Ila was finally going home. After two long years abroad, she packed her memories into a single, slightly overstuffed suitcase. Inside lay what she loved most — not clothes or souvenirs, but a small army of handbags, clutches, and purses, each hand-stitched in long, quiet nights. Every bag had its own story. One was made from an old saree she found in her mother’s trunk. Another, from a fabric she’d dyed during monsoon just to capture the color of rain. Every single piece was meant as a gift for someone in her family — her sisters, cousins, aunts, even her neighbors back home. At the airport, the customs officer, Arjun, was tired. He had checked hundreds of bags that morning — all identical, all dull. So when Ila’s suitcase appeared, bursting slightly at the seams, he sighed. “Another overpacker,” he muttered. He unzipped it and froze.
The Note in the Bag - 1
Ila was finally going home.After two long years abroad, she packed her memories into a single, slightly overstuffed suitcase. lay what she loved most — not clothes or souvenirs, but a small army of handbags, clutches, and purses, each hand-stitched in long, quiet nights.Every bag had its own story. One was made from an old saree she found in her mother’s trunk. Another, from a fabric she’d dyed during monsoon just to capture the color of rain. Every single piece was meant as a gift for someone in her family — her sisters, cousins, aunts, even her neighbors back ...Read More
The Note in the Bag - 2
Arjun stared at the note for a long time before finally dialing the number written at the bottom.His heart beating a little too fast.The phone rang once… twice… and then a soft voice answered,“Hello?”Arjun cleared his throat. “Hi, is this Ila?”“Yes,” she said, curious.“I got your phone number from the note in one of your bags,” he said quickly. “And I wanted to ask if you could make one special purse for me.”Ila smiled, recognizing her own words coming back to her. “Of course,” she said warmly. “I’ll definitely try to make it special. Do you have anything particular ...Read More