A philosopher’s guide to buying vegetables

How a simple task of buying vegetables also teaches us so much if we pay attention to it.

It was 9 am in the morning and sun had risen in its finest spree. The town had started its motion whilst the motor car horns and bicycle bells hindered the slumber. A very well acquainted residential society of New Delhi had its routine started by the vegetable hawkers and the newspapers just like others. The most ‘need to be mentioned’ factor about this society was our tall and bulky, Mrs Kolhapuri �" a concrete thinker to every simple situation. Be it a minute argument with her spouse or a simple tete e tete with her neighbours, she expertise in making a big deal outta it.

The moment a vegetable vendor stepped inside the society, her heavy body took it as ‘win a race’. The very first one to catch a grip over the highest quality and most fresh vegetables!!! Actually to put in on a larger base, we all undergo this thought process of fussing over even a tad bit of ‘not up to the mark’ freshness of vegetables. Then follows the negotiation (lol). We enjoy arguing for minutes together for Rs 2 ,Rs 5 and so was our Mrs Kolhapuri best at . After a long struggle of saving Rs 10 or 20 in the whole process of buying vegetables, she was so much at peace..OMG!!! It took me by surprise when I saw her son enjoying a ‘rock n roll’ party with his friends and spending a bomb on cigarettes and liquor that very night. An apt example of PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH!!!The basic philosophy behind it is we are gradually being stingy for the ‘pure’ and attaining pleasures in the ‘blends’. We have fallen in the folly of superficial living standards and have given our intelligence and accountability a back seat.

As soon as Mrs kolhapuri adorned her vegetable basket, pretty pink onion sniggered at her and retorted “How fresh are you lady”??? It shivered down her spine but then took it as her wild imagination. Now was ‘slim and zero figured ‘ lady finger’s turn to avenge her with the same question -“How fresh are you lady” ??? It is not a horror ‘story telling’ attempt which I am targeting at, rather a desperate need for self- introspection.

The recent Israel-Gaza attack explains it so clearly. The nations are putting in exorbitant amount of money to make weapons and missiles compared to the ratio of amount utilised on old age homes and welfare organisations. We feel we are progressing but in literal terms and real sense, it is deterioration.

Spending loads on enmity and little on fraternity!! Ha ha Ironical !!!How many of us have fresh hearts and souls??? Do we have the rights to question and analyse others?? Do we follow what we preach???

The tragic philosophy behind ‘best- in- health’ vegetables is not yet complete. Vegetables bought are ought to be cooked too. Isn’t it??? I claim them to be better than human beings. They are at least aware of their task and responsibility and make sure they fulfil it. Our ‘food tanks’ bloat with joy when they are fuelled with fresh and nutritious veggies BUT what about our morals and duties to pacify and feed our souls and minds?? Our actions say it all and so are they through World wars, crusades, competitions, attacks and self defence.

I am not the only one who affirms and acclaims the rights and wrongs of the society. There are many more I am sure who wish to see and follow the same but ‘If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride’.