![\"PAGE-FICTION-JUSTLOOKING-02\"](\"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/PAGE-FICTION-JUSTLOOKING-02.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nAfter having lunch at Amrutha<\/i> cafe, my wife, Kanakam, and I, walked down the Devon Street known as \u201cLittle India\u201d in Chicago. We window-shopped, stopping here and there to admire a huge brass Ganesh or a well-dressed mannequin in a sari looking almost real or to appreciate the smell of spicy foods as we passed by a restaurant. Sometimes we paused on the sidewalk to listen to an old movie song in front of a CD store which brought childhood memories of India.<\/p>\n
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Suddenly, Kanakam stopped in front of Bijli Jewelers. An attractive female mannequin, clad in a pink Salwar Kameez<\/i> and a dark red dupatta <\/i>stood in the showcase sporting a diamond necklace and a diamond bracelet, which dazzled under the overhead LED lights. On the right side, a middle-aged male mannequin wearing a kurta<\/i> and pajamas proudly exhibited a Rolex, \u201cThe Sea Dweller.\u201d Next to him stood a young man clad in a shirt and pants showing off another Rolex, \u201cThe Sky-Dweller.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet a Rolex, Raju,\u201d suggested Kanakam.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese watches are not for me. They\u2019re for the sea and sky dwellers,\u201d I quipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m an earth dweller, Raju. Let\u2019s go in, just looking, not buying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKanakam, your name means gold in Sanskrit, 50 Kgs of it. Why do you want to go in?\u201d<\/p>\n
A teenage girl giggled behind us.<\/p>\n
\u201cUncle is like this. Always cutting jokes.\u201d Said Kanakam to the teenager. We went in.<\/p>\n
Bijli was a huge jewelry store. The ground floor displayed relatively cheaper 14 K gold ornaments and some with semiprecious stones. The second floor carried gold jewels, pure diamond solitaires, rings, bracelets and diamond necklaces that sparkled under the ceiling lights.<\/p>\n
Kanakam led me to the second floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cNamaste, Doctor Raju Sab and Mrs. Kanakam. I haven\u2019t seen you since last Diwali time,\u201d Padma, the sales person, greeted. She was middle-aged and wore a burgundy Mysore silk sari with a matching blouse and a charming smile. Her Solitaire Earrings and a square link diamond necklace glittered like sparkles on Diwali night. We knew Padma well.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour earrings are beautiful. Did you get them here?\u201d My wife asked Padma.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boss lets us wear these. I can\u2019t afford them. We are kind of living mannequins. What can I do for you today?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking for diamond bangles.\u201d Kanakam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. I saw you stop near that showcase. They are cheap ones, not for you. Come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
We followed her past glass doors in to a small room with several showcases. Statues of Ganesh and Lakshmi wreathed by artificial jasmines garlands stood on a table at a corner. The fragrance of sandalwood lingered in the air.<\/p>\n
Padma pulled a couple of cushioned chairs for us. \u201cHave a look at the diamond bangles, bracelets, rings and necklaces. Most diamonds are of VVS2 quality. Take your time. Whatever you like, I will show them to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I knew diseases, not diamonds. This VVS2 language was Latin to me. I nodded as if I were familiar with diamond terminology.<\/p>\n
Kanakam felt happy for the special attention she was getting. \u201cShow me some bangles, Padma.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recently received a batch of these.\u201d Padma opened the showcase and gently picked up a pair of white-gold bangles. Groups of five diamonds were placed intermittently along the circumference. Padma polished the bangles with a lint free cloth and placed them on a black fabric. \u201cWe haven\u2019t showed it to anyone yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My wife put them on easily. She studied them at a close range, looked their refection in the mirror, went near a window and inspected them in the daylight and asked me, \u201cHow are they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bangles look beautiful on you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes Kanakam, they are elegant and will match any sari perfectly,\u201d Padma said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they are a little loose. Do you have any a shade smaller?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure.\u201d Padma scrutinized her collection and picked up a pair of gold bangles with diamonds all around. \u201cThese are of size 2.4, a little smaller in diameter. Try these, Kanakam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure these are smaller?\u201d<\/p>\n
Padma picked up the gold bangle and placed the white-gold one under it. \u201cLook, this one is smaller.\u201d Kanakam was skeptical. Padma grabbed a ruler and measured the diameter. \u201cIt\u2019s size 2.4, definitely smaller. Please try these.\u201d<\/p>\n
One bangle got stuck at Kanakam\u2019s knuckles. She couldn\u2019t push it in. She borrowed a little moisturizing cream from Padma and slipped the bangles easily past her knuckles. \u201cPadma, I have this problem of prominent knuckles. When I go through the security at the airport, I\u2019m always delayed while I struggle to remove these.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kanakam raised her hands to my eye level and asked me smiling, \u201cMaharaj<\/i>, how are these?\u201d<\/p>\n
When a Maharani<\/i> asks, what could a Maharaj <\/i>say? \u201cPerfect. In fact, because of you these bangles are looking more beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a charming husband you have,\u201d said Padma.<\/p>\n
Kanakam studied the bangles carefully. \u201cPadma, I feel these are too tight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll get used to them. After a couple of times, they will slide off easily like skates on ice. I\u2019ve seen your teen daughter last time when she accompanied you. Beautiful girl. She could share the bangles on special occasions. We have only six of this particular model. We are not expecting any more. You know Kanakam, now the trend is to wear three bangles on each wrist.\u201d Padma took rest of the bangles from the showcase, polished and made Kanakam to wear them. \u201cVery lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI like them. I guess I\u2019ll have them.\u201d Kanakam looked at me coyly. I took out my wallet.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me call my boss, Doctor. He\u2019ll give you a good deal. Now, why don\u2019t you get ear studs for your daughter? We have a good collection.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you. We\u2019ll be back at Sankranti time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Rahul, the boss, calculated the amount of gold, the number of carats in the diamonds and the labor costs, added them up and handed me a piece of paper.<\/p>\n
I glanced at it and gave it to Kanakam. She looked and handed it back to me with a knowing smile, as if to say, \u201cIt\u2019s up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoctor Sab, each bangle costs $3,500 and the total comes to $21,000. You are our regular customer, so here is the bottom line.\u201d Rahul scribbled $20,400 on the piece of paper. \u201cThat\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gave my credit cards and the transaction was completed. Rahul handed Kanakam the six diamond bangles in a small red box and the guarantee papers, placing them carefully in a cloth bag. My wife was overjoyed.<\/p>\n
We came out. I said softly, \u201cKanakam, while entering I thought you said, \u2018just looking, not buying.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy love, after twenty years of marriage, don\u2019t you know what \u2018just looking,\u2019 means?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After having lunch at Amrutha cafe, my wife, Kanakam, and I, walked down the Devon Street known as \u201cLittle India\u201d in Chicago. We window-shopped, stopping here and there to admire a huge brass Ganesh or a well-dressed mannequin in a sari looking almost real or to appreciate the smell of spicy foods as we passed…<\/p>\n