We started talking because of a sanitizer, the sanitiser he got from the MC of the area, but was selling to the grocery store owner.
Funny, I was there to buy one and he was there to sell four that he has in his possession.
I have used four bottles in the last month, still the feeling of safety from a teeny tiny virus was missing. And here he was selling all like he doesn't need safety from the very same virus that has us paranoid and have us cowering in our homes like rats in the hole. And they say Indians are the lions of the world. Hence the word "Simha" that most people add to their names. The teeny tiny bottle of sanitizer was far more precious that the word 'simha' these days, I tell you.
  No wonder stocks of sanitisers were vanishing from the market. Whichever shop you turn to would have same answer for you "out of stock". It's not wrong to compare these to the treasure, as finding sanitizers is nothing short of a treasure hunt these days. And many are failing in this hunt as well, including me.
I doubt anyone ever imagined a day when we will all be running around for one tiny bottle of sanitizer, at least I never did. Even my mother says that she have never felt this much need for even a gold necklace, that she's feeling today for a bottle of sanitizer. She openly confessed to the fear she feels when she doesn't have a sanitizer on her and a person comes to the door. Even father has commented on my mother's fear, or rather paranoia and how annoying it is. That one bottle can make us feel safe. Something that we shouldn't even need. He even said that he feels like he was unable to fulfill his duties as the MAN of the house, because we need a bottle to feel safe, his presence wasn't enough. Which is a point of much deliberation if you ask me. I'm sure many men's egos are hurt these days.

Funny the thing I needed most to feel safe, was one he was selling to earn a few extra bucks. Did I tell you he had four of them and not just one, I did right.
Let me tell from start what happened.
I already told you about my mother's paranoia, and how lack of sanitizer makes her feel unsafe and prone to the attacks of virus and the last bit of sanitizer we have at home won't last another day. Seeing my mother's growing anxiety I decided to go out and buy a dozen bottles of sanitizer, which frankly is impossible. I would be lucky to get even a bottle, seeing most of the stock is bought by politicians and social servants straight from factories, so that they can give it to the poor or dollout in their constituency. These days it's the best way to brighten one's political career. Most do it for photos only. Rumor has it that the moment press reports and photographers were out of the place, these so called politician and social servants took back the sanitizer the gave just moments before. It was only for photographs and the popularity they could reap from it. Hardly anyone cares. Everyone knows that's how things work and have accepted it, no question asked.
After trying three shops in my area with little luck, i was ready to give up. Luckily one of my friend told me about this store in sector 20 where one can still hope to buy sanitizer. So I went there. It took me 20 minutes to reach here and half an hour to come near the front. There is one good thing at least. These people are actually following guidelines and are standing six feet away from each other. One boy is sitting outside of the shop, making sure that things are in order outside and only allowing one person in so that no more than two people are inside the shop. The process is lengthy and tiring but a necessity these days. So I was pretty satisfied with the manner in which this particular shop was doing business. Some other shops I have been to were actually chaos. It would be a wonder if people didn't catch the virus from it. I didn't have guts to go near the shop, just looking at the crowd I ran in opposite direction. But this shop is way better in following rules and managing clientele.
I was standing in the que waiting for my number when I saw him fighting with the owner, apparently the owner wasn't ready to pay the price he expected. So he was leaving with his merchandise intact. That's what my neighbor, who was standing right in front of me, told me.
Seeing him going with those 4 bottles of sanitizer gave me an idea, why wait in a que when I can buy straight from him. Also who knows by the time my number came there will be even a bottle left. So I took my chance, apprehensively, seeing how the que was so long and I would have to go to the absolute end of it, if my mission to acquire the sanitizer failed. But I hardened my resolve and left. I was sure that I would manage to buy at least one bottle of this boy/man whatever.
So I called out to him, he stopped but didn't turn back. I was hoping he would come to my place in que, instead of me going to him. But seeing that wasn't going to happen, I left my place in que and walked toward him.
He was but a boy, 16 maybe. I asked about his name. Usually I would have offered my hand in a gesture of greeting but seeing that the time of shake hands and hugs have gone by, I just stood there, waiting for him to answer, which never came.
Okay he wasn't interested in telling me his name, who does these days. I mean our mother always tell us to stay away from strangers, not to talk to them and that's exactly what this kid was doing. After all I am a stranger to him. So I moved to my next inquiry and  asked why was he fighting with the shop owner? His answer was a mere shrug. Clearly not much for words, I doubt he utters even a syllable unnecessarily.
He was clearly frustrated and didn't know why this stranger was wasting his time, which I clearly was. So I went straight to the matter at hand and asked him, how much he would take for a bottle of sanitizer.
He was young. I mean all teenagers are supposedly young and immature but boy was I wrong about him. He was smart. Smarten than me at least. Because my question and with the hurry I asked it, put a smile on his lips and he knew the desperation I was feeling. Which I really was, I mean my mother's paranoia was taking over all of us. My father was losing his patience as days were progressing and I wasn't doing too well either. Staying in 24×7. Not going out, except for occasional milk run or grocery shopping, life has almost come to a standstill and frustration is running high. So clearly I was desperate for something that was sure to safe my life or at least my mind from going crazy.
The need of sanitizer, specifically my need for sanitizer, was something he understand and the power it was giving him over me, hadn't escaped him either. So he decided to not lose this opportunity and asked 300₹ for 100 ml bottle. And I tell you my mouth was hanging open hearing this. I mean seriously 300₹ for a 100 ml bottle. I wanted to shriek "are you crazy kid!?"
But I also knew, just like him, that the need was mine and it was just an opportunity for him, of which he was taking full advantage. But seriously I wasn't really going to pay him that much so I tried to reason with him, reminding him that government has issued orders and even retail sellers can't charge more than half of the amount of the quantity of the bottle.
So by this rule a 100ml bottle is only worth 50₹ but if he wants to make some profit I can give him 75₹ per bottle and would love to buy all the bottles he has, which he told me were four. Hearing this he actually started laughing, like I was crazy. And could do nothing but stare at him, like my life depended on his decision, which it somewhat was. Finally after a minute he stopped laughing and said that he would only sell one bottle to me, that too for 300 ₹ only. Yes he said only. His next words were even shocking, when he said;
"Madam ji if you can't afford to buy from me why stop me. I didn't come to you and asked you to buy from me. You stopped me! Now you are only wasting my time. Just decide you want it or not? If you insist I can give you all four for 1000₹. I'll give you 200₹ discount."
Hearing these words, my mouth was hanging literally.
The little buggar actually said I was wasting his time. He was trying to rip me off by selling one tiny bottle of sanitizer for six times of it's price and I was one wasting his time. And he was offering me 200₹discount. Is he for real?
I tell you the people in this world are cut throat and ready to rip you off. But who am I to say anything. I was the one who gave him this opportunity. No wonder shop owner didn't buy from him. He's definitely a scum. Seeing that he wasn't going to buzz I saw no point in arguing and I really wasn't good at bargaining. So I just huffed and puffed and went back to the end of the que to wait for my number and hope that I actually get at least one bottle of hand sanitizer. So that I could console myself that it wasn't all for nothing.
I tell you the pure bad luck I have, I mean come-on previously I was fifth in the que now I was twentieth. It took me an hour and half to finally get inside the shop and another fifteen minutes before I could finally reach the counter. Lucky for me, the little luck I possess at least, I was able to buy one 200ml bottle of sanitizer that too for only 100₹. It was the last of their stock. So it's not wrong to call myself a bit lucky, I guess.
To kill time while cashier was processing another customer's bill I tried to converse with the owner and tried to make small talk but the owner was straightforward and told me I was smart to not be ripped off by that little punk. Apparently he saw me leaving the que and  talking to the kid. For a minute I was somewhat embarrassed that he saw my embarrassing moment of being smarted by a kid. But he didn't press on it so I asked;
"What's the deal with that kid? I mean who asks 300₹ for a 100ml bottle, right."

"300! These rascals are ripping off people and have no qualms about it I tell you. They are selling things they get for free from the government or NGOs and then say no one cares for us. 20 rupees is more than enough that should be given to these rascals. Just ripping off government and people alike. We pay taxes on everything in form of excise, VAT, GST, Income tax and what not but what do we get in return. Still it's us who are getting ripped off. What does government do for us. What does it give, to us? We are to pay and pay and pay but what do we get in return?"
He kept muttering to himself while checking his bill book. His frustration was eminent but lucky for me my turn came and I tell you the moment I exited from the store I finally felt relaxed.
Truth be told I may have exited the shop but what happened in the day and the things shop owner said, stayed with me. Lying in bed I couldn't help but think what's actually happening around us. Then again it's not a new concept. Since forever everyone knows that once need is another's opportunity and that's exactly what's happening now. So why does it bother me? It's life and that's how it's lived. Shouldn't I be used to it? The kid had something I needed and I had something he needed. It could have been a simple exchange but instead my desperation and his greed didn't let it happen. Only if he hadn't been so greedy and I was somewhat more desperate we both could have gotten what we need without any delay. Things could have been different but they weren't. My desperation had a limit where his greed had none. But can I really call it greed?
Do I even know why he was selling a thing that supposedly is only way to prevent life endangering disease? Why would someone not care for their lives? What need is even more important that one's own safety and life?
Do I even have a right to comment on it?
Or I should just leave it on the fact that,
"One's need is another's opportunity!"

-----------------
Hello my lovely readers!
This is my first attempt on story telling in almost two years if not more so excuse any mistakes, hopefully there are not many.
I do hope you will like this and I will be able to come up with some more stories and post them here.
Thank you for your continuous support.
I'm grateful for all of your support.

Thank you 🙏
Kanchan Mehta :)