Day 3 (I)

"When you really love someone, you'd want to wake up next to them everyday."

...

Zubair, Ayan, Sasha, Emily and I are at the Anjuna Flea Market. Ayan and Zubair insisted to come along. To be honest, Ayan insisted, Zubair just tagged along. Rudy and Cole wanted to spend time on the beach so we let them be on their own.

I searched about the market on the internet this morning and I found out that it's the Hippie's Paradise. Held from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every Wednesday, it is one of the most famous and sought after markets in India. Apparently, some hippies had followed the trail through Eastern Europe and ending in Anjuna, they burnt their passports so that they couldn't go back home... until they ran out of money. They had to trade their belongings: clothes, jewels, guitars to prolong their stay. This place offered them freedom, fun and utter happiness as they could access booze and stay naked with no policemen or strict rules.

Now, the market vendors sell handmade clothing, jewellery, home decor, Indian spices and musical instruments. We can even get dreadlocks or piercings. The Indian stalls offer hammocks, Buddha or Shiva statues. There are food stands that sell corn rubbed with lime and sprinkled with salt.

Yum.

We've been strolling through the various shops for half an hour, looking at things and clicking pictures. At one shop, Ayan had picked a bikini and placed it on his chest, grinning widely. The shop owner had glared at him and before she could say anything, he ran away.

I stop in front of a shop that is selling beaded chokers, bracelets, earrings, and pendants all made by hand. There's a sign on the shop which reads 'Handmade Beaded Jewelry'. The shop next to it is selling Macrame jewellery which are completely unique and ethereal in their design. There are bracelets, necklaces and stylish belts. I pick up a bracelet which is a blend of macrame and stone that looks really appealing to the eyes. Emily is looking for necklaces beside me.

I show the bracelet to the shopkeeper and ask, "How much does this cost?"

He barely glances at it and says, bored, "2000 rupees."

I gasp. 2000 rupees for a bracelet?

Ayan takes out his wallet and starts taking out money. I glare at him. When will he understand that I can pay on my own?

Emily widens her eyes and places a hand on her hips. "How much did you say this bracelet costs?" she asks, taking the bracelet from my hand.

"2000 rupees. For your convenience, I'll repeat again, two thousand rupees," he mutters, crossing his arms on his chest.

She ignores his snark comment and replies, "The price is very high. Last week, I bought the same bracelet for half the price."

I bite my lip, to stop myself from smiling. I have always been a terrible negotiator. My mom bargains like a pro though. She knows just the right amount of drama and blackmail to convince the shopkeeper to give in. On more occasions than I can count, the shopkeeper had followed her out of the shop to tell her that she can buy the item at the price she wants. That is one of the reasons why she doesn't let anyone else buy things in her absence. For some reason, she knows the right price of everything the world has to offer.

He raises his eyebrow and comments, "Then why don't you buy from that shop? The price I'm telling you is the current market rate."

"Uncle, that's not done. Sell it for 1000 and we will buy two bracelets."

"I won't sell it for a rupee less than 1900."

"Uncle, you sell both of them for 1000 and we will suggest your shop to all of our friends."

"Where are Sasha and Zubair?" I ask Ayan. He points to the shop selling Tibetan tribal masks where they both are looking at masks and clicking selfies with the shopkeeper who is smiling brightly.

Why is this shopkeeper so grumpy?

"Madam, I already get a lot of customers. With a heavy heart, I reject your offer of generosity," he says mockingly.

Emily covers her face for a moment and when she removes her hand, there is water in her eyes.

I mean... how???

The shopkeeper's eyes widen.

Her lip quivers as she says shakily, "M-my ex h-husband gifted me the same bracelet a year ago. H-he was eaten by a crocodile a few months ago." She lets out a sob and wipes her face. "I lied to you. I lost my bracelet this morning, and it was very important to me."

The shopkeeper is at a loss of words when Ayan chimes in, he cries, "I hope you won't hurt a widow's feelings. It's a sin in the eyes of God."

Wait, what?

The shopkeeper shudders at the mention of sin. "I'm so sorry, madam. Here, you can have any three bracelets at whatever price you want."

She lets out a strangled breath and smiles sadly at him, "May God bless you. You have been a saviour in my life. I wish you all the happiness in the world."

All this for a... bracelet?

I pay for two bracelets and she buys one for herself and we move on to the next shop. Ayan pats her hair and grins, "That was something back there." She winks and curtsies.

"Come on, we have many more shopkeepers left to scar for life," she says and moves ahead, to the next shop.

"Guys check this out." Sasha jogs towards us and shows us a black coloured mask made of wood, decorated with paint.

"I bought one for you too," Zubair says, passing a similar mask to me.

What will I do with it?

Sasha must have sensed my confusion because she says, "We're going to scare Rudy tonight."

I grin widely.

Hell yeah, I don't have any problem with that.

Ayan shakes his head and mutters, "Kids."

He shouldn't have done that, because the next moment, Sasha smacks him right on the face with the mask.