Variety among vegetables
A day in Vile Parle’s vegetable market can show u such amazing things. I ‘m usually one of the lat people to be found t such a place but when mothers drag their kids along, i guess kids all over the universe do just what is expected. So a few days back, I landed up in the market area of Vile parle to accompany my mom in shopping ( read as “to carry her shopping bags”). This place, needless to say, is jam packed with pushcarts and thelas full of people selling their wares. There’s just enough space for 2 lanes of cars to move, hence it has been made a one-way. But as rampant in most of Mumbai, one lane is used for parking the innumerable rickshaws and cars. So the traffic moves very slow. What is surprising thought is the mixed array of people who come here to buy vegetables. Through my 45 minutes there, I saw a heavily dressed aunty gold border zari sari n all step out frm her chauffered silver BMW, a 40 something lady in a poncho and hip jeans in her chauffered chevrolet optra, a chic 30 something woman in capris and a pink tank complete with a kid on her hip alight from a huge SUV.
I saw atleast 5 honda cities, 2 BMW’S, 1 SUV, 3 Ford Ikons. Almost all these were with their drivers, but the minute they stepped near the vegetable vendors, they got down to being a true woman, and haggling for tomatoes, and onions and yes, they wouldn’t forgetting to buy those exotic veggies like purple cabbages, yellow capsicums, iceberg lettuces and brocolli. ( One of the aunties saw me urging my mom to buy brocolli so asked how I cooked it!!!)
From the super cool mom (mine!!) to the clinging hagglers, from those adorned n drowning in gold jewelry to those dressed in bare minimums of shorts and spaghettis, Its fascinating how we find the “Unity in variety” slogan describing India at the weirdest and most unlikeliest places possible. All differnt, but there, present in that place, for one mission, to procure vegetables, and at the least cost possible while they are at it.
awesome post pragni! you’re so correct about the different kinds of moms one spots at vile parle. right from the whirpool mommies to the k-series ones.
Sorry to say, but I dont see much of a difference. You see, while all women make most desperate attempts to appear different, they’re basically the same. Their instincts, their desires, their needs, their endless musings, their fears… deep down, they’re all just one woman with many different faces and voices. No offence btw! I know there’d be a lot of ladies reading this.. I dont want any hate mails!
Brilliant description Pragni. This reminds me of the striking similar situations we face in our local and B.E.S.T buses. However that is in accordance with people only…..
I loved your blog. I’m based in NYC and I’m orginally from amchi Mumbai and I miss home a lot.
I remember making these trips with my mom. I used to love going to all the Sahkari Bhandars with her and going to the Dadar markets.