We embraced even a trash, when Montu sold it like a 'star'

A lovely evening began with a sudden 'run-into' union of a couple of old friends. Saying goodbyes after a heart-filled laughter gossip session, the evening moved on. Our legs took my friend and me to traverse the amazing road from Mall Road to Chaura Maidan. We were the perfect ambassadors of the campaign 'I love Shimla. I walk on foot'.  Catching up on what's new in life, being nostalgic about old times, cherishing sweet  memories and making new plans were some of the highlights of our 'walkie-talkie'! Oblivious of what awaits us, we sat at Barista sipping a good cup of coffee. The inclination to buy a few gifts took us from one shop to the other a while later. After the futile visits to the decorative shops we both concluded that buying a gift is one of the hardest tasks especially for the both of us! We finally decided to give a last try at the famous shopping market for tourists - Lakkar Bazaar. Looking at the same wooden stuff, nothing really appealed to us and yet we went ahead with a hope! As we stopped at one of the usual roadside make-shift places, we ended up exploring a few things by touching and feeling them. We found a very interesting 'work of art' which brought an element of curiosity in us. Wanting to find out what it was we looked for the owner for the shop but couldn't find anyone. A few moments later a young chap addressed us and we instantly asked him about that attractive item. To our surprise more than the gift item the owner of the place was far too interesting. We both were taken aback with his non-stop yapping. His witty remarks earned him the title of 'haazir-jawaab'. His comments were not at all like smooth salesperson talk yet he drew our attention. This character certified my friend and me to be 'Shimlaites' just on the basis of our faces and voices! We both were baffled by him as well as by our own behaviour. It was incomprehensible as to what captivated us - was it his discourteous behaviour or his ridiculing remarks - we simply failed to understand! I guess what made us stay there was his different and exceptional personality! He refused us to click a picture of him and his shop even for publicity and promotion purposes. Rather he cross-questioned us and wanted us to give him a proof of our identities. He had the 'air' that could match any Bollywood star! He even declined to reveal his name to us! We ended up buying a silly thing which was easily available at any other shop in that market. Though he did not entertain the usual trend of bargaining in the market and didn't give any discounts, our prize was that he finally divulged his name! Although the wooden gift that we purchased was ordinary but the memories attached to it makes it extremely special. My friend and me are lucky to have had the honour of interacting with a celebrity in his own glamour world, Montu - the Star!

This is how we are, always in awe of unheard, unseen tales that often go unnoticed in the hustle-bustle of  streets, but which attach memories to even the trifles, making them special... :)

Image Courtesy : Wandering Educator