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Malleshwaram
8th cross
Rashmi Shenoy
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Rashmi Shenoy writes for OKC
in her spare time from Auckland New Zealand.
For people living in Malleshwaram, it is more of a need to
go to the 8th cross than anything else. But those of you who
have never been there, I don’t know if I can say you have
missed much. Not that this is an invitation or an
encouragement either. During festivals, it can get as bad as
ever but otherwise, Malleshwaram 8th cross is a very
eye-catching place, which plays host to a lot of activities
happening there. Malleshwaram 8th cross depicts how
overpopulated India is, with more than a sizeable share of
the humans race.
I’ve observed a few guyz standing in the corners of the
cross streets, just enjoying each sight they see. This road
can be entered from Margosa Road or the other end, which is
Sampige Road. To begin with, the corner plot of this not so
very broad road has a bank. Then there area a couple of
complexes where u can buy watches, foot wares, spectacles or
lenses, blouse pieces & saris, any sort of garment to
Baskin Robins Ice cream. For those religious minded people
this area also has a lot of temples around with Kanika
Parameshwari Temples entrance on the 8th cross itself. There
is Raghavendra Swamy temple, which is popularly known, as
“Raayar Mutt” then there is our dear Ganesha’s temple
too. If you are inclined, you can go into the other few
temples too but I included just these three temples in my
regular rounds.
During the festive season, this is the place where a lot of
vendors gather to sell their goods. During such times, most
of the businesses are carried out professionally. The rich
come in and do not even bother to bargain, as they know they
get their money’s worth. I’ve seen a couple of men
(middle-aged), riding on their scooters with little boys
hanging on to dear life as pillion riders, stopping their
scooters every third minute, buy flowers or vegetables even
without getting off the scooter. They don’t even bother
asking the price and just say “6 aagalkai, 4 kg bendekai
mathe nakaidu seeme badne kai kodamma” The lady diligently
packs it up in plastic cover, which might tear anytime and
hands it over to the scooterist. He shoves it in his huge
market bag (or so we call it), which is kept in the center
of his scooter, the handle of which is plugged into one of
those holders that are generally found in most scooters. Then
there are also a couple of others who start arguing and
fighting and not buying things coz the vendor is over
charging them. In a similar row, I found a woman
authoritatively asking a flower lady to pack up “5 strands
of jaaji, mallige and samanthige hoova” I assumed that she
might be one of those big shots who asked people to pack
“that, that and that” without finding out the price. I
was next in the row to buy the flowers so I patiently waited
there. As she packed and gave the flowers out to the lady,
she said “ipathentu rupaiyamma” Then
it all started. “enu? Yaar hathra maathadthidiya antha
gamna idiya?” And the lady went on and on and on, not
giving a chance for the poor vendor to justify as well. As
much as I did not want to stand there, I could not help it
as there weren’t anyone else in the whole of 8th cross
selling such fresh flowers. Some how probably the vendor
lady got a chance to justify but the buyer never agreed to
pay a single paisa. She somehow walked out from the place
holding those flowers in her hand. The vendor lady ran out
of her assumed stall area and requested me “swalpa
nodkolamma”. She
was a short lady whose mouth was full of “Paan” I waited
on. She managed to have another prolonged fight and came
back with the packed flowers. And then she sat back in her
place and started cursing the rich who cheat the poor. I
felt bad for all the unpleasantness that was shown out
towards the poor. It was only during the festival time that
they could actually make good money, and they were such
people depriving that. I decided to buy the already packed
flowers from her. I was almost getting late. I handed her
thirty rupees and told her I will take the packet. She
returned five rupees and thanked me!!
- Rashmi Shenoy
Click
here if you would like to Contribute or send a feedback.
Click
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