It was a weekday evening. Intellectuals had just returned after
getting themselves utilized by all means. A religio-romantic celebration is
gearing up the city - Karva chauth. My action plan of today evening had already
been fixed and agreed. I'd accompany my better half to market for Mehndi.
Soon, without changing, I asked her to rush as it was
getting late. Everywhere there were Mehndi wale Bhaiyas and at-least 5 ladies
waiting to get Mehndi done per artist. Earlier, this art used to be a monopoly
of ladies. But wherever mass production is involved, the profession becomes
gender independent. So we also asked, 'Kitne paise and kitna time?' Mehndi wale
Bhaiya replied, '1000 Rs/-, both hands i.e. 500 Rs/- per hand, dono side. And
waiting time is half an hour'. I was wondering, 'almost 100 Rs/- per inch of
decoration!' Though, I didn’t pour the outcome of my calculation.
We had anyway come to get Mehndi done so my wife quickly
took decision and confirmed this Mehndi wale bhaiya that we are waiting. The
same question was asked many times -'How many Rs/- and how much time?'- No
negotiation on both parameters. Mehndi wale bhaiya was obsessed with the
attention he was getting. He told everybody that he was not selling mehndi
cones. Some girls, while getting their Mehndi done, were talking about the
designs he does and chemicals he uses. I heard him saying, 'I have come from
Indore and will return tonight.' He was asking another 100 Rs/- for every small
change in design. Every now and then, he was saying, 'I'm here only for 1 more
hour'.
And the scarcity of time and swarming crowd was definitely
taking toll on the quality of his work. He had a good grip on Hindi and English
colloquial, which he demonstrated many times. He kept us waited for 3 hours
there - though he repeated, ‘just 5 minutes’, at-least 10 times.
Today, while coming to office, I had seen him sitting there
and doing mehndi- still hours to go for Puja. And probably he will never go to
Indore. Gurgaon has a lot to make him stay back!
- Amit Roop
Great observation and nicely compiled.
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