Hackneyed

Originally posted on:

Thursday, December 06, 2007

We march...
Into the busy corridors of the Monda Market we march
Squeezing into the crowd, trying to bargain on half a kilo quantity of lady fingers, we march
We march, in pursuit of that one red Bengaluru tamata, we march
We march, to find the cheapest prices for green leafy vegetables we march
Amidst the stinking smell of the open sewerage of Secunderabadand
Amongst the rich, poor and the bourgeios we march
Irking the chaffeur of the Merc, not heeding to the horn, not letting his car through
Staying on the street, fighting with the 'santrawallah' for that one extra santra
We march, to get the best deal on moong dal and Bombay Ravva
Smiling, after looking at the rupee we saved.
We march.Into the Monda Market we march.

Typical Indians. Bargaining on vegetables and fruits. Some stingy Indian once said, 'Its not how much you earn that makes you rich, it is how much you save'. Curls took me to Monda market in Secunderabad the other day. She had to buy some moisturser. It was an enriching experience. For the mosquitoes I mean, as millions of them sucked blood out of my already emaciated body. The worst was the stinking smell from the stamping of the rotten tomatoes lying on the streets and the buffalo droppings just beside the moong dal vendor's shop. What intrigues me, is the ethnicity of this lot. People, rich and poor, male and female, kids and Grampas. Everyone, irrespective of color, cast, creed, age or sex. Everyone bargains. Even the *itch who gets down the E-class Merc bargains trying to rip the poor old fisherman man of his worthy catch, while her hubby dearest is stripping off the Government's corpus fund on the name of some shipyard building over the banks of Gandipet.

I don't understand this. People put thousands of rupees on one square yard of land but they are very recalcitrant when it comes to pay that one extra rupee to the vegetable vendor. Why? What kind of an ego clash is that? They actually feel proud of saving that one rupeeand share the tale with the neighbours when they meet in the mornings while watering the tulasi plant after their shower.

No wonder the rich get richer and the poor get poorer in India.

Oh by the way, Viccissitudes of a certain Velcro is open for the following bloggers to post on my blog. Others, I'm sorry to miss you this time but just scrap me and you can blog in starting next season.
The guests are:
Curls
Creativeshocker
Der Untermensch
Drop Dead
RiSk
Bizzare Kid
Dark Angel
Ani
Aditi (0n paper)
DV
Raul