I was shopping at Bhaji Gulley the other when I spotted a smartly dressed woman talking to my Bhajiwalla in a voice I recognised from the past.

I looked closer and sure enough it was R, the mother of Anna Shetty’s best friend from school.

“How come you’re here?” I asked, quite surprised to see her.

“Yes , I never come here,” she responded decidedly uncomfortable and embarrassed at being seen in the market. More at home on the Golf Course or behind her executive desk, she was quick to assure me that it was only certain vegetables that she wanted for Undhya that brought her here.

Ah food! The great leveller. It is only in certain markets that you get certain foods. Our local market caters more to the traditional Gujerati and Maharashtrian populace. No wonder she came here! She definitely wouldn’t find yam and Surti papdi in her Club’s shop nor at the municipal market in her side of town.

A few minutes later, another mum bumped into me. I was less surprised seeing her because she was more down to earth, but even she looked apologetic and reassured me that this was not her ‘scene’ . She had come to this traditional market place to find a traditional lantern for Diwali. Sadly, the traditional market had upped its game and soldidern ones made in China!

Both mums couldn’t have beaten a hastier retreat. But why I wondered? What was so down market about shopping in a local bazaar?

It was so vibrant, so buzzing with life. Little kids staring longingly at stalls selling fireworks, shoppers testing vegetables and fruits for ripeness. Flower seller making festive garlands to dress up cars and homes.

I think this live bazaar is my happy place. And over the years, I have gone to different bazaars in different places in the city. When the girls were younger, I used to shop closer to school. Sometimes, I would ship at the big municipal market selling fresh fish as well.

I don’t haggle with the vendors but love checking out the prices and asking about life in general. It seems so much more interactive than an app like Kisankonnect or BigBasket or even buying in an air-conditioned store.

BhajiGully is my happy place and I was particularly glad that I met these mums. It took me back to the days when our kids were little, when we waited outside the school gates for our kids to come out. When we met at PTAs or at school plays or sent in cakes for the school fetes.

I do hope to meet some more mums from the past albeit occasionally. That makes my happy place even happier!

Ciao