The Experiment: Malls are "Westernized Spaces." If you wear a Suit, you belong. But if you wear full traditional attire (Dhoti, Kurta, Gamusa), do you become an alien? I walked into the most expensive mall in the city to test the "Class Glitch."
THE LOADOUT
Top: Silk Kurta (Beige)
Bottom: Traditional Dhoti (White)
Accessory: Gamusa (Red/White)
Footwear: Leather Chappals
> ENTRY: THE SECURITY CHECK
Reaction: He stopped me. He didn't stop the guy in shorts behind me.
Dialogue: "Sir, where are you going?"
Me: "Inside? To buy things?"
Guard: (Scans me thoroughly) "Okay. Go."
Analysis: He assumed I was a politician or a villager. Confusion level: 90%.
> STARE COUNTER
I counted every person who turned their head more than 45 degrees to look at me.
People look at you differently. It's not admiration; it's curiosity mixed with "Is he lost?"
> THE SHOPPING TEST
I went into three different stores to test customer service.
Store 1: Zara (Fast Fashion)
Staff Reaction: Ignored me completely. They assumed I wasn't their demographic.
Vibe: "You are in the wrong place, uncle."
Store 2: Apple Store (Tech)
Staff Reaction: Surprisingly polite. Maybe they thought I was a rich landlord with cash?
Dialogue: "Sir, would you like to see the iPad pro?"
Store 3: Rolex Boutique (Luxury)
Staff Reaction: Panic. The guard hesitated to open the door.
They watched my hands closely, as if I might touch the glass too hard.
> THE CONFIDENCE CURVE
At first, I felt awkward. Like a clown.
By the end, I realized something: Traditional clothes take up space. The Dhoti flows. The Gamusa commands respect. I wasn't the one out of place; everyone else in their boring T-shirts was underdressed.
> CONCLUSION
We treat our own culture as "Costume" for weddings, but "inappropriate" for malls. That is the glitch. I felt more powerful in a Dhoti than I ever felt in a Tuxedo.