Bangalore's not so chic pet called Chikpet

Chikpet has nothing to do with anything that is chic, but all that you can like more is goods of better quality at lesser price...All my friends have told me that one can buy sarees and suits at an affordable price from Chikpet.

I don't shop much but I love window shopping...Shopping is an art and what I understand is people who have had romantic relationships converted to marriage are the best shoppers.

Shopping, romance etc. are all a matter of perceptions, reactions and actions...and let's not philosophise all that here.

I actually went to Chikpet with the purpose of seeing than buying...But those who actually went with me there were potential buyers and who wanted value for money...

One lady went on showing me a lot of stuff but I was not interested in any one of them. She was coaxing me a lot but I was not keen...Then there was another woman who was just observing us. She spread two sarees which caught my attention...and I finally zeroed on one and bought it. The potential buyers in quest of value for money did not show much keenness except one saree which they did not buy because they felt it was priced too high and they started bargaining in the "fixed rate shop" but the shopkeepers did not budge.

Then my friends made a big deal with the wholesalers who did not have products with price tag...This is where you need real bargaining skills. My friend bought four sets at a price she wanted...While I finished choosing mine, I counted every minute for her to finish.

She was surrounded by a variety and it was tough selecting from the impressive colours that shone around. She said she would only pay 250 for each and then she bought a third one for which the shopkeeper charged 290. She gave the third back and left. Soon the shopkeeper called her back and she picked it up again at 250.

As we walked down, we overheard the shopkeepers saying "we shud not have reduced for the first set itself". They regretted the reduction in margin of the profit they incurred had they dealt otherwise.

Not being a hard-bargainer, I ended up buying two sets, each for 550 without receiving any discount in price.

Now coming back to the shopkeeper brothers, who are originally from Rajasthan, could speak all the south Indian languages. One brother had the attractive skin colour, which is a typically south Asian aspiration, and was actually doing the talking, while the brother with the serious look watched.

Now having made such a small unattractive profit the attractive brother said "you should not lose a customer" but the serious brother was not convinced.

Similarly is the game of love. You fall in love, play games and hook the guy/gal or sleep with him/her and then regret...The insecurity of losing him/her, makes you love him/her more and then entrapped in love and the fear of not getting another you settle down with the deal you have at hand and tell yourself it better than not getting anyone at all (LoL).