Chetta, how much for the paavaka, payar and mango — altogether 100/- rupees, said a street vegetable hawker, who puts up his stall twice a week. Only after I hung the bag of vegetables in my scooter did I realize that I only could pay through UPI, and that I hadn't brought my purse which had some liquid cash. I scanned his makeshift shop for a tiny box that would announce payments received, but none that I could scan for a payment!
When asked how I'd pay him — without batting an eyelid, he coolly handed over 20/- rupees to me in turn, and pointed me to a lottery vending shop situated right opposite his makeshift shop; giving me a clear instruction — "hand over the 20/- rupees as liquid cash, and Gpay 100/- to the lottery vendor, and get me a lottery, I'll get it with blessings from your hands today!" I followed the instruction to the T and got back with my new purchase to hand over to the vegetable hawker. A fellow woman who had visited the shop, oblivious about the previous dealing between the vegetable hawker and me, was sharp with her comment — oh, so we can now barter with lottery tickets to buy veggies! Wow!
The lottery continues to be a harbinger of good fortune, while UPI payments happily coexist even in a so-called local village in Bharath!
