Bedekar Stores

Bedekar Stores in Borivili Market has no face. It has no ad. It came into being 1910 says a head board which none can see from anywhere. They are good but not material for business editors. Bedekar Stores is never in a hurry; never into a competition; never interested to be on the top of the business pile. In 1910, there probably was no Borivili market or even Borivili station. Just a deep, dense forest. Two pleasant gentlemen run the shop with smiles and sometimes laughs, except Thursday, when the shop is shut. A shop of wooden benches with masala powders, aam papads, eatables from Konkan, anywhere on shelves, without design. Yet, men and women, equally undesigned, walk up and down the steps for their papads and masalas. Me and Rama went there to buy raw cashew with skin from Konkan, May is the time to chew cashews - raw, roasted, salted. Styled Malvani Mewa, packed by Sri Gurukrupa Udyog, Taluka Kudal, Jilla Sindhudurg, costs Rs.250 per 200 gm. Have walked these tiled areas with Paul, long ago, when ago. Rama noted the price, woofed, tried to put down the fixed price, stared at me ordering two packets. They go well with liquor. Every week we make a trip to Borivili market; me stands beside Rama as she pinches, twists and tastes vegetables before setting on downing the price. UP and Bihari bhaiyas are never comfortable with Rama with some scooting their stands. Rama has her way; she counts every note and coin. She should have been running the National Stock Exchange. Borivili market is the Gateway to North India; UP, Bihar, Jharkhand; some bhaiyas stand and sell unripe bananas at 'bees ka dozen' in the middle of a vague road; unput sentences; most sit on wooden benches, spit all round, relish the dirt and Borivili market is dirty; they have no PAN, no Nilekani Aadhaar; their inside pockets banks with cash. They are spread all over by 6; and it is hard work carrying sacks on one's back; in May, it is head loads of wooden petis of alphonsos or aams as they call it. They dominate the business, trick customers on prices, weight and quality; yet, having been with them for years, me likes them. Most suspect them. Their women are absent; women from Palghar and Virar sell kothimir, safed bhopla and some gaoti vegetables. Inside the Borivili market, is our favourite Ram from whom me collects vegetables. Rama approves the price and quality on sale. On the way home, Niranjan on Yogi Nagar Road, spotted us, said: 'Kya hamko bhool gaye?' We had no answer.