I went shopping for groceries with my daughter Varuna (5) last evening @ 9pm. She specifically asked for oranges and I admonished her that we are going to a provision store which does not stock fresh fruit and vegetables.
As usual while shopping a typical A-hole jumped the billing line. The counter clerk was ready to take his shopping basket while the others were dumbly watching. I said "WAIT, I WAS HERE BEFORE - GO Back to your position". Mr A-O quietly slid back!
Varuna saw the shopping things getting billed and was suprised to see her favourite raisins. She exclaimed loudly (in English) "Thank you dad for buying my favourite item" Mr A-O could not help it (I guess) so put his tuppence worth and asked Varuna " do you always thank your dad for the things he buys you?" Thankfully varuna ignored him
On our way out - we were greeted by a typical muslim trader Jibba and lungi and asked me in English - Do you need some fruits? I looked at the 3 wheeler shopping cart (with the cycle in the back and the fruits in display). I told Varuna that her favourite oranges and sapota were there. The guy suggested in English - the fruits were great.
My knee jerk reaction "Don't talk in English - I know tamil" (Cos prices then automatically go up by 30%!!)
So he began his pitch in Tamil and I bought ½ Kg of orange and sapota. Then he said he was a Salesman before and that is why he could speak such good english. I like his spirit and I encouraged him that he took up such a self help job as a push-cart fruit vendor. He further went on to tell me that he had his own Plastic Moulding factory in Korukkupet (North Madras) and closed it because of huge losses of 350,000 rupees.
Amazing. Would I do this if my biz goes for a toss. Maybe with my middle class morals - NO!!.
I Wish Mr Businessman luck!
