A quaint little watch shop in Indiranagar is the go to place for getting my watch repaired from over a decade . There is Some comfort , I like them . No jazz , no unwanted talk and empty most times . I walk in with my quota of watches , oh yes! I accumulate watches and then fix them 😉
I went and handed over all my watches and said “cell” please . He picked them up and got busy fixing them behind the counter and I had nothing to do so rummaging through my thoughts , wondering how boring his life is , wondering how he must be whiling away time that too from over a decade.. Etc etc
Just then a family walks in a father , mother , 3 daughters and 2 son- in-laws and this was my assumption looking at them interact .. Then I realised I was right just that one was son- in- law to be . Basically uncle brought him into the shop and said buy the watch you want and the guy was embarrassed . He kept trying to bail himself out but aunty and uncle coaxing him to select . I see him scan the watches for a moment and another moment ask his fiancée to select . It was a mammoth task for her , she was so coy and kept looking around . The guy finally was cornered by the MIL and FIL and forced to select while the elder son in law who was on a call outside barges in and selects watches in a jiffy . Every watch the guy selects the uncle makes sarcastic comments . Oh! That dial is big , oh that’s like a liquor bottle ad et al . Meanwhile the bride to be spots a watch and shows her brother in law who brushes her aside and says no gold! Che! She quips and hangs her head down . Finally the elder son – in – law takes the call , selects the watch and they tie it to his wrist and they walk out while the uncle is at the counter to pay . He grins and Tells the shop owner my future son- in- law , before marriage gift smile emoticon .. He bargains gets discount and walks out . One happy family smiling , chattering away faded into the streets .
My entertainment stopped I whined , again 2 young boys walk in may be in their teens . This one boy wants to buy a “chain watch” for his girl friend . He is busy scanning the women’s counter , while his friend commenting . He has a budget but doesn’t want to reveal .. They are smiling , giggling meanwhile calls his GF and says what did you say you want and she says chain watch . He scratches his head and again scans at the price tags . Chooses one and realises that is way beyond his budget and decides to leave along with his friend . Not before saying we will explore other shops . I say mental bye and wish them luck .
Then another man who is talking endlessly , breathlessly and convincing the shop keeper that the watch is genuine and so is his ID card . He gives his duplicate ID card and mentions Rado and says call me tomorrow and escapes ..
I then realised he actually has an interesting soap life . People walking in from different walks of life , talking , arguing , laughing , complaining and he chooses to be blank as a choice as he has acclimatised to the environment .
Just then he walks up to me , hands over my watches , I pay up and walk out smiling .Pic Courtesy- Google