Some days ago, I visited one of our neighbours with some food that my mother had sent for her. She offered a jackfruit in return. I cut the fruit from her tree and Auntie said this year some of them had withered early. She said it must be because of the evil eye cast by some of the neighbours last year, who excessively praised its sweetness. I ate the fruit today and it indeed is very sweet. But I don't know if I should mention that to her now.
In fact this year particularly, I've heard this evil eye thing mentioned all over the place, being responsible for mangoes developing worms to babies having stomach upsets. I don't know where all my name will be mentioned as the culprit next time.
The other day I took an auto in the night to reach my place. I got down and asked him how much the fare was, considering it was beyond 9 p.m. He said, "As you please". I said I wasn't aware of the prevailing rate. He repeated his words. I got irritated now. What am I, a queen paying him bakshish as I pleased? But he wouldn't budge. May be he knew me from old days, I wasn't sure but I didn't recognize him one bit. Finally I paid him what I thought was fair and finished the odd haggling.
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