When four trendy young ladies decide to take a break from their daily routine, relax in cool environs and catch up on haute talk of recent days past, it is but natural that they choose the secluded ambience of a spa to chill out – literally and metaphorically – in. So, just a few weeks ago, four of New Delhi’s young ladies – Pushpanjali Chawla, Neha Jetley, Rima Mehra and Mohini Boparai – threw their appointments for the day out of their calendars and drove down to The Westin Gurgaon for some fun time together and lots of soul pampering.

The pleasing interiors of the Heavenly Spa by Westin – that is housed on the lower level of Hotel Westin, Gurgaon – offer an immediate relief from the heat and the hustle-bustle of city life. Adding to the serenity is the gently cascading water body outside. Pushpanjali, in an orange jumpsuit from Rockabella and an ivory coloured chiffon blouse from BCBG, strolls in with a broad smile on her face, followed closely by Mohini in a Karen Millen outfit and Rima, in her husband Shantanu Mehra’s creation. Obviously meeting after a long interval, the three girls exchange warm hugs and excited greetings. A little while later, Neha, attired in a BCBG Max Azria summer dress, rushes in – blaming the traffic of the highway for her late entrance – her light eyes shining when she spots her friends.

The preliminary introductions with the team of the spa done, Bandana Sundas, spa manager, ushers in much-needed coolers for the foursome. The attractive colourful spartinis – a term they have coined for the specially created drinks – are laid out on the bar. The girls take their pick and settle down on the huge centre settee to exchange notes.

Mohini, who has carried her laptop with her, is laughingly chided by her friends for doing so. She sets it aside, even though work deadlines loom large in her mind. She is an architect who moved to New Delhi from Amsterdam around seven years ago. “I started my architectural firm,” she explains. “I wanted to encompass the influences that have formed me as a person into my architecture – my Indian background and upbringing and also what I imbibed after living and studying in the Netherlands.”

Sipping leisurely on the spartinis, the girls exchange notes on why and how often they go to spas. Neha, who is director, EZspend Prepaid Cards, confesses to be stressed out by ‘inefficiency and untimely delays’ even though she says that by and large she is a calm person. “Work plays a huge role in my life so I do get bothered by highs and especially lows at work,” she adds. And though listening to music and singing helps her relax, she drops by at a spa once or twice a month. Mohini is relishing her time out from office that day. As she admits, “I don’t really go to spas that often. If I go, I do so with friends. But once I’m there I can’t get myself to leave!” Rima, who handles communications and strategy for Shantanu & Nikhil, says, “I am not so much of a city-centric spa girl, but tend to live in them when I am holidaying. Almost 50 per cent of my holiday time in a resort environment goes into spa-related activities as my husband and both kids are water-babies who simply refuse to budge out of the pool and do anything else. And I normally take two to three such holidays in a year.”

The self-confessed spa veteran is Pushpanjali, who has helped initiate the day’s spa-rty. She owns and runs two consulting and management companies – Luxury Works and Piivotul Consulting Services whose core competencies are incubation, operations and marketing – and goes to a spa at least once a week. She loves her weekly reflexology treatments, monthly facials and fortnightly full body massages. Her friends state that she is the most fun person to be around; she is the one who has a mischievous vein running through her – a trait that is shared by Mohini.

Smiling, Pushpanjali says, “I don’t think I have ever been described as a calm person. But I do not really get stressed because I tend to live for the moment – the past is history, the future is too far to worry about! Having said that, the only time I get stressed is if some harm comes to my family. My family is my world and seeing any one of them unwell or in pain really affects me.”

The flutes of strawberry and mango spartinis – a blend of mango (or strawberry) puree and champagne – are almost empty and a couple of the girls ask for a refill. By now, they have curled up on the central sitting piece and their conversation swirls gently, punctuated with laughs. Talk turns to how they stay fit – with their different preoccupations. Pushpanjali swiftly ripostes, “Fitness is extremely important to me. While I have gone through phases where I have put fitness on the backburner, I am happy to say that I have always found the motivation to make it a priority again! I change my fitness routine from time to time – currently I am doing a combination of interval training and two days of yoga.” Neha follows a routine called P90X with yoga and swimming, while Rima’s fitness regime is a mix of yoga, pilates and tennis. Mohini has tried her hand at several sports and finally settled on the one she loves the best – tennis.

As the special spa niblets are lined up attractively on the bar, all talk of fitness is forgotten as the four girls glide towards the offerings to examine each and take their pick. In between relishing the small bites, they study the spa menu to decide what relaxation they would like to indulge in for the day. Rima who is the first to disappear into the inner rooms, after complimenting Chef David Watson, who is warmly thanked by all four – for ‘the lovely light and refreshing meal which was beautifully presented’ – opts for a relaxing reflexology session.

Mohini decides to try the fish treatment ‘for the first time’. On a daily basis her stress-buster is unusual. In her words: “I stress out when things don’t go as I planned. I am a control freak. But to relax, I plan, as I call them, daily Christmases. Just as we look forward to Christmas, I give myself something to look forward to every day. This could be dinner with friends or simply a quiet night at home watching movies.” After the fish treatment, she opts for her usual massage to complete the experience. “It was heavenly,” she informs later. “The staff was very attentive and professional... And I loved the company I was with. We had so much fun together.”

It is obvious that the girls want to sit and chat – for much more time but the inner sanctum beckons. Neha decides that she will go for a Purity facial with Radiance eye treatment. She normally spends around two hours in a spa rejuvenating herself with the facials, body scrubs and massages – it is around the same time later that she emerges glowing.

Pushpanjali, who has generously waited till her three friends have vanished, goes in for the Purity facial and foot reflexology. She states enthusiastically when she emerges much later in the lobby, “The niblets were perfectly balanced pieces of pure delight. The fact that they were all super foods was a great bonus. The spartinis were sinfully good. They just made us all smile. The reflexology therapist was fantastic! I get reflexology once a week, so I have tried multiple therapists in India and abroad. Tenzen (the spa attendant) was world class! In addition, all of us girls had a blast – during the photo shoot, the spartinis, the laughter and exquisite surroundings.... It was pure bliss!”

Spa specials
Some signature treatments at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi

Rollersage: This unique deeply penetrating massage is soothing and utterly absorbing. Pure, perfectly round semi-precious crystals are heated and rolled over the body combining Swedish massage with radiating heat to relax tense muscles.

Heavenly Massage: The pampering massage with aroma oils soothes tired muscles with a warm scented herbal pouch. Relaxation is achieved from the harmonious balance of scent and touch.

Westin Workout Massage: This is a personalised massage that addresses specific areas to reduce muscle tension, increase range of motion and provide a warm-up to activity. It is ideal to relieve discomfort or pain from over-activity.

On the menu

• Gazpacho cocktail (tomato, basil, quark cheese and olives).
• California roll (crabmeat, cucumber, chilli mayonnaise and tobiko roe).
• Granola muesli cocktail (Seasonal fruits, orange blossom yogurt).
• Rock melon cocktail (black forest ham, mozzarella and mint).
• Watermelon cocktail (Greek feta, thyme, lime juice and black olives).
• Foccacia cocktail (Goats cheese, minted zucchini, balsamic).
• Yam pla muek cocktail (Thai prawn squid, chilli, lemongrass salad).

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