Bangles, hairclips, watches, earrings, necklaces, bindis, bags, slippers, even lipsticks and nail colours are a passion with Arti. She has something to match each of her dresses. With about 10,000 bangles, hundreds of earrings and necklaces, about 150 shades each of lip and nail colours, maybe as many footwear and dozens of bags and wristwatches, her collection is indeed a formidable one.

``I started collecting them when I was in school,'' she reveals. ``It began with bangles. Growing up in Dewas, where there is a whole lane of bangle-makers, I would often sit there and watch the artisans churn out different designs. Initially, everyone frowned at the sight of a girl from a reputed family frequenting that basti, but then they got accustomed to it and I learnt to discern the rare designs and patterns from the common ones.''

This trend seems to run through all her accessories. Each is unique. ``They may not be expensive. Anyone can throw a lot of money and buy anything but they won't be able to get these varied designs because I pick up my stuff from any place I chance to pass by. The only criterion - their uniqueness,'' she adds.

It's true, it seems, because she displays what would be ordinary glass bangles but for the cutting, or dots or snake-skin patterns or maybe a double-coloured line through them. There is a chunky bracelet of camel bone with a brass edge, another of stone, one with a peculiar plaited design. Similarly, in necklaces, there are some with flat wooden beads embossed with an elephant design, one which is a combination of acrylic and silver, another of coloured coir! In earrings, there are large bells, a fish-shaped pair made from tiger-teeth, huge mother-of-pearl ones. Crystal, shells, glass, metal, stones - everything is represented here. At the moment, Arti stores them in chocolate boxes, ``Whenever I run short of space, I buy my kids a box of sweets and ask them to finish it up quickly so that I can take the box. And aren't they pleased to have such a mother!'' she laughs.

Her shoes are housed in a flat cupboard made specially for the purpose, so that she can take them out in a jiffy. While at least a 100 rainbow-hued bindis are stuck on her dressing mirror, more hang in bags and half a dozen racks hold her many lipsticks. ``Whenever a new shade comes into the market, I snap it up,'' she reveals.

Her passion runs to watches too. And she has a few unique ones - like the wood-framed transparent one in which all the tiny cogs and wheels are clearly visible. Rather like a skeleton. Then there is another one with the logo of Cathay Pacific and two aeroplanes etched on it. This she bought on a flight. She now plans to fly on a different airline every time so that she can add their special trinkets to her collection.

With all this paraphernalia, one may think that Arti is just a social butterfly with no other work except to doll herself up. And that's where one would go wrong. For Arti is a busy working woman. She is an interior designer, specialising in supermarkets, and also runs a restaurant on the premises of the College of Military Engineering.

But how does she get the time to mix and match? ``It's simple really,'' she explains, ``I pick out my dress, and match just two accessories with it. I would look an absolute clown if I matched all of them. I keep the large, heavy stuff for the evenings and stick to the light ones for work. A 10-minute notice is all I need to get ready.'' And that's not much considering the effect she creates.