Shopping Bonanza

July 1, 2024

Shopping Bonanza
It was fun during our childhood,
Way back in 60s, 70s and 80s.
When our parents accompanied us - on a shopping spree for the entire family.
This would be only twice a year,
Especially for school reopening,
And when festival was approaching.

We, as children, hardly gave a thought,
From where the funds would come.
But we were very sure, that dad the only bread earner of the family,
Would provide us the best what we want,
Without listing anything to buy for himself.

The day would arrive to go for shopping,
So much excitement filled the air. Neighbours and relatives too would be welcomed to join us, and the big gang of children and adults, marched to catch the bus to take us to places of Mumbai.
A few to mention - Bandra, Ghatkopar, Dadar, Crowford Market.

At the shops, mothers were at the forefront making the selection,
We as children made a noise,
But soon settled what was chosen by our elders.
Fathers had no other go but to indulge in talking about topics on cricket, their job and political situation prevailing.
Everyone knew to laugh and enjoy,
An outing our mothers all looked forward to from the usual household chores.

When no one could take a decision
To buy from the very first shop we entered. The myth of human nature that the best is yet to come,
So, we keep making a round of shops and sometimes even end up entering the same shop we visited before and make our final purchase.
My witty dad loved to joke at mum
He would ease my mum confusion of which colour material to choose,
He would lovingly tell the shop keeper,
If he has anything in her favourite colour that’s pink, (he would say it in Hindi "Pink Hai?")
As my dad knew well that after all the search my mum would select something in her favourite pink.

Then it was time to fill the belly,
With variety food cooked by the chefs,
Whether it was street food or at a restaurant, we all enjoyed the taste, which was something different - from the daily home cooked dishes, our mothers prepared, which no doubts years later we realised it was the best.

As everything comes to an end,
So also, our shopping Bonanza.
Back we board the bus,
Childlike innocence on our face,
Would love this day to never end.
While each of us reach our destination, back home from where we started our day, yes, we are happy with our bounty of goods which travelled from the shop to our homes.

I would notice the look on my dad’s face, as he only knew the pinch his pocket felt. But yet, he knew how to smile and say - “Enjoy, be happy”, and would spell out loudly “H A P P Y.”

Lastly what he would say to cheer us all is by saying, “what has to happen will happen.”

 

 

 

 

By Susan D’Souza
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Comment on this article

  • Merlyn Monteiro, Valencia, Mangalore

    Fri, Jul 05 2024

    Summed up nicely Susan. Wonderful trip down memory lane. Look forward to reading more such write ups, keeping those thoughts alive.

  • Rudolf rodrigues, Valencia, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 03 2024

    Dear Susan, Just a glance of the exclusive pictures exactly reltate with yor thrilling experience when we were in Bombay!! Thanks and expecting more of such content!!

  • Celine Mathias, Melbourne

    Mon, Jul 01 2024

    A very beautiful and sober description of our days of old.. Most of us had only the father as the earning member of the family and yet we used to look forward for a day of shopping at least before Christmas. Shopping was done to fit the budget and make sure we were all happy for the outing on that day. There was this joy and happiness that was visibly palpable on all our faces. Those were the good old days. I am sure all of us as young children enjoyed them. Thanks for your write up Susan. You've chalked it out very well. with a joyful mind. Congratulations and waiting for more of such messages to read. Celine.

  • Alfred Monteiro, Dubai

    Mon, Jul 01 2024

    Susan very well scripted. Hope the next generation too will experience our simple pleasures as we did and the joy in doing the family shopping. May you share many more childhood memories to thrill the elders and bring wow from the youngsters .


Leave a Comment

Title: Shopping Bonanza



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.