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Learning never ceases. One remains student forever as every unfolding moment ushers in the opportunity to learn something new. Sometimes the lessons are repeated if not learnt well first time. It so happened that met a teacher on a busy street, recently and that’s the reason behind all this rambling.

One of my friends had some work at the town side and I was free. Rather I was waiting for an opportunity to explore the lanes and the by-lanes of the town side. I had nothing specific in my mind when we landed at the corner of the busy street. My friend and I parted ways with the understanding that once my friend finishes her work, she would contact me.

I love to explore the places with ‘me-myself’ as company. Whether it’s a nature trail or busy street, I am equally comfortable at both the places, wandering and exploring. I thus started my sojourn on a happy, free note!

Soaking in various sights and sounds, I was going ahead with snail’s pace. Clicking photographs, munching “Khari Sing*”, I was none less than Alice in wonderland. Watching hustle and bustle of the place, standing right at the center of actions…unaffected, made me feel like a sage. How I wish I could look at the thousands of the thoughts that crowd in the mind with same dispassion?

As I was clicking the photo of a tired worker relaxing on the hand cart, I heard a call. There stood a shop-on-feet vendor. He wore a genuine smile. His simple yet clean white pyjama and shirt, stood out as the symbol of his uprightness. He carried a big blue bag stuffed to its maximum capacity, on his left shoulder. Its weight, made him lean a bit to right side. While I was busy noticing him, he inquired in very persuasive tone, if I would like to buy handkerchief.

My attention now turned to stuff in his hands. He held neatly sealed packs of hankies. I recollected that I had to purchase the hankies for my son. Its another story that this young boy needs two hankies a day and they last with him for not more than three to four months. At times, I feel, the factories producing the hankies should honour, the-likes-of-my-son, with mementos and trophies. My mantle will be full in no time, in that case!

I enquired about the price. It sent the bells ringing in my ears when he told me the price of the packet. A thought of checking the material prodded me to pause my purchase. The ‘hanky’ seller happily agreed. He opened one pack and I pulled out some for inspection. All the hankies were good enough for the price quoted.  Upon my satisfactory inspection, I decided to buy a pack. He then politely offered me another sealed pack as the pack that I was inspecting was in complete disorder. That made sense. The pack of hankies and the money exchanged hands in no time.

Soon my friend called up and I returned home content with outing. While keeping things back, I recollected my purchase. Handed over the pack to my son, who was happy to receive it. As a practice, he opened up the packet and was about to soak the hankies in water before using. As he got busy in bathroom, I sank into sofa.

Five minutes went into bliss. Suddenly I was startled to see the shocked face of my son as he neared me. He held few hankies in his hands. One was torn, other was of odd shape, one had stains and another was a patch work! A frustration gripped my soul as the feeling of being cheated engulfed every inch of heart. Felt miserable and helpless. And then I burst out in laughter! Laughing at own mistakes lessens the burden and lets me appreciate the lesson learnt better. My son joined me too.

Once the laughter subsided, new lessons washed ashore. Out of many lessons learnt from the incident, one that stood was… Learning never ceases and I continue to be a student in the classroom of life!


*Khari Sing: Hindi for roasted and salted pea-nuts.
Linking this post to #MondayMusings by Corinne

Picture courtesy Pixabay

30 Comments

Corinne Rodrigues · August 21, 2018 at 3:44 pm

Oh dear! Glad you could laugh about it, although it does leave you feeling cheated!

    Anagha Yatin · August 21, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    I did feel the same initially. But then on a positive note thought that I bought a lesson for Rs 150/-. This price tag for a lesson learnt is good value for money, for me to last rest of my life!
    Thanks Corinne for visiting.

abhiray59 · August 21, 2018 at 4:26 pm

I don’t know what to say. On one hand if we buy from small vendors we are helping them to stand on their feet. It is more Honorable than begging. Then comes cheating. It is unfortunate. May be an accident.

    Anagha Yatin · August 21, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    It does throw us in doubt the next time. But if we are cautious enough, I feel, such incidences could be avoided!

Sajid Akhter · August 21, 2018 at 7:56 pm

Hi Anagha,

Life is a roller coaster ride with twist and turns all along. Every single day there is something new to learn. It never stops. Just keep learning from your experiences and keep moving forward with positive steps.

Thanks for sharing, have a great day. ?

    Anagha Yatin · August 21, 2018 at 8:11 pm

    True that life and lessons walk hand in hand, making the journey a rich experience. Jindagi badhate rahane ka naam jo hai!
    Thanks Sajid for visiting.

Varsh · August 21, 2018 at 10:18 pm

Ah, I don’t know if I could laugh at this situation like you. It was a lesson indeed, though. I’ve learnt to buy stuff from roadside people only after thorough inspection, and so have you! ?

    Anagha Yatin · August 22, 2018 at 5:32 am

    End result is the same for both of us Varsh. Thanks for visiting and sharing your thought dear.

Parul Thakur · August 22, 2018 at 6:13 pm

Oh gosh! That’s bad! Where was this Anagha? Which city and market?
While I agree that there are learnings, I also feel that we need to be cautious of people who do such tricks.

    Anagha Yatin · August 22, 2018 at 6:44 pm

    Amachi Mumbai! This metro for sure offers many shades of experience.
    Thanks Parul.

      Parul Thakur · August 22, 2018 at 6:58 pm

      Really? I thought Mumbai has less of such things 🙁

Shubhra Rastogi · August 22, 2018 at 9:45 pm

Yes, indeed it is so true that one should never cease to learn. After all life is all about learning new things at every nook and corner. Though I felt bad that you got cheated.

    Anagha Yatin · August 23, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Thanks Shubhra for resonating with me.

Lisa Pomerantz · August 23, 2018 at 1:17 am

If a day goes by and we have not learned anything, what was the point? Great post! #mondaymusings xo

    Anagha Yatin · August 23, 2018 at 7:18 pm

    So agree you Lisa! Thanks for visiting

naijatrending · August 23, 2018 at 10:48 am

Thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Great.

BellyBytes · August 23, 2018 at 10:48 am

How terrible to get cheated so. I admire you for laughing at your mistake . I would have fumed and fretted and wasted my energy on something I couldn’t change . Your way of coping with a bad situation seems to be the better option .

    Anagha Yatin · August 23, 2018 at 7:24 pm

    I felt the same initially. But as you rightly said, same sense prevailed in my mind that there was no sense in fretting over it. So why not laugh and make light of the situation is my outlook.
    Thanks Sunita for visiting and sharing your response.

neerajme · August 23, 2018 at 11:48 am

We all learn such lessons in life…and I am sure you will again make the same mistake in your life at some later point, because your heart will tell to do so. With the mistake, you make some things right in someone’s life. So, it is not a bad bargain.

yogensarswat · August 23, 2018 at 1:17 pm

Laughing at own mistakes lessens the burden and lets me appreciate the lesson learnt better. what to say. But I think every mistake made by us teaches us .

    Anagha Yatin · August 23, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    Fretting over and repenting would have been futile in this case. I was helpless to the extent that I couldnt have in any way caught the seller. Then why not give the stress a miss, is my mantra for life. But yes, the lesson learnt will stay with me forever.
    Thanks for visiting and sharing your thought.

Sonia Chatterjee · August 23, 2018 at 3:35 pm

I’m amazed at your ability to look at every situation in such a positive light. I would have probably continued fretting for a week. There’s so much to learn from you.

    Anagha Yatin · August 23, 2018 at 8:09 pm

    Aww…nothing of that sort Sonia. Its only that I wish to live the life lighter…random act of kindness for self!
    Thanks for visiting.

Suzy · August 23, 2018 at 4:18 pm

Glad you kept your sense of humour about this. Very true that learning is a lifelong activity.

    Anagha Yatin · August 23, 2018 at 8:07 pm

    Laughter is the best medicine to keep the stress at bay. Thanks Suzy

Jyotirmoy Sarkar · August 23, 2018 at 11:56 pm

Good to know you took it in sporting mentality. I have never experienced any such cheating…thank God.

    Anagha Yatin · August 24, 2018 at 8:36 am

    Thank God! One can learn from mistakes of others, isnt it Jyotirmoy?
    Thanks for visiting and sharing your experience.

ishitahurkat · September 3, 2018 at 4:13 pm

Ignoring the part where he cheated you – he was probably in need, I think this was really ingenious! He was a budding conman!

    Anagha Yatin · September 3, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    Hahaha… agree you! The budding conman, he sure was. Thanks for visiting and bringing this dimension to the discussion.

jayanthi6 · September 4, 2018 at 10:30 pm

Oh..my God! And I almost sympathized with the seller!

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