I'd read sometime back that the annual book fair at Dilli sells the most number of books in India. I haven't conducted a survey, but most friends who are bibliophiles love curling up in bed with a book.
The two above statements are not directly related, but linked by a common object — the humble table-lamp. This happens to be the preferred light source.
But my experience this afternoon makes me wonder if Delhiites curl up in bed at all with books. Do they read the books thery buy? Or are they showpieces to adorn the study's shelves?
My starting point was the Bong ghetto, C.R. Park.
We Bongs are known to love things literary, but sadly an exhaustive search of all markets at C.R. Park revealed the table-lamps are obviously imported from Calcutta. We did not find a single shop that sells them. You'll get everything else, albeit at a premium, from your favourite Anandabazar Patrika to masala bodis.
Our quest brings us next to Kalkaji market... but lo and behold, only one shop stocks them. And they are either of the premium variety — either they cost the earth (Rs 900/- for a Philips contraption) or look really atrocious (Rs 270/- for a local device, with a "branded" CFL and one-year warranty).
My well-meaning friend, on whose bike I was riding pillion, tried to make the shopkeeper see reason and settle the deal for Rs 250/- but the fellow sees no merit in that.
We do come across another shop in Kalkaji, but its run out of stock.
Ah! Off to computer heaven — Nehru Place. A fellow helpfully offers a USB-powered lamp, thats about it.
Next stop, Alaknanda.
What a wonderful market. It has ATMs of possibly eight banks and innumerable gift shops. The only lamps we come across are emergency lamps.
Off to GK-II then. Again a quick scan of markets reveal zilch. And we come across a shop that apparently stocks these elusive lamps but wouldn't open before half past five this Monday evening.
Hang on, should we visit bargain bazaar then? Off to Govindpuri.
My friend, with his hawk-vision stops at anything that remotely says electric. One shop between GK and Kalkaji says yes. False hope, it turns out. This guy repairs them, doesn't sell them.
But he helpfully guides us to a wholesaler in DDA Kalkaji who stocks the item.
After navigating through an unusually narrow lane, we come across something that looks like a roadside stall outside a closed shop nd the back portion of a warehouse.
Fellow cheerfully tells us he does stock them. And disappears.
A couple of minutes later we get worried. Hope he isn't planning to report uss to the cops. Who knows, table-lamps might be the preferred items for terror attacks these days.
Aha! Here comes the fellow with two enormous cardboard cartons. One indeed holds a gigantic ivory version of the lamp. Ditto the second box. And no, he doesn't have more colours or models. Take it or leave it.
While we look heavenwards in despair, a new fellow comes carrying three new boxes. And one does hold a rather dusty smart-looking lamp. We ask the fellow to dust it and to us it looks quite hep.
Turns out the price is cool as well. Rs 150/- with the lamp, but no warranty as it's made in China.
We make the deal. Who cares about a warranty when you've at last found a lamp to your liking. After a three-hour quest.
I'll keep my fingers crossed. And happy reading!
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