A Sunday morning expedition

06.01.2013

Last night I went out with my friend Lakshmi to do various things. We also did some shopping at Reliance super market. I bought a few things for other residents in our Home. While sorting things out this morning I found the ½ litre of sesame oil priced at Rs. 127. I felt it was too high. The last time I bought, I remember it to be something just over Rs.80. I checked the MRP price in the pack and it said Rs.119. The price could have gone up since then but I couldn’t accept Reliance charging me over the MRP. I checked the price of all the other items and found they were all charged at the MRP. And at the end of the totaling it had a ‘savings at this purchase’ as Rs.10. I couldn’t understand where that savings came from when I have been over charged. My friend Lakshmi too had bought the same item and she too has been charged the same, and over and above that in her package the banana she bought wasn’t there and she was billed for that. I got her bill and the packet of oil too.

I decided to go over and complain. The day was good with overcast sky and cool. After breakfast and after hanging out the clothes to dry, I walked towards the bus stop to catch the 9 a.m. bus to town. It is a half a km. walk to the bus stop. Half way down my taxi driver Prakash, who happened to be there on a different assignment, pulled up and gave me a ride to the bus stop. So, I was a bit early at the bus stop, but as luck would have it the bus too came 5 minutes early. I got a window seat. Everything worked just so.

Got off at my destination and walked towards the shop. It was still pretty early in the day and being Sunday not many shops were open. I bought a magazine at the roadside shop. At Reliance at met the Manager just near the entrance and explained to him that I have come to return the items as I have been over charged for it. He said it is the system fault and they get the programme from Bombay. He was willing to take back and if I wanted I could buy something in exchange. I refused to buy anything else and asked for refund. He offered the bananas, but as they were over-ripe I refused that too. And he had no explanation for the ‘savings’ I have had in choosing to buy in that shop. I told him to complain to the management with copy to me.

I still had to buy the oil for Leela mami. I went further looking for a local grocery store. I found an excellent one – Bharath stores. The shop was chock-a-block full of things, well stacked and brightly lit. I was impressed. 

While waiting to be served, I found some items of purchase on the counter and noticed the Munchies’ Lemon Puff cookies, my favourite Sri Lankan cookie. Just then I saw the young man standing next to it waiting to get the bill made. I started the conversation with him with the cookies being my favourite too, introduced ourselves and carried on talking as if we knew each other longer than just the few minutes. It was so very comfortable. He gave me his business card and I promised to keep in touch. 

As I walked back towards the bus stop, I didn’t resist the temptation to stop at the ice cream parlour and indulge myself to have a scoop of ‘fig and honey’ ice cream, with honey and roasted almond topping. I had to wait for nearly half an hour for my bus but it didn’t bother me in any way as it was still pretty early in the day. 

Travelling by bus, I was happily lost in thoughts of all the happenings of the morning. My interaction with the young man reminded me of my own sons living so far away and I missed them very much which brought tears into my eyes. But that too made me feel happy as I was being in touch with my own emotions which I usually suppress or negate.

And surprise surprise, as I got off at the Mangarai bus stop my taxi driver Prakash was there with his jeep ready to pick me up and drop me at my Home. He was on the lookout for me on his way to his home and just guessed I may be coming back by that bus at that time.

What was the purpose of my morning expedition? 

To complain about being over-charged Rs. 8, I spent Rs.22 for the bus and 3 hours of my time. Was it worth it?  

May be not if I think very rationally. But all the other things that happened along the way made it so worthwhile. 

I shared my happiness with my friend, fellow resident Shantharam, who has such an endearing way of ‘envying’ me my good luck with honest, heartfelt good wishes, and blessings. It made my day.