Anything getting free

by Jasvinder Sharma
February 16, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1288/anything-getting-free

The winter season has gone and it is that time of the year when every Tom, Dick and Harry throng luxurious Shopping Malls and get the best deal of the sale season. Credit cards studded wallets; recurrent sales at snob boutiques and post-internet age women's insatiable shopaholic soul make them commando shoppers who attack morning newspapers with a vengeance to update themselves on latest heavy discounted offers on branded items at premium stores.

Odd and bizarre was the morning when I made a good fool of myself. I picked up that vernacular newspaper along with my regular English daily from my terrace. And that was the root cause of all the trouble that followed.

I thought the regional language newspaper belonged to my neighbor which the hawker threw it to our side by mistake. I went to my neighbor to hand over his paper. He said mockingly, 'these days Hindi newspapers rain like monsoon showers and that too free of cost. It is for you, my dear. '

I came back to my terrace and started glancing through it. My better half joined me along with bed tea. Anything we get free or through unfair means is always an amusing temptation. My wife has a unique way of reading newspapers. She starts from the last page. Unlike me, she is not fanatical about edit pages or sports spread outs. She hunts for the columns showing free offers, discounts and attractive sales.

In few seconds she spotted a catch – the mega sale of Bangalore silk saris fest at the Piccadilly Multiplex. She roughed up her household errands quickly and started her make-up. She pleaded that we may not buy anything for sure. Her idea was noble in spirit; we should be in touch with the latest trend. I remembered a Greek saying --- curiosity kills the cat. I felt like a scapegoat.

Soon we found ourselves in front of the grand 5-star hotel. Magnificent super model cars were parked all around. By taking a lustrous lift we reached the tenth floor where that mesmerizing sale fest was in full swing.

The great ocean of vibrant saris engulfed my better half and she was bewildered to see such a great array of suits, saris and duppattas. I was at a loss to kill time. I would stroll here and there aimlessly glancing at the beautiful ladies baring their sumptuous body parts. They were mad about discounts little unmindful of the fact that their original price was enhanced many times and after that a huge discount was offered as a bait.

Any way, many hands were pouncing upon one sari or one suit at a time. There was a panic that someone else may not take away what one has selected. My wife too had selected a score of suits, saris and other dress material and I had held them all in my hands and arms while following her to those endless stalls. I was not the only faithful and dutiful husband who was carrying her chosen items like that. There were hundred of such obedient husbands like me all around.

Soon there gushed a big squall of wives and husbands to that hall. It had become difficult to move about even on one's heels. The condition of sales girls was pitiable like that of sailors who get caught in a big storm. My life partner bought clothes worth thirty thousands rupees and still she was not happy. In the sale mania, she bought those items which were fast going out of fashion. It all was my folly. I should not have picked that free vernacular newspaper from my terrace. I got the bitterest lesson of my life --- never attempt anything offered free.

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