Blue Shower

On Saturday afternoon ,big blue balloons and bridesmaids in azure frocks greeted guests at the gate of Singh’s Olive restaurant at Mumbai’s Racecourse. And a buffet table groaned with candy at the entrance. If that wasn’t sweet enough,the cocktails — right from Caipirojcas to champagne cocktails-came with a lolly for a stirrer. Seasoned journalist Anil Dharker and his lady friend Amy Fernandes made the cutest sight as he took a slurp of a multi-coloured candy stick.

The belle of the ball (even though she looked like she had swallowed a ball) glowed with the proverbial maternal shine,despite a beautiful batik one-shoulder shift dress. She was on her feet the whole time,with AD fussing about her. “She won’t sit down,” he grumbled indulgently,“Can you believe Zeba and she have just returned from a shopping expedition in Bangkok?”

Most of old Mumbai was here-the city’s first page-three brigade-before the starlets and wanna-shines took over. Sangita Kathiwada look regal in a cerulean floor-length gown. Like a radiant flower princess in a printed maxi-dress,Simone Singh matched husband,the unstoppable wit,Fahad Samaar’s boho shirt and pink aviators. One-time party perennial Kishen Mulchandani lamented: “I’ve just stopped going out.

All the events today are centred around women. And yet,where is India’s Lady Gaga? Which celebrity do you see really pushing the envelope?”

Graphic artist and style maven Divya Thakur indulged in some girlie bonding with Sushma Reddy. Marc Robinson and his evilly skinny model wife Walusha reminisced about the days when fashion shows existed to launch anything— a new whiskey or a jewellery store. Arti Surendrenath chatted about her recent hols in Italy,over some penne in pesto and macaroons. The presents poured in plenty,but while Sabina cut her cake to loud cheers,show-stealer Prahlad Kakar walked in with a man in a bear’s suit,to give the girl a “real bear hug”.