What I learnt from the Marwadi lady...

It's very colourful traditional outfit 

Was walking along the pavement on a rainy day and smelt some nice rice flour pakodas. Turned all around sniffing for the source and ended up at this pakoda-bajji counter. There I found her with her little son flocked all around by her customers.

I skeptically approached her looking at her bajji flour and the oil frying on the stall which moves on four wheels. Pointed at her colder aloo bonda (aloo masala stuffed into a bajji) section with doubt written all over my face and asked her "Isme chana daalthe hai kya?" (Did you use chickpeas in this?)

She didn't care to take a look at me. She handed over a couple of parcels to the customers around. I ask the same question again thinking she may not have paid attention to me. She made her mind up to deal with this snobbish query of mine finally and grabs a couple of bajjis and spills some chutney over those damn things and shoved that paper plate into my hands. I thought she would say something but she didn't. She didn't even look at me, damn it!

I, to an extent feeling uncomfortable for having provoked her, nibbled that aloo bonda from the end dipped in the mix of mint chutney and tamarind chutney. That's how I really tasted the source of that catchy smell that pulled me to that place. It was simply 'yummy'. I had to ask her for more. That's when she looked at me for a fraction of a second for the very first time.

After savouring another helping of those bondas, I demanded, "Kitna hai?" (How much for those?). She now, wraps her sari and tightens the free end around her waist and asked back with a growing smile, "Kaisa laga?" (How was it? - How did they taste?) That's when I gave up and said "Bahut achcha hai" (They were very good) and smiled back at her. I heard another customer mumbling to her, "Jab aap banathe ho, bure kaise honge" (When you cook, how can they possibly get bad?)

I don't miss looking out for her when I walk that path every time.

This was a simple demonstration of confidence on your product and knowing the pulse of the customer. She knows what she's doing and she's good at it.