Dodging deals and despair!
In Shillong — the Scotland of the East — every street corner has now turned into a battlefield between pedestrians and persistent hawkers, with the real adventure shifting from the rolling cloud-kissed hills to the sidewalks which have been transformed into impromptu bazaars.
Picture this: In Police Bazar, hawkers spill onto roads, creating stiff bottlenecks difficult for two-wheelers to negotiate. Cars honk furiously and pedestrians have to choose between bumping into each other or the hawkers but the vendors remain unfazed. They’re too busy haggling over their goods — socks, fruits, shoes, clothes and the likes — to notice the gridlock.
And the less said about parking, the better for all. Finding a free spot could be more challenging than spotting a unicorn.
At the end of the day, or rather the late evening hours, the adventurous ones and the tourists are greeted with leftover peels, plastic wrappers, and mystery spills left there by both sellers and buyers.
On rainy days (which is every day these days), the situation becomes doubly complex with umbrellas of all colours and sizes taking premium space. You are either infringing into someone’s privacy or compelled to shut the umbrella and brave the rain.
Yet, amid the madness, Shillong’s spirit shines. “If you can survive the hawkers, you can survive anything in Shillong” is a common refrain these days.
Perhaps a vendor-free zone or two could restore peace. Until then, dear citizens, arm yourselves with patience, good shoes, and a sense of humour before deciding to brave a trip to PB.
