But Indians bargain!!

I noticed that my last post was almost 3 months back! Wow, life has certainly changed a lot in these 3 months. First of all, my visa situation has been resolved a bit (it's still too complicated to explain!!), so I don't have to work outside US for 4 months. Though this means a lost chance for international travel, I can still travel within the US in the summer. The rest of the changes have been mostly related to where I live, what I drive (my old car gave up on me!!), and other not so interesting stuff. The interesting part, however, has been the transition. I had a crazy weekened last week selling everything in my apartment over craigslist. The most exciting bit, though, was selling my car.

Well, the car was a '95 model camry that I got as a student, and it was expected to give way sooner or later. Unfortunately, it happened sooner than I expected. One fine weekend while driving on the interstate, the car suddenly stopped responding to my coaxing, and came to a stop. I waited for a few minutes, called a few people for advice, and tried starting it again. This time, it went totally out of whack, and the engine started spitting out smoke!!

Well, at that point, I pretty much knew that was it! Called roadside assistance, took it to a mechanic, and that's when he gave me the inevitable news - "She's dead". Two words, and my 3 yr long relationship came to a crash. Heartbroken, I got it towed back home, hoping to have a burial ceremony with a nice little epitaph on the grave that would describe the way I felt about her - my first car :( The one I didn't give up on till her last day. For a while I thought I wouldn't be able to drive again.

But they say wounds heal with time, and they healed sooner for me cause my bro's newer (2007) camry was made available to me. But that's only because it was a camry - a bmw or a mercedes wouldn't have helped me get out of my mourning. So with a heavy heart, I started on a new journey, nurturing a relationship with someone else's car - it almost felt like cheating!

Anyhow, the days went by, and someone reminded me of the pending burial, but I could still not brace myself to the truth. That's when someone told me something about trying to sell it on craigslist. I knew it could be sold, but I wasn't sure if someone would take a car that has to be towed away - even if it was my sweetheart. And I wasn't sure that I wanted some sleazy auto dealer to lay his greasy hands on her!

But well, money being money, the suggestion was worth a shot, so one Saturday, after much deliberation on the right price, I put up an ad - "Excellent deal - 95 Camry going for $500".

5 mins, no calls.

10 mins, and I'm thinking, is it not even worth the miserly $500?

That's when my phone started ringing - "Hello, I'm really really interested in the camry - can I come in another 1 hr?"!! As I'm talking to the guy giving him directions, I missed 2 more calls - everybody wanted the car. So I rushed back to my computer, took off the ad, and posted a new one- "Excellent deal - '95 camry for $750".

5 mins, no calls. 10 mins - still waiting. 20 mins ... may be 600 was a better price. Finally after about 30 minutes, someone called. What a relief!! This guy also wanted to come the same day, so I gave him directions. Apparently, that call was just a start. The rest of the evening, my phone didn't stop ringing .. seems like there is a lopsided supply-demand for camrys' in Atlanta. Anyhow, the guy (who's name was Mike, but had a thick Asian accent), landed up at my place after abt 90 minutes (must have received around 20 calls during that time!).

After a thorough inspection, Mike (who was , by the way, Chinese) decided - ok, I'm gonna get it today! I told him - "fine, sold! you are the lucky one!" Then he said let me get the $500.

I looked at him - a bit surprised, asked him if he had checked the price online. He said yeah, but I want to take it for 500 bucks. I told him, bro, thanks but no thanks, it's either 750, or you go home empty handed.

The guy starts thinking, goes around the car again, starts up the car, calls up someone, makes them listen to what the car sounds like. I don't know how it helped, but after about 10 mins of shouting over the phone, he came to me very excited - ok fine, I'll take it. I'm like - ok cool I just want to get over with this today. Then he goes - I'll give you $600.

This time I was really pestered - I told him, man, either you pay $750, or you go home - don't waste my time! I started yelling at him - I was half hoping that he would say no, and I would put up another ad - "Excellent deal - '95 camry for only $1000"!!:) Well, he finally agreed, said we'll meet the next day and was off.

The next day when he started driving towards my place, he called me again - he's like, so I'm bringing the $700, are you at home?? This time he really touched a wrong nerve, and I was yelling and howling at him - "I told you 750, a penny less and I wont give you the car. Do you understand English? Not a penny less!!" He started apologising, saying ok fine whatever you say, I'll get you 750 then. I was totally irritated by the behaviour, so I had to ask what the matter was - did'nt he want the car?

He replied very sheepishly - "Actually I don't like bargaining too much myself, but a friend of mine told me that Indians bargain!!!"

Man, I haven't laughed harder in a long while.

"Indians bargain!!!!!!!"

Of course we do!!

BUT NOT WHEN WE ARE SELLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And this, my friends, is how I sold my beloved for $750.