An Ode to Shopping

What is it about shopping ???

For my wife (and probably for a lot of women, I daresay), the ”S” word brings out smiles, eyes light up and she becomes all excited.

For me, the same word conjures up images of incessant, mind numbing loitering around aisles and escalators amid throngs of people similarly wandering around. And let’s just put one more ingredient into the equation - a 3 yr old with the boundless energy and disposition to get into trouble, which God gives to people when one is that age ! The time spent in this disenchanting exercise seems like such a waste of our wonderful god gifted lives !

The very glimpse of the word “Sale” or “Discount” brings a gleam to the woman’s eyes, and they pounce on that shop much like a predator in search of prey. The thought of getting something which used to be $100 for say $20 is nothing short of bliss for the inveterate shopper.

At the same time, the 3 yr old runs helter skelter around the mall, especially keen on trying out the escalators ! Whereever she can, she would also try to break a few bottles, pull out a few flowers from the nursery garden shop, eat a few scented candles from the Aromatherapy shop. And yes, she will cry till you get her her favourite doughnut. Of course, eating cleanly is not a 3 yr old’s forte, and one should expect that the doughnut would leave a mess around her mouth.

Having said all that, I do admit that shopping is a necessary evil, and one needs to buy what one wants or needs. But the approach is typically so different, that it offers a study in contrast.

Whereas I have a clear picture of what I want to buy, move in much like a soldier on a mission, and execute the job. On the other hand, my better half, has to check at least 10 different options and spend an hour or so before making a decision ! Besides, there is sometimes no necessity to buy at all ! Window shopping in itself is a great entertainment for her, much like say a game of tennis or watching a movie might be for me !

The rise of huge departmental stores and big shopping malls is nothing short of a bane in my view. The small little Kirana shop when I used to live in Hyderabad never afforded much pleasure in shopping to the good woman, and oftentimes, we would just phone in and order the goods. A small boy would cycle in from the shop and would bring us all our requirements. Such heavenly times ! But now, I feel lost meandering around in the alleyways of the huge shopping malls, pushing a trolley and waiting around for my better half to make her never-ending purchases. Before we even realise it, we have spent half a day just in the process of getting to the mall, finding a parking spot and then finding what we need (and what we dont need) in the endless aisles of the mall.

Hmm…Anyway, what can’t be changed, has to be endured !!!! One does fight and bargain and negotiate but all is futile and the big “S” word has the last laugh always.