Walk the shop

Appalled by the message on a prominent hoarding in SoBo, our sutradhaars get into introspective mode as they discuss why the city seems to have gone overboard this festive season post the pandemic

You are looking quite flushed, Pheroze. In fact, I noticed you taking short halts throughout our walk. All okay, I hope?” Lady Flora checked on her friend at their chai-and-biscuit break in the Horniman Circle Garden, after their weekend midnight walk.

“Oh yes, I was tied up with last-minute inclusions on my itinerary…New things, you know, that cropped up because of the festival…” Sir PM was being cagey, Lady Flora could tell from his shiftiness. “What do you mean by ‘last-minute inclusions’? Are you hiding something?” she wasn’t going to give up her line of questioning. And Sir PM knew his friend too well that it was best to come clean; no point in stalling the inevitable. “Well, if you must know…I fell into a trap. I got carried away…” his eyes fell as he began to share his ordeal. “I read this massive hoarding that spoke about an option to shop at a fancy destination instead of going for a heritage walk. It was prominently displayed on a busy road in South Bombay. I mistook the message on that signboard, because there were words like ‘heritage’ and walking’, and ended up on an utterly mindless shopping spree, with some help from the technologically inclined Dr. Viegas. The missus was with me, so you can imagine. It was unlike anything I had seen before. It was distracting in a financially unpleasant way…” Before he could continue, Lady Flora halted his monologue, “And, may I ask what this ‘financially unpleasant way’ was?” This query caused a twinge on Sir PM’s face. “My savings have been nearly wiped out with the relentless purchasing of products that I now realise are totally unwanted in my home. The missus also admitted that we erred in judgement,” he confessed.

“Well, Pheroze, I am sorry to say but your plan sounds like a disaster. Then again, it’s that time of the year when I see shoppers exercise zero restraint. You aren’t exactly fond of shopping, and even you succumbed to the hook of these alluring messages. This splurging has gotten worse this year, after two years of the lockdown and its aftermath. Whatever happened to being thoughtful about the lesser-privileged in our midst? I’ve witnessed our citizens go berserk while purchasing expensive gifts and goods. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth,” his friend seemed mighty upset. She had forgotten about the remainder of her now-cold pudina chai that she was sipping on.

“But what is also a matter of concern, my lady—and this I realised later, on re-reading the signboard on my way home—was the mention of sidelining heritage walks and heading for a shopping spree instead. I thought it was disrespectful to tell citizens to forget heritage walks and instead opt to shop at an exciting address. I mean, each of these things are different and happen for a different reason. Why swap one for another? Well, that’s my opinion…” Sir PM seemed thoroughly disgruntled with his misadventure.

“Pheroze, I totally agree. Each of these activities is for people with different passions, and I don’t see why one should be downgraded to make way for another. It was uncalled for. Heritage walks are necessary in a city like ours; our citizens, especially the younger generation ought to know about its treasures and landmarks, and walks are a great way to get introduced to it. I am sure they could have used far more attention-grabbing language and left out heritage walks; consumers would have come by anyway, going by the madness that has taken over the city’s shoppers,” reasoned Lady Flora, adding quickly with a teasing retort, “So are you never ever going to use your ‘digital’ purchases?”

Sir PM was a bit taken aback, “Err…I’ve asked Viegas if he can help me navigate these odd-looking products that they call ‘gadgets’. And I’ve noticed how people have been splurging over these things, even more so now. Festivals have become the opportune time for people to buy them, especially because they are offered at a lesser price,” he added, waiting to hear his friend’s pearls of wisdom on the subject. “Hmmm…I hear you. It is a worrying sign that the world seems to have gone back to their old ways, where everyone has gone overboard. Two years of lockdowns have been forgotten, and rightly so, if we have to be positive about our future. However, I feel we mustn’t forget the past, but learn from it. Festivals are a great time to think of the have-nots whose lives have changed forever because of the pandemic, and go easy on our own purchases, and more importantly, keep aside a little something for them. On that note, as I wish all our readers a happy and safe Diwali, I urge you to also spare a thought for these folks around us; I promise you, it will make for an even more sparkly festival,” she signed off, as they watched Bombay’s night sky put up a dazzling show.  

mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana

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