Today I set out on a mission - to find the carpet guy who gave a well-informed and interesting lecture on oriental carpets at an AWA meeting the other day. He had given out his business card which had an explicit map on the back, accompanied by landmark descriptions as well.
Should have been easy, non? Forty-five minutes later, up two different streets and a couple of u-turns mixed in, I had to call him in desperation. "Would love to visit your shop, but can't find it"
"Oh", he says, "It's easy. Just go to the next traffic light and do a u-turn. There is a mosque on the left hand corner and after that you will see a Pet shop with birds in the window. My store has a blue sign and it's about ten shops down from the birds."
Five minutes later, I call again. "Riyaz, I have gone passed those stores, but can't find your sign. I am making another u-turn to see what I have missed along the way." "Ok, madam." Third call: "Riyaz, you said you were on the left side, but it's on the right!"
Apoplectic now, Riyaz shouts in my ear: "No, no madam! Listen! That is not my store. Please don't go there. They take all my business! My store much better. I will stand outside and wave. What car are you driving?" I tell him. He responds: "Ok, now, look out for the red audi - that is mine". (Why am I not surprised - he is making a small fortune off all the AWA ladies who frequent his store looking for carpets). "I am wearing a black check shirt and jeans. You will see me, I know!"
And as I sail past, there he is - checkered shirt billowing like a Formula One flag, arms waving madly, hopping up and down outside a storefront that is about 12 feet wide. I think I have won this race. The sign above says exactly what it should, but it is so buried under pictures of goods and lots of colour that it's really hard to see any of the blue background (that actually turns out to be black).
No comments:
Post a Comment