Vegetable VEndors

“Bhaiya 5 kilo aalo, 8 kilo pyaaz….mala pan dyaa ushir zhala kaka….”

All the chaos at 5am in the morning at the heavily crowded wholesale market in Borivali, all the vendors rushing to get their vegetables and fruits to sell them at their specific stalls or carts.

“ Baap re 5:30 ho gaye jaldi sabji leke wapas jaana bhi hai saaf safai karke sabjiya lagani hai, der hogai. ”

Taking all the vegetables the vendor returns to where he sets up his space and arranges vegetables and is ready for the day. Starting their day at 5am in the morning they sit in the same place the whole day and take a break only once for lunch.

“Bhaiya 2 kilo aalo 2 kilo tamatar de do ”

“Haa aur kuch aaj subah subah sab taaza laaya hai”

“Nai bass itna daldo”

“Ye lo didi”

The vendor sorts the vegetables and arranges them in a particular manner so that it becomes easier for them.

The arrangement then changes from basket to cart to stall as each vendor has different carriers.

“Namaste aunty kaise ho bahut din se dikhe nai”

“Aachi hu beta, zara 1 dudhi dena aaj mast halwa banana hai”

“Are waah ye lo aapki dudhi”

“Tum kaise ho”

“Kya batau aunty abhi hi sab sahi hua hai ye corona ki wajah se bahut nuksaan ho gaya abhi thoda sab line pe aa raha hai usme ye police wale aajate hafta lene”

For some of them this is their primary source of income but some do just to support their families. Times were hard for the vendors during the pandemic some couldn't even pay rents. The money they make often goes into bribing the BMC.

“Bht dhoop hai bhai paani dena jara khtm hogaya.” “Aaj toh beti bhi zidd karri thi market aane aacha hua nai leke gaya bht bheed thi”

“Ye lo paani, haa na aaj toh subah subah thak gaya.”

“Ye dekho ye bhi nikal gaya roj ki ser pe , kya bhai kaise ho?”

“Kuch nahi bilkul thik vohi rojka jara hu sabji leke.”

The vendors roaming with their carts moving from one society to another, the societies they visit are fixed as all do not allow. The vendors with baskets have a small quantity now as it is the afternoon time, return home. While the ones with stalls and carts go home to have lunch and will return till the evening, as the office hours get over and people buy vegetables on their way back home.

“Bhaiya 1 kilo matar, pav kilo bhindi aur 1.5 kilo tamatar dedo”

“Ye lo didi, chutta do na band kar diya sab thoda ghar jaldi jana hai”

“Mil gaya , ye lo”

As it grows dark the vendor starts packing, wrapping the carts and stalls and returns home. After the whole day of selling the stall ones earned around 1000rs, whereas the the cart and basket ones earned 500-200/-

“Chalo thodi bachi hui sabji laya hu yahi bana lo bht bhook lagi hai..thoda baju wale aunty ko bhi de do”

“Haa aap hath muh dho ..khake jaldi sojana kal wapas market jaana hai”

"Tum bhi fatafat sab niptake soo jao... tum bhi poore din mein thak gyi hongi naa"

"Nhi mera toh kya hai ghar ke kaam karo baccho aur maaji ko sambhalo aur free time mein tv dekho, kaash mein aisa kuch kar paati jisse aapko thodi bhi madat milti toh mujhe bohot khushi hoti."

Like every other day the vendor is back to his routine from moving through the market, setting up his place and waiting for the customers to arrive.

"Uncle aaj ek bohot important meeting hai mujhe late hoga aur time nhi milega toh please aap corn cheel ke rakhoge kya aaj mom dad aare hai toh corn matar ki bhaji banani hai."

"Okkay didi chalega aap jaate jaate pick karlena.....Thankyou uncle!"

"Bhaiya bohot din se Undiyo banana hai bacchhee zid kar rahe hai.....mujhe 3 baingan, aadha kilo aalo, aadha kilo matar, 1 dudhi waise poora ek toh nhi lagega par kya hi karu.bhaiya mujhe bhi jaldi dena late hora h...aur ek kaam karna baingan 3 ke bajey 2 dena..chodo bhaiya rehnedo mein baajuse leti hu.... ye lo didi...nhi nhi bhaiya ek minute matar bhi aat pav kardena......aur kuch didi?...ummm nhi abhi ke liye itna kaafi hai."

This is the routine of people bargaining, shouting and arguing, but they keep calm and deal with all this everyday. After wrapping up the vendors leave with the left vegetables to give them away to their neighbours.

"Ye lo aajkal bohot sabjiyan bach rahi hai aisa hi chalta raha toh bohot sabjiyan kharab hongi aur nuksaan hoga woh alag. kuch toh sochna padega jissee ye sabjiyaan kharab bhi na ho aur agle din tak chale."

"woh baadmein dekhenge aap pehle khana khalo."

"aur kya kya hua aaj?"

"kya hi batau bohot jyada kat kat, log pehle hi sochke kyu nhi aate ki kya sabji kharidni hai. aaj ek aurat ke wajahse mere 4 grahak chale gaye...ek undiyo banane ke liye itni gadbad..."

"mein sochrahi thi ki kyu na hum aise sabjiyon ke packet banaye jismein lagnewala awashyak material ho toh logo ko aisi alag alag sabji kharidni nhi padegi aur shayad hum saari bachi hui sabjiyon ko preserve bhi karpaye aise packet mein."

"Haan ye ho toh sakta hai"

"Mein Kamla se bhi poochti hu agar hum sab aurtein milke ye kar sakte hai, waise bhi din bhar gharmein hote hai isi bahane milna hojayega."

"Ye accha bahana hai kaam ka kaam bhi hojayega aur tumhara time pass bhi hojayega."

"Thike mein Kamla se baat karti hu, aap bhi Rakesh bhaiya se pooch lena. sab saathmein karenge toh maaza aayega"

The packages can be made of different sabjis that are required in day to day life, it will be easier for all categories of people right from House runners, working class to students. Involving the family members of the vendor helps build a community, members get to spend time with each other which strengthens their bond.