Petite!

One month into our Bangalore trip, things began to change. The toughest exams were done. We had settled well into the house, figured out ways to get to places safely in time, and worked out efficient ways to get groceries and other essentials needed to run the house. Aloka and I both found ourselves with time to finally breathe and relax. 

With a month yet to go before we returned, I started searching for sports clubs where we could spend an hour daily. It wasn't easy. I wanted to swim, but Aloka doesn't swim. She wanted to go to a gym, but I hate those machines. Finally, I found a sports club called WE fitness that had both a gym and a heated swimming pool. And it was just 3 Km from the house, which translates to 20 minutes in an auto. Wonderful! 

But there was another problem. I hadn't brought my swimsuit with me. The lady at the club suggested a shop where I could go to buy one, so off I went to Options in Jayanagar. Having gone swinsuit shopping in the past in Singapore and Europe, I was cautious and ready for disappointment. But Options was true to its name. I could not believe my eyes when I was shown a whole stack of swimsuits to choose from. Most had sleeves, and some had attached pants! And size was no issue. They had sizes from small to 5XL. 

There were no bikinis on display. What I was being shown were burkinis minus the head covering! 

What! Where had I come? This was my idea of heaven!

I bought a black polka-dotted half-sleeved swimsuit with attached knee-length pants after making sure that I could get into it. Get into it? I should be more worried about my lady bits staying in place once I was in water, it was that comfortable. 

In the changing room at the club, I adjusted the swinsuit and looked in the mirror. All the jiggly pieces were in place and well-hidden. Of course, there is nothing one can do about the overall mass. The fat that is moved from one place has to land somewhere. I accepted that graciously.

I walked tentatively to the pool and was relieved that there was no one there. Luckily, the time-slot we were given, 1 to 2 pm, was the least busiest of the day. After 10 minutes or so, some more people came in. Everyone was rather big.  Everyone was in one or the other version of semi-burkinis, even the men! I caught myself staring open-mouthed at the swimmers. I call them swimmers but no one was swimming! They were walking in the water or contorting their bodies holding all sorts of styrofoam gadgets. 

Then realization slowly dawned on me. These folks were not here to swim. They were here to exercise. This was some sort of an aqua-gym for the very large people whose joints can't handle a regular gym. I was the only serious swimmer in that small group. 

I did my thing for the next 45 minutes or so, showing off a bit and being childishly competitive if I found another person doing a lap. When it was time to leave, I got out of the pool and walked unhurriedly and confidently towards the changing area, not covering myself with a towel as is my habit. 

And why not! For the first time in my life, I was the most petite person in a room!