It wasn’t a club really, but an association of around two score shop-keepers in a small cul-de-sac in Chandni Chowk. I attended their annual election of the Club President on the invitation of my friend Suresh.

Suresh was a wholesaler of health food. Their club had people selling suitcases, embroidered sarees, diaries, books, dry-fruits, food-stuff, utensils, watches, and even other assorted gifts. Their lane that closed at one end was like a complete market. They loved calling their association ‘The Mall Club’. It made them feel as if they were competing well with the malls of Delhi and the NCR.

The slogan for the year had been short-listed… and the election for the President would be the final activity on the day’s agenda.

‘Enjoying?’ asked Suresh.

‘Yes, I am,’ I said, ‘Never thought you shop-keepers could be so cohesive and had so much fun.’ I wasn’t surprised that their slogan for the year took cleanliness to a new height: ‘Clean shops and clean deals’. Seemed fair and in line with the current political will too.

‘I hope you have clean elections too,’ I asked. Suresh then explained that it was the wives in the club who cast their votes to elect the President for the year.

‘Wives?’ I asked, ‘This is interesting.’

Suresh said, ‘Yes, it is. The wives decide on the annual slogan too. Cleanliness is on their minds this year, it seems.’ We laughed and though I had noticed his two-day old stubble, I said nothing. Didn’t want my friend to panic.

The election was preceded by 10-minute speech by the contestants and Suresh was one of them.

The wives applauded each of them… and then voted. When the results were announced, Suresh lost by a stubble, literally! Suresh smiled ruefully and said, ‘Stubble stumble. Sad. But I’ll remain clean throughout the year now.’

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This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette

This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette

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‘This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette‘.

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Requesting the following bloggers to also write on the #WillYouShave activity:
1. Amlan Das. Blog: PseudoFiction
2. Afshan Khan. Blog: Afshan-Shaik

In the post that you write, you will need to mention that you were referred by me.
Suggested topics for males:
Missed chances: Stories or instances where you missed out on an opportunity because of a non-shaven face.
Luck or Confidence?: Will you leave your fate in the hands of destiny or will you step up and say yes to a well-groomed face to be at your best everyday?

#WillYouShave

Suggested topics for females:
An instance when a stubble came in the way of a man’s chance to make a good impression.
An instance when a well groomed look ensured that they struck gold on an opportunity given to them.

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‘This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette‘.

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Arvind Passey
27 November 2014