I can't haggle to save my life. I don't like to haggle. My mother though can run a certification course on the same. Sadly, I havn't inherited an ounce of that art.
We've been looking for a particular kind of cushin cover for a really long time. Today at CP Mumma found the perfect match. This, after looking through an insane number of covers and trying out different combinations. Then of course came the inevitable
"Kitne lagaogi ?"
"Madam, maine toh aapko theek theek hi lagay hai. 75 ka hai, maine aapko 60 ka bataya hai."
"Chalo 50 ka de do."
"Nahin madam usme toh humara kuch nahin bane ga."
"Arre de do na."
I'm already squriming at this point.
"Nahin, madam"
Chalo theek hai phir, hum aage se dekh le ge
And then the walk away. Now this I've always thought to be the riskiest move. Also, the one that is most likely to get you the best bargains. I mean if you really like whatever it is that you're buying and the guy doesn't relent, you'll end up regretting the walk away.You can't really go back because then the shopkeeper has the upper hand. Or as my five year old cousin would say " Aap ki chop ho gayi " .
Of course, if he does relent and holler for you to come back, you're the lucky winner.
So yes, coming back to my mom's shopping strategy. We walked and she hollered back. We walked a little more and we could hear her scream in the background. So I told my Mom that we should go back and get them. I took her purse and walked back. Now, Mumma thought she'd bargain for 200 (50 *4 ). But when I went back, I some how managed to agree to 220. Mom was furious. But I managed to convince her. The cushion cover lady didn't have change so my Mom got impatient and decided to walk. For twenty bucks. We walked away for twenty bucks.
And this is where my problem with bargaining begins and ends. If you like it, you should get it. That is, if it it involves as little a sum as twenty rupees. Its not a hundred or a grand. Twenty we can afford.
Cushion cover lady follwed us and got the change with her. So we ended up paying 220.My Mom of course, has vowed to never go shopping with me.
My Dad thinks we should have started with 30!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Here Comes That Train !
The Metro's finally reached Noida !!
I've lived through a lot of construction work, diversions and traffic jams for the last 2 and half years. Needless to say I've really anticipated this moment. The sight of the train being tested a week before gave me such a kick! So yes, I couldn't wait for Friday, the thirteenth.
Mumma couldn't stop talking about it on Friday. She even clicked a photo of it from our balcony. First day was going to be mad so we figured we'd risk Saturday and go for a ride. Of course, half of Noida would have used the train on Friday. The other half, unfortunately decided to turn up the exact moment that I did. So the station was jam packed when we got there. I'd quite literally dreamt of the day I would buy my Smart Card ( yes, I am slightly dramatic). The platform was a total mess !! There were just too many people trying to spot the train. I love the fact that I can spot my house from the platform. So yes, fifteen minutes later the train decided to grace us with its presence.
And then the pushing and shoving began. I've travelled in blue lines and DTCs before so I'm used to it all and over the years have learnt to hold my ground even if it is a few square centimetres. Mumma though hasn't been in a bus for quite some time. I could see how much the rush was bothering her. We ended up standing right next to the doors. So she tried telling people not to get in at several stations. Obviously, that didn't work. And just as we were pushed and shoved in, we were pushed out at Rajeev Chowk.
I'd like to believe that the once the initial excitement wears of, the rush will get staggered. But I'm also painfully aware that there's no way that I can avoid all that rush always. Sadly, the Metro can't make people disappear. Or may be everyone will travel by the train and the roads will be emptier. Maybe not.
The ride back was much better. We got seats and watching the lit up line from the Metro was great.
Thank you DMRC :)
I've lived through a lot of construction work, diversions and traffic jams for the last 2 and half years. Needless to say I've really anticipated this moment. The sight of the train being tested a week before gave me such a kick! So yes, I couldn't wait for Friday, the thirteenth.
Mumma couldn't stop talking about it on Friday. She even clicked a photo of it from our balcony. First day was going to be mad so we figured we'd risk Saturday and go for a ride. Of course, half of Noida would have used the train on Friday. The other half, unfortunately decided to turn up the exact moment that I did. So the station was jam packed when we got there. I'd quite literally dreamt of the day I would buy my Smart Card ( yes, I am slightly dramatic). The platform was a total mess !! There were just too many people trying to spot the train. I love the fact that I can spot my house from the platform. So yes, fifteen minutes later the train decided to grace us with its presence.
And then the pushing and shoving began. I've travelled in blue lines and DTCs before so I'm used to it all and over the years have learnt to hold my ground even if it is a few square centimetres. Mumma though hasn't been in a bus for quite some time. I could see how much the rush was bothering her. We ended up standing right next to the doors. So she tried telling people not to get in at several stations. Obviously, that didn't work. And just as we were pushed and shoved in, we were pushed out at Rajeev Chowk.
I'd like to believe that the once the initial excitement wears of, the rush will get staggered. But I'm also painfully aware that there's no way that I can avoid all that rush always. Sadly, the Metro can't make people disappear. Or may be everyone will travel by the train and the roads will be emptier. Maybe not.
The ride back was much better. We got seats and watching the lit up line from the Metro was great.
Thank you DMRC :)
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Mumma's Birthday And Going Back To Where We Belong
We celebrated Mumma's fiftieth today in compensation for last year. I felt so bad for her, completely ruining last year because of my papers and I had promised to make it up to her this year. So we celebrated her 50th today and we celebrate her 51st tomorrow :)
I gave her tons of options and wherever she wanted to go we'd go. I knew she wanted to go back to Khan Market. She's been wanting to go back for years and some how I've never managed to get her there.
Mumma's grown up in Khan Market. Spending winters there because Kashmir was way too cold. So naturally, I've grown up hearing stories of Khan and how much fun every one had together.
Over the three years in college I've spent a lot of time in Khan myself. I even looked up Flat no. 10 and reported back to her that it now housed a salon.
As I drove towards the parking I could sense her excitement. She started looking around and told me of how she remembered it. I let her lead the way. I knew where she wanted to go first. 10, Khan Market. She stood there and just looked. I could sense all those memories flooding back. We even went up and looked around, as she proudly announced to all in sight that she used to live there earlier.
We went all around the market. I heard stories of night stays, bike rides, morning walks and more. I've heard most of them before and I know I'd love to hear them all over again. She told me of shops that were there even when she was young. She told me how much the place had changed.
I thought we'd go to CP next but she wanted to go to Lodhi Garden. I know how much she used to love those morning walks with Papaji. She looked around like an excited kid. We walked all over the place and I loved the fact that she was completely enjoying herself.
Its been a wonderful wonderful day. We haven't spent this sort of time together in a very long time and I'm very glad we did.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMA :)
I gave her tons of options and wherever she wanted to go we'd go. I knew she wanted to go back to Khan Market. She's been wanting to go back for years and some how I've never managed to get her there.
Mumma's grown up in Khan Market. Spending winters there because Kashmir was way too cold. So naturally, I've grown up hearing stories of Khan and how much fun every one had together.
Over the three years in college I've spent a lot of time in Khan myself. I even looked up Flat no. 10 and reported back to her that it now housed a salon.
As I drove towards the parking I could sense her excitement. She started looking around and told me of how she remembered it. I let her lead the way. I knew where she wanted to go first. 10, Khan Market. She stood there and just looked. I could sense all those memories flooding back. We even went up and looked around, as she proudly announced to all in sight that she used to live there earlier.
We went all around the market. I heard stories of night stays, bike rides, morning walks and more. I've heard most of them before and I know I'd love to hear them all over again. She told me of shops that were there even when she was young. She told me how much the place had changed.
I thought we'd go to CP next but she wanted to go to Lodhi Garden. I know how much she used to love those morning walks with Papaji. She looked around like an excited kid. We walked all over the place and I loved the fact that she was completely enjoying herself.
Its been a wonderful wonderful day. We haven't spent this sort of time together in a very long time and I'm very glad we did.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMA :)
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