Scene One:
Last Sunday I went to Chilukur Balaji temple (in Hyderabad). My only intention of going temple is to have peace and nothing else. As soon as I stepped out of the bus, a 22-25 aged man came to me and said to take coconuts at his shop and also gave discount like if I take coconuts then I can leave my sandals at their shop for free. I ignored him and thought he did the same. I went on towards the temple and also searching coconuts, a place where I can leave my sandals. On my way, there was his shop and he asked me to come to his shop and when I went there, I found that nothing is similar to what I thought and just ignored the shop and this person followed me and started irritating me to take and leave at his shop only. First I politely replied the reason why I ignored his shop. Instead of understanding, he started to irritate me and again I said not to indulge me anymore but he didn't stop and then I said _|_. He went away.
Scene Two:
At last I found a shop where I can take coconuts and also leave my sandals. And as usual I took out money that best suits the coconuts (I thought it would be Rs 30 but she said Rs 50. I too know the cost of a coconut because at our village, we too have a temple). I just gave the amount and she packed them in a polythene cover. As I was entering into the temple, a man at the entrance stopped me and asked not to carry the polythene cover and pointed towards a shop where there are gunny bags. I went there and gave the cover and she gave me two gunny bags (just enough to fit for a coconut and I had two coconuts) worth Rs 20.
Scene Three:
I went inside the temple. There is a tradition in the temple that, if you want to make a wish, you have to make pradakshinas around the temple and I started my pradakshinas. While I was doing my pradakshina, there was a man behind me and he was pushing me. I turned back to him and said, you just need legs to make pradakshinas unless you wish to crawl.
Scene Four:
I came out of the temple and my throat was dry. So, thought of having mazaa. I went to a shop and deliberately asked him the price and he said it is Rs 35 (the original cost is Rs 25) and when I said him that it is Rs 25 and it is written on the bottle, he said, if you want to take, then take.. else leave.
I went to bus stop. I needed to make urgent call and went to a mobile recharge shop in the bus station. I asked him to recharge of Rs 100 and he asked me to give Rs 110 and I asked, why should I pay you 110 and again I got same reply from him. This time I argued because I wanted to know the reason. He said, government is charging him Rs 24,000 per month (rental) and if I do business as you are suggesting me then I'll be in loss and I said, but you are not even doing fair business and he said this is fair business and you are not habituated to this new generation. I argued that you are not understanding the value of Rs 10 and mean while a man who maintains a shop besides him said that the system is like this and we can't do anything.
I came to know that there is no point in arguing and before leaving I said to the shop keeper that, "You may take from me today. But, don't raise your finger when I take from you tomorrow".
