Boni

Years ago as an Engineering student, when I was camping in Bangalore for a few days, I needed to go to Avenue Road and pick up a couple of text-books. It was urgent and I needed it the first thing next day.

There was an exam 2 days hence and I had realised that sharing text-books does not work out when it comes to preparing for exams.

So I left home early to make sure I can get the book so that I will have time to catch my train out of Bangalore later in the day.

I figured it would be easier to grab an auto-rickshaw and get to Avenue Road soon.

Well it was not!

Firstly as soon as I stood at the auto-rickshaw stand, one auto-driver approached me and insisted that I ride with him.

"How much?", I asked.

"70 Rs Sir", he replied.

"70? that is too much. I will give 40"

" Hogi sir! Boni hatti beku Sir. Yenri Sir neevu. Beligge Beligge (Get lost Sir! I am yet to make my first sale for the day and you are already bargaining)", he retorted back as if I had insulted his family.

"Whatever man!", I said to him as I continued looking for another auto.

Strangely, I could find no auto-driver who commanded a price in the range I asked for.

But it was worse: None of the auto-drivers wanted me to bargain first thing in the morning.

Damn it! "Your boni is your problem!", I told one driver.

Finally I just took the bus and got to Avenue Road

Every city in India has a street that is the textbooks hub for generations in the family.

Hyderabad has Koti.

Bangalore has Avenue Road.

Avenue Road is known for 2nd hand,3rd hand,4th hand textbooks.

Sellers and vendors set up their stalls and tables to sell 2nd hand books alongside the street, even as slightly bigger shops advertise the newer books and other school and college material.

It is a student's haven, and young college-goers' hangout.

So I went to this old lady setting up her stockpile of books on a table on the footpath.

"C R Kumar- Mathematics - 3rd year BE- VTU. 2nd hand?", I told her.

She pulled it out from her stockpile

"How much?", I asked

"52 Rupees", she snapped back.

"I will give 35 Rupees. Ok?", I asked instinctively. I think this is part of every Indian's psychology. Atleast every Indian on Avenue Road.

"Aye!! Beligge beligge....innu boni hathilla......sumne hogo illinda (Aye fellow. Its early morning, and I have still not made my first sale. Get lost)", she replied with such dirty eyes and threatening looks that I felt she was going to shoot me live.

I dropped the book and ran away.

I walked into a slightly bigger shop, thinking there would be more sanity there.

I asked the shop owner who was sitting grimly reading a newspaper.

It was 9 am.

"C R Kumar- Mathematics - 3rd year BE- VTU. 2nd hand?", I asked.

He made signs to an assistant.

That assistant made signs to another assistant sitting in the shop attic.

Soon a couple of books fell from the ceiling onto his hands and he brought it to me.

I checked the right book.

"How much?", I asked.

"60 Rs", the shop owner replied looking between the newspaper and his spectacles.

"I think you can give this for 40 Rs. 2nd hand right?

The shop owner continued reading the newspaper.

"Hello?", I persisted.

"Oye! Useless fellow! Boni hathilla innu. Take it or leave it", he shouted at the top of his voice as his spectacles fell down.

Goodness!

Whatever happened to Avenue Road! Whats with this obsession with "Boni"?

Is this the way to to business?

I left the book there, shaken!

I was getting late.

At the next few shops and vendors, I first checked to see their face.

If it was nice and sober, I approached them.

And then asked them "Boni hattidiya ivattu nimmege?"

I got either despaired looks, or surprised glances, or confused faces who thought I was a fellow vendor on Avenue Street trying to set up a Union for all the guys out there.

Finally, an hour later, I managed to buy my book for 45 Rupees.

It wasn't the deal I had expected.

But I had to rush back to catch my train later in the day.

Else I would be without 'Boni' myself!