Haggling leaves a bitter taste

HAGGLING is par for the course in India. People from all walks of life argue with shopkeepers or street vendors over prices — and they seem to have all the time in the world to do it. This habit is deeply ingrained in our society, and it’s often most visible when rickshaw pullers or vegetable/fruit vendors are at the receiving end.

I remember an incident from the 1980s during my college days. I was on my way to visit my aunt, who lived in Mubarikpur village near Dera Bassi. As I arrived at Dera Bassi, I spotted a tonga; an old, frail man wearing a Nehru jacket was standing beside it. He was calling out loudly, “Mubarikpur, Mubarikpur!” I quickly made my way to his tonga and took a seat. Once it was filled to capacity, the old man climbed up and we set off.

About 15 minutes later, we reached Mubarikpur. I wasn’t very familiar with the village at the time, so I waited for a bit after getting off, as the tonga driver was collecting fares and returning change to other passengers. Finally, he came to me. I asked him the fare, and in a tired, weak voice he replied, “75 paise”.

I was stunned. The fare was so small — it felt like the ground beneath me had slipped away. I stood there, thinking about how little he was earning for that ride. After paying him, I walked towards my aunt’s house, lost in thought. The image of that fragile old man kept coming back to my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about the deep-rooted social inequality.

This is the ground reality for millions in our country. People work tirelessly from morning till night, just to earn enough to feed their families two simple meals a day. Yet, it’s disheartening to see even well-off persons bargaining with street vendors, autorickshaw drivers or rickshaw pullers. You will often hear them boast, “He asked for this much, and I told him I’d only pay that much. I said, ‘Take it or leave it.’”

Please don’t stoop so low. If a poor vendor or worker asks for a few rupees more, what dent does the amount really make in your monthly budget? Maybe Rs 500-1,000. But to them, that money matters greatly. It could make all the difference between going hungry all day and having a meal.

This small act of kindness could earn you a heartfelt blessing from someone who truly needs your compassion.