"...bees nai dega, pandra dega!" [I'll pay 15 and not 20] declared my mom, disregarding the vegetable vendor's protest, even as I grimaced.
My 74-year-old mother and I had started taking evening walks after her recovery from an illness. We would walk around the block, ending at the vegetable market. She'd hold her tripod walking stick in one hand and grasp my arm with the other. Like many mothers, she loved buying her own vegetables & fruits. No matter what price the vendor quoted, she would bargain. Sometimes, I didn't approve of this behavior and would tell her not to bother about bargaining for small items, especially since I didn't want her to exert herself too much.
"Mom, we are out for a walk, not vegetable shopping, and certainly not for exercising our bargaining skills," I told her. Before I could add anything, the vendor said, "Let her talk. We are used to this, and we love it when she comes to buy from us." He said this with a genuine smile. No matter how much she bargained, they were always cordial and understanding. Often, I noticed they would quote low straightaway, yet Mom would still ask them to cut it down further 🙈.
It is common for everyone in society to treat senior citizens with so much more love, respect, and consideration than they would treat people of other age groups.
This behavior is also visible at workplaces where seniors are present. We often admire that elderly co-worker in their 60s, 70s, or 80s, marveling at the experiences they’ve had and keen to listen to what they have to share. It’s so easy to let your guard down and be accepting & receptive when you are in such company, whether in personal or professional spaces.
About the LHS of the image: Now we often order veggies over the phone. A vendor delivers, we pay as billed. Many times, I go to the market to buy veggies, and unlike my mom, I pay whatever they quote. Recently, I felt our regular vendor was overcharging us. Remembering veggie prices doesn't come easily to me, so a few weeks back, I did a market survey and listed down prices. The idea was to be aware of what I was being asked to pay, having a reference list. After a few shopping visits, I started remembering the prices of certain veggies. This shows how effective writing things down can be. While remembering things can be challenging, noting them down and referring to them regularly certainly helps.
While I still can't bargain like my mom, I am sure she is looking down at me and smiling at my effort to avoid overpaying recklessly for veggies.
P.S: Some of you may be surprised by the prices (and puzzled by the mix of Hinglish/Gujarati terms) listed in the image. However, these are the typical rates for the locality I live in, in Mumbai.
P.P.S.: By the way, when was the last time you took your mom (or dad, or both) for an evening stroll? This weekend might be a good time for it if they live with you or nearby. Erm... and make sure there’s no one selling vegetables or fruits around when you do🫣
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