The Weight of Price: A Fisherman's Struggle

 

Madappa sold fish in the early morning at a corner near a busy junction and took on odd jobs in the evenings. Despite his efforts, he struggled to make ends meet while supporting his wife and two school-age children. He collected fish from a wholesaler named  Hydros Haji in the early hours, typically on credit, and repaid him weekly. Any unpaid dues were usually accepted by Haji as he allowed for easy installments. Like many others, Madappa felt the impact of inflation and often found himself echoing the common sentiment of frustration with the government's failures. There is no point in crying over something out of his control and has been surrendered to fate. 

Days went by, and one day, Madappa caught a good haul of healthy, large Braal fish for sale. He quickly reached the market, settled on a concrete slab, and confidently displayed his catch to the public.

The first client was a regular, government contractor named Ramaiah. With a broad smile, he addressed Madappa, saying, "Oh Madappa, I haven't seen you in a long time, and you've brought a fresh piece! How much should I pay for half a kilogram?"

"Are you serious? I can't cut and sell you half. The whole piece costs six hundred rupees, and there’s no room for negotiation," Madappa replied.

"It's fish, not gold to keep in a locker," Ramaiah retorted. "I don’t print money to waste!" He then left without waiting for a response.

Lazar from the RTO office approached Madappa and quoted a price of 400 Rupees, claiming that the fish would spoil by tomorrow and urging him to sell it quickly. However, Madappa refused, stating that he doesn’t collect a commission every day and is willing to wait until the fish is sold. A mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces came by to look at the fish, which was lying out of the water on a leaf mat in the mud, its eyes wide open and lifeless. Madappa felt equally drained, with the rising sun beating down on him and his stomach grumbling after more than 15 hours without food since the previous day.

Madappa then noticed a white Maruti car screeching to a halt in the nearby bylane. A tall young man wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses stepped out. He had a prominent tummy and was headed toward the opposite side of the road, where a chubby beauty named Vasanthi was selling flowers. Vasanthi had many young clients who often came to buy flowers and flirt with her.

In the next moment, the shadow of the man fell across Madappa, and to his astonishment, he recognized the young, handsome guy. The man had a tie around his neck bearing the name "Ravi Gulati," along with the logo of a well-known IT company. Madappa stood there, eyes wide, staring at him in disbelief.

“How much is it, and what’s the price? I hope it’s fresh. Do you sell it for me?” he asked breathlessly without taking a pause. 

Madappa felt a bit shaky, unsure of what price to quote based on his previous encounters. The urgency to get home for food weighed on him heavily. His mind was crowded with thoughts: school fees for his children, the unpaid debt to Hydros Haji, his wife showing him empty cans and requesting provisions, and more.

Madappa quickly regained his composure, fearing his client might return. "Sir, this is a rare and fresh piece that weighs more than one and a half kilos. I will charge you only eight hundred and fifty rupees”.

Ravi Gulati took two 500-rupee notes from his wallet and handed them to him, explaining that he didn’t have a carry bag and asked him to pack the fish in a piece of paper instead. Madappa quickly wrapped the fish using some leftover leaves and a sheet of newspaper where he sat down. As he searched his empty pockets, he found a twenty-rupee note and offered it to the young man, saying he didn’t have enough change to repay the balance.

The young Turk collected the parcel, smiled, and walked back to his parked car, leaving a few astonished onlookers behind.

Madappa closely followed the young man, admiring him for several yards as he thought about the protest march on "Inflation and Its Effect on the Common Man," which was addressed by Prof. Kamath, the State's Chief Economist.  Prof. Kamath said: "With other factors remaining constant, the sudden influx of money from the IT sector is causing inflation."

Even though Madappa didn't understand English, he made sure to have two new five-hundred rupee notes in his pocket.