We had Company Annual Dinner couple of week a go where we were required to wear our traditional dress. Being a pure bred introvert, at first I did not want to come. The thought of having to wear traditional dress was major turn off. Heck, I skipped it when there was no dress code, why should I come now? Anyway, the spirit jived the whole office and I got jazzed up. The last thing I know I had agreed to wear Srikandi costume.

For those of you who do not know Srikandi, she is a female heroine from Bharatayudha war epic. An archer from Wirata Kingdom. She was married (dating? sleeping partner only? I don’t really know her moral stand point) to Arjuna, the most handsome brother of Pandawa who was very good in archery, including piercing his love arrow into a woman’s heart. Yes, Arjuna was a major player and a major babe. However, Srikandi, being an independent female heroine, did not really bother by it. She fought side by side with her husband (boy friend? sleeping partner?) leading an army fighting the bad guy, whilst her husband’s other wives (girl friends? concubines?) were left behind or hide in a tent. At least that’s what I thought happened for there was no story about other female heroine in Bharatayudha story. You can check the story here.

Anyway, I got so hang up with the thought of wearing Srikandi’s dress and carrying arrow, I was so excited and could not wait for the event to come. And when the event comes, I was really busy in the office and was one of the last who left to the hotel. By the time I got there, my friend Ratna, who played Dewi Shinta (a queen from Ramayana war epic who was kidnapped by a giant of Alengka) has already dressed up. That was the first time I realized how low the blouse was cut. It’s sort of tube dress and I could see my friend’s cleavage peeping on top of it. Yikes! I suddenly had cold feet and decided against it.

However, another friend of mine, who had spent nights hunting for the costume looked at me in rage so I changed my mind again. If looks could kill, hers was. Hence, I dare my self to put on the dress and heavy make up and decided to have a great evening. And regardless the fact that I had additional accessories (check blackberry on my waist - I was on ER duty that night, hence should be on call at anytime) and that my arrows has knocked down a glass of red wine and tore some my friends’ kebaya + stuck in their sanggul, I did had a great evening.

From the colorful dress people wearing and the spirit it was a great night. I had a great time blending with others and the dresses were really a feast for my eyes. My friend Ratna won the female best dress and our GM, ehm!, won the male best dress. A major K.A was on its way, I would say, but shhh…I kept my silence and try to ignore the cold fact.