Scarf-Walla

Today, Diego, Luis and I went to World Market to look at some bar furniture for a renovation project we're working on. There were many things there that reminded me of Bombay (except about 5-10x more expensive). But when I turned the corner and saw some scarves on display, I caught my breath, and was taken back to a hot, steamy day in early May.
Liz & Shirley were visiting us in Bombay. They were interested in getting some nice scarves/shawls both for personal souvenirs and for gifts. I was also interested in some. I knew there was a guy who sold scarves (Scarf-Walla) on Linking Rd (a popular shopping district in Bandra, our neighborhood). He didn't even have a stall. He had basically an over-sized tie rack on a pole that he walked around with, covering about 2 square blocks. I'd bought scarves from him before - I knew what he had and that his prices were pretty good.
The first time we went out, he wasn't there. We looked and we looked, but no Scarf-Walla. On a lark, just before they left, we went out for one last look. Success! He was there.
The Scarf-Walla had about 2 dozen different styles, each style with a handful of different colors. There were solids and patterns, wovens and printed, silks and cottons, more soft and less soft - all kinds of scarves. The three of us buzzed around him feeling different scarves, pulling them out for a better look. Some we tried on, some we passed to another, and some we shoved back onto the rack.
After a few minutes, I told Liz & Shirley not to ask about the prices. "We will pay Rs. 100 each." That's about $2.50. Really, they asked. Really.
We ended up with twelve scarves between us - 6 for me and 3 each for the girls. The Scarf-Walla started to call out prices - Rs. 350 for this one, Rs. 225 for that one... I cut him off, telling him that we would pay Rs. 100 each, or Rs 1,200 for all of them. Oh no, madam, this scarf too nice. For all scarf, Rs. 3,700. No, I told him, Rs. 1,200 for all. Oh no, madam, in a store this scarf cost Rs. 500. But, I point out - as if my sweating brow and reddened cheeks did not make it obvious, we are not IN a store. We are standing in the middle of Linking Road. We'll pay Rs. 1,200 for all of them.
No, no madam. Rs. 2,500. No. Rs. 1,200.
Oh madam, Rs. 2,400. No, I repeat, Rs. 1,200. He shakes his head. So I hand him back the TWELVE scarves. He asks what my best price is. I tell him Rs. 1,200. No, no madam.
OK, I sigh and smile. Rs. 1,800 for all. BEST PRICE. This is of little consolation to him.
Madam, Rs. 2,300. No. Rs. 1,800
Rs. 2,200. I hand him back the scarves again. Rs. 1,800.
Rs. 2,000. No, Rs. 1,800.
Rs. 1,900. Rs. 1,800
Rs. 1,850. Rs. 1,800.

At this point, we went round and round and round and round. He kept asking for Rs. 50 more. I stood my ground. He asked. I offered to give the scarves back and walk away. He asked me for my Best Price. I told him that it was still Rs. 1,800. He asked for Rs. 1,850. I point out that I am purchasing TWELVE scarves. TWELVE. I'm thinking that a sale like this would make him the Scarf-Walla equivalent of Employee of the Week.
We go a few more rounds. He asks for Rs. 1,850. I sweat, but hold my ground. When it's starting to look hopeless for us both (he wants the sale and I want the scarves), I ask him, "How many scarves have you sold today?"

He pauses, he smiles. And he says, OK madam, Rs. 1,800.

We pay our money and take our scarves. And I feel like I am starting to get the hang of life in Bombay.