Manicure Disaster!

Last weekend was fun.
A long-awaited mission of hour-long session of manicure and pedicure in an (expensive) salon was accomplished.
Bliss!

So the story begins a month back when there opened this particular salon right behind my house and I am very sure that my need for a pedicure arose more out of the fact that I had spotted a brand new swanky salon than the actual dirt particles bothering me.
But never mind, I guess that's not important.
What is, was the fact that there was this new salon called HFX (I liked the font too) screaming out to me every time I'd cross it.

So, after I had thoroughly convinced myself (over a period of two weeks) that I do need a pampering session, I finally headed to HFX, a cute li'l thing that has opened in Bandra, next to Smokin' Joe next to Mocha's. *
*Okay, I'm bad with directions but we''ll come to that later in life sometime.

So finally I set out. Upon reaching I entered the salon, all kicked about the divine two-hour pampering session. As I entered, a not-so-salon-type-pretty woman behind the counter flashed a fake smile to me and asked what I wanted. "Yes maam?"
I wanted to tell her it's okay to not smile when you don't want to but instead I said, "Manicure & Pedicure."
She asked me have a seat until someone's free. (Yes, she actually said that! Huh!)
So I sighed and turned to sit, picking up the latest Cosmo on my way to the mini-lounge.

A little while later an (again not-so-pretty) attendant comes with a tray of wet towel and two glasses of packed mineral water and straws.
I pick one glass and go back to my mag.
Two minutes later I sense that I am being watched.
I look up to discover that she's still standing there, bent.
I look at her with a puzzled look.
She says, "Maam, straw?"
I tell her, Oh... I don't need it. (Do I?)" wondering what do I need it for anyway.
She gives me a confused look and walks away.
Now the parlor lady's eyes are fixated on me but the moment I look at her, again, out flashes that fake smile!

I think whatever, take my glass and try to open the foil, which just WOULDN'T TEAR! Finally, after five-minute struggle I manage, with a generous amount spilling on my kurta coz I press the plastic too hard in my efforts. I look up and again a frown converts into big fake smile and I swear I could have punched that woman!

Thankfully, I am offered some tissues quick, which I nearly snatch from the attendant’s hand. After wiping the soaked me and sure that she was cursing me for having dug my nails into her hand, I finally finish my water, more coz I think I was scared of spilling it again, in one huge gulp.
Five minutes later:

A tiny-skirt-high-boots chick walks in looking all exasperated, rattling off a never-ending list of things she needs to get done. Insisting that she doesn't have enough time, she sits beside me. Minutes later she too is offered the same tray.
I grin.
She picks up the water, picks a straw, pokes it into the foils, crosses her legs and sips the entire content of the glass in one go.
My grin dissapears like a puddle of water soaked by a tissue.
I promptly dig my head into my Cosmo... not missing to think What a Bitch!

After what seemed like eternity, I hear a voice calling my name and I thank my stars.
I go in and settle down. Finally, I think!
It’s fun until the manicure lady is doing my right hand coz when it comes to the left, she asks me to dip my hand into the bowl on my right. I reluctantly follow orders cursing the pain in my upper arm. After sometime, **she wants me to balance that bowl of water on my lap. Trust me it's not easy even when your feet are not being scrubbed in someone's lap. After half-an-hour of the balancing act she looks like she's done and I am happy to have that wretched bowl off me!

I do not feel exactly pampered but the worse was still to come.
I soon realise that she had not given me a French manicure. If you ask me why I could not see that earlier, I'll ask you to refer here **

I was about to say something to her but I suddenly noticed my feet . They looked like this!





And this...





The pedicure fellow had put RED nail paint and I just couldn't stop admiring them! Ah what Vanity!

Gleefully I glide out of the parlour forgetting about the manicure disaster and the pain in my wallet...

Verdit: Too expensive!

Ratings:
Ambience: 5/10
Staff Courtsey: 6/10 (They asked me for a drink about five times (!) & held my phone next to my ear when I need to talk.)
Skill: 6/10 (I'm not sure if they did a good job)
Monies: 500 bucks (bout 12$) for Manicure and Pedicure

This was my story. Here's another take on beauty treatments by one of my favourite bloggers Quilly.