This weekend,I went to the Indian store to get my weekly supply of groceries. It was crowded as expected on a weekend night. As I walked in, I noticed a young guy, hooded sweatshirt, with the hood on his head picking out something from a bin in the middle of the store.
I strolled through the vegetable aisles, and picked up a few different things, and in about 10 minutes or so got to where the guy was cherry-picking some bhindis. I got curious as to what was taking him so long. He had been at it since before I got in the store, and had maybe 10 bhindis in his bag. I waited for some time for him to get done, and when it looked like it was going to take some more time, I tried to squeeze in next to him to get some bhindis for myself.
I finally saw what was taking him so long! He was breaking off the end of each of the bhindis he was picking up, and put, maybe 1 out of 5 in his bag. The other broken ones went back in the bin! What a waste!!! Then I surprised myself! I actually spoke up and told him, "That's not nice! You are breaking stuff and putting it back. Other people would like to buy some too, you know?"
He giggled! That was his only response! "He he he!"
From then on, at least till I was there filling my own bag, he did not put any broken ones back. But he had damaged so many of them already, it was hard to get anything out of there :(
I wonder if he even realized what he was doing before I pointed it out to him. He probably thought it was a good thing, picking out the best veggies that he could get.
I bet he would not do the same in an American store. Simply because it is not allowed there (not bothering to think about why it is not the done thing in the non-Indian stores!)
I hope he thinks twice before damaging goods like this.
And then I started to think about what I said to him. I did not tell him the real thing that was bothering me. That he was breaking something he did not intend to pay for! I hate this about me. I cannot think on my feet and say the right thing at the right time. Normally, I would not even say anything, thinking like a typical Indian, that this is not my problem, मुझे क्या!? So I guess at least thats a start. I spoke! Not just write about something hours or even days after the fact :)
Oh well...here I go again! Making a mountain out of a pile of bhindis!
6 years ago
20 comments:
i think he was looking for tender bindi..and breaking the tail is the test to find if bindi is tender or not :)
its very common in India..If you see a bindi with tail broken you dont even touch it :)
Maybe u were late and you found only tailess bindis :D
Its a very common thing in India, but then they price also like that, if they categorise according the quality , then it would be better.
You have been tagged !
Well in his defense, breaking bhindi is the best what to know which bhindi is fresh :)
And in your defense, yes he may not have done it in any other mall. But, kaya, kane, phir bhi dil hai hindustani.
hehehheeh
bhindi par ek poora post...
yeah breaking bhindi is a practive well practiced in India...but the guy was dumb ...the bhindi whose corners get broken on one go are good and which don't get broken are the old ones which quite feel like grass while eating after cooking...
so u cud had picked up the smoothly torn bhindis... :P
and u cud had bargained the storewala to give u a lesser rate for the good bhindis :P..coz they were all broken...
lol
and look at the cliche..
I literally came up with a big comment on a bhindi post...
lol
@anon, yes, I know why he was doing it. But that does not justify damaging things. Not here, not in India!
@RenuDi, Yes, I know. Just because it is common in India does not make it right, no?
@Chirag, you are not allowed to defend him :)
@sourish, you forget that I was born in India too, and I know why he was doing it. But like I said before, just because it is done there, does not make it right. And I am not going to tax the poor shopkeeper for someone damaging his ware. And please do something about your grammar. You could "had" nahi hota, you could "have" hota hai.
and how are you doing/ I tried visiting your blog, but it seems to have disappeared!
In a way this is the reason I prefer the packaged products(pre-packed in specific quantities). You can not really do any harm to them then.
I really dont like it when people press tomatoes also to check whether they are ripe!
Bhindis! Can't think of anything else except that i love bhindis. I mean even I do this but not with all the bhindis, only when I doubt that the one I'm picking seems to be hard and is not worth my stomach :)
am glad u voiced out...keep it up gal.....
Well that is not right...I guess you have to speak what is right like you do here....
I would have made him buy all those bhindis if it were me (telling the shopkeeper)....and then if he did not want them would have taken them :)
he he the last phrase took the cake sweets!! :P Yeah this happens so often in India. :)
@athira, finally someone who understands my sentiments :)
@rakesh, if you are in doubt then just put it back, why damage it?
@mia, thankooo!
@ceedy, I would have if I could have :)
@ria, but its not right, not here, not there. Breaking some poor man's things is not good!
Ohhhh btw do you know to make GOOD bhindi???????/(crossing fingers :P)
@ceedy, sure do! 3 different kinds ;)
tadantada....
shigra hi yaha se waha aata hoon....as soon as I get some time off ;)
sure, ceedy :)
glad you spoke :)
yeap..................
sowie noticed:P
grammer ka poora 12 baj gya hai...dekho just quotes mein you could had ko google karo..u will fine similar morons like me :P
guess wat ..abhi yeh net pe bina rok tok english se yehi hota hai :(
and abt bhindi.. khane do unhe...coz in few days things gonna be no same for Indians there....
and abt my blog...shifted to a new Id... but it is there via my profile...jut wanted to vanish away from google...
Oh I hear ya, aneri masi! My standard practice is to fume for hours if not days after some offensive behavior has occurred. I think up clever, witty, acidic responses ... only it's too little too late because I'm usually so caught up being offended that actually speaking up is beyond me!
Conclusion: at least you said something!
Its always to speak rather than sulk later on. And speaking up for something rightful at the right time.
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