability means you can maximize your savings significantly.

Wide Selection: The coupon codes apply across various categories of jewelry, ensuring that you can find discounts on items that suit your style or gifting needs.

Exclusive Offers: During Diwali, Jeluxa often releases special coupon codes that provide additional savings on top of existing discounts. These limited-time offers make shopping even more exciting.

Easy Application Process: Using a coupon code is simple; just enter it at checkout after selecting your desired items to see your total cost decrease instantly.

Popular Minimalist Jewelry Items for Diwali

When shopping at Jeluxa for Diwali gifts, consider these popular minimalist jewelry items:

Delicate Necklaces: A simple yet elegant necklace makes a perfect gift for friends or family members who appreciate subtlety in their accessories.

Stylish Earrings: From classic studs to modern hoops, earrings are always a hit during festive seasons and can enhance any outfit beautifully.

Personalized Pieces: Customized jewelry adds a personal touch to gifts and is highly valued by recipients.

Chic Bracelets: These accessories are versatile and can be worn daily or reserved for special occasions.

Gift Sets: Jeluxa often offers curated gift sets that combine multiple pieces at a discounted rate when using coupon codes.

Tips for Smart Shopping with Jeluxa Coupons Code

To make the most out of your shopping experience with Jeluxa Coupons Code, consider these tips:

Create a Wishlist: Before the sale begins, make a list of items you want to purchase. This helps you stay focused during your shopping spree.

Compare Prices: Check if items are already discounted before applying coupon codes to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

Act Quickly: Popular items may sell out fast during sales events like Diwali. If you find something you love at a good price with an applicable coupon code, don’t hesitate—complete your purchase quickly.

Check Expiration Dates: Be mindful of expiration dates associated with coupon codes to ensure you use them before they become invalid.

Share Codes with Friends: If you know others interested in purchasing jewelry from Jeluxa, share coupon codes among friends or family to maximize savings collectively.

Conclusion: Celebrate Diwali with Thoughtful Gifts

This Diwali, take advantage of exclusive promotions and savings offered by Jeluxa through its various coupon codes. With beautiful minimalist jewelry available at discounted prices, it’s easier than ever to find meaningful gifts for loved ones or treat yourself during this festive season.For even more opportunities to save across various products and services beyond Jeluxa’s offerings, visit Couponzatps store, where you can discover an array of deals tailored just for you! Embrace the spirit of giving this Diwali by choosing thoughtful gifts without overspending.

[confidential-couture]

Unboxing the 2023 Goyard Goyardine De Trunk | Get Up to 20% Off This Diwali! 🎉 Sale Ends Nov 1st Get ready to unbox pure luxury with us as we reveal the stunning 2023 Goyard Goyardine De Trunk! This exclusive and timeless piece combines Goyard's impeccable craftsmanship with the iconic Goyardine canvas, making it an absolute must-have for designer bag enthusiasts. Join us as we explore every intricate detail of this collector's item, from its unique design to the artistry that sets Goyard apart. ✨ Diwali Special Sale! This festive season, treat yourself or a loved one to the luxury piece you've been dreaming of! Confidential Couture is offering up to 20% off on select preloved luxury bags and accessories for our Diwali Sale. It's the perfect opportunity to indulge in designer treasures, whether you're looking for Goyard, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or more iconic brands.

🎉 Sale Ends November 1st Hurry! Our Diwali sale ends on November 1st. Make sure to explore our collection to find the perfect bag that suits your style and occasion. Don’t miss out on these amazing deals and the chance to own a piece of luxury at a fantastic price. Why Choose Preloved Luxury? Buying preloved allows you to enjoy high-quality, authentic designer items at a fraction of the price while also supporting sustainable fashion. At Confidential Couture, we ensure every piece is authenticated and of the best quality, so you can shop with confidence. 👉 Shop Now: https://confidentialcouture.com/ 🌟 Follow us for more luxury unboxings, styling tips, and exclusive offers! Subscribe for more exclusive content, and let us know in the comments which luxury item you'd love to see next!

[packers-movers-in-hyd]

Diwali Festival: India’s Festival of Lights

Diwali, the "Festival of Lights," is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. Homes across India light up with diyas and lanterns, families share sweets, and loved ones come together to celebrate. Yet, bringing this magical celebration to life often requires thoughtful preparation. This Diwali, let Toskie take care of the details—whether it’s deep cleaning your home, creating festive decor, or capturing memorable moments. With Toskie’s range of services across Hyderabad, your Diwali can be hassle-free, memorable, and truly special.

Start Fresh: Book Home and Kitchen Cleaning Services

Diwali traditionally begins with a clean and refreshed home. With Toskie’s home and kitchen cleaning services in Hyderabad, you can welcome positive energy into every room. From dusting and disinfecting to deep cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, Toskie’s professionals ensure your home sparkles in time for the festivities.

Why Choose Toskie for Cleaning Services?

Complete Deep Cleaning: Thoroughly clean every corner of your home, leaving nothing untouched.

Healthy, Hygienic Spaces: Professional sanitization keeps your kitchen and living spaces fresh.

Convenience and Quality: Schedule professional-grade cleaning at a time that suits you.

Create the Perfect Atmosphere: Book Expert Event Planners

Diwali gatherings bring friends and family together, and every detail counts. Toskie’s event planners in Hyderabad bring your festive vision to life, handling everything from decor themes to entertainment. With their expertise, you can host a beautiful Diwali celebration without any of the stress.

Benefits of Toskie’s Event Planning Services:

Custom Diwali Decor Themes: Personalize your decor to capture the true spirit of Diwali.

Effortless Coordination: Save time as professionals handle every detail of the event.

Detailed and Memorable Experiences: Each event is tailored to your style, with unique lighting and decor.

Look Your Best: Book Professional Makeup Artists

Diwali calls for a festive glow, and Toskie’s professional makeup artists in Hyderabad make it easy. Whether you prefer traditional elegance or a modern look, Toskie’s artists create a style that complements your outfit and festive spirit. Let a professional handle your makeup so you can confidently enjoy the celebrations.

Why Choose Toskie’s Makeup Artists?

Expert Makeup Application: Customized looks to suit your preferences and skin type.

On-Demand Services: Get ready conveniently at your home or event venue.

Wide Range of Styles: From subtle glam to bold looks, Toskie’s artists ensure you shine.

Set the Scene with Stunning Flower Decorations

A Diwali celebration feels complete with beautiful floral decor. Flowers add warmth, color, and tradition to any space, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Toskie’s flower decoration services in Hyderabad offer elegant arrangements and garlands perfect for Diwali, adding a touch of sophistication to your celebration.

Why Choose Toskie for Flower Decorations?

Fresh and Vibrant Blooms: Toskie sources high-quality flowers, handpicked for your event.

Customized Floral Arrangements: Select from a range of styles, from traditional marigolds to modern arrangements.

Hassle-Free Setup: Get professionally arranged flowers without the time-consuming setup.

Capture the Moments: Book Photography Services

Preserve the precious memories of this Diwali with professional photography. Toskie’s photographers in Hyderabad capture every laugh, smile, and special moment, so you can relive the joy of Diwali for years to come. Ideal for family portraits, candid shots, and event photography, Toskie ensures every detail of your celebration is beautifully captured.

Reasons to Choose Toskie’s Photography Services:

High-Quality Photos: Capture every detail with professional, high-resolution shots.

Tailored Packages: Choose from packages that fit your gathering size and budget.

Creative Expertise: Toskie’s photographers capture the essence and beauty of each moment.

With Toskie’s dedicated services across Hyderabad, make this Diwali celebration memorable and worry-free. From creating the perfect atmosphere to capturing lasting memories, every detail is managed by trusted professionals. Enjoy the festival, cherish moments with your loved ones, and let Toskie bring the magic to your Diwali.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with ease, joy, and beauty—only with Toskie’s Diwali services in Hyderabad!

For book any services Call: 080 6917 9999 

[barkhatank]

NEWLY ARRIVAL: Size M to XXL

✅ Lowest Price

✅ Free delivery

✅ Cash on delivery

✅ 7 DAYS returns

✅festive special

✅New lonch

Buy on Meesho

https://meesho.com/LAXMIGLOBAL?_ms=1&page=1

#indianbridefashion #bridal #suits #bridalehngas #bridalmakeups #mehndi #disinersareemumbai #disiersaree #disinersareehydrabad #black #blacksuit #foryou #with #wedding #DIWALI #shopping #onlinefashion #womensfashions #bridalehngas #disinersareekolkata #disinersareesusa #indianstree #mongoosekart #sareeschennai