One of the funnier aspects of living where I do right now is the completely random street vendor. By street vendor, I don't mean someone selling hot dogs or falafels (I wish) from a steel cart on a corner in NYC. I mean people walking with giant baskets on their heads, riding their bikes hauling a bundle fabrics, or better yet pushing or pulling a wagon of wares. The best part of it is that the street vendor calls people from their homes in a style not too dissimilar from a vendor at the Fenway selling franks.
Now translate "Git yer Fehn-wahy franks heyar!" into Telagu and that is what we hear from our flat on the third floor.
Sometimes I'm really curious - perhaps because the vendor is just a bit too enthusiastic about what he is selling (it must be good) or perhaps because I just in the mood to know. It's enough to get me to the railing of our balcony to find out. The whole trip usually ends with a disappointed announcement like "it's only papayas", or "just a bundle of carpets". But every once in a while, usually once a month, the announcement is just a little bit different.
"CAMELS! Evan, quick! Get your shoes! The camels are here! (Evan shrieking) CAMELS!"
And the lot of us rushes down the stairs to admire these majestic animals and their unscrupulous handlers. What is 5 rupees for all the other kids becomes 50 rupees for my kid. After about 10 or 15 minutes of negotiations, a couple of false "walk-aways", and some raised eyebrows, the fare is back down to 5 rupees and the owner brings the camel down to the prone position for the riders to get on.
On this journey Evan was escorted by Virajita, the elder of Dr. Sharma's two daughters. It was a fun day for everyone.
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