This author secretly hopes of sleeping one whole night in this charming attic in the near future.
Slap on Your Face
After deciding on the books, and considering that you are his loyal customer, it will be innocent to expect Mr. Vikram Ajit Singh to offer you a discount. However, the bitter memories of the past will not deter you from once again compromising with your dignity.
Since there are people around, you will request for a concession in low whispers so that others do not hear Mr. Singh waving you off a bit of money (who may demand the same favor thus making him uncomfortable), but Mr. Singh is a stubborn person and he will not show any sympathy to your ongoing financial crisis.
Mr. Singh may be choosy and elegant with his books but it will hit you now that he is an extremely unreasonable trader. With your nose held high and face flushed red with anger, you will hand over the money, though your heart and mind will curse him with all the hatred that a man is able to nurture for a fellow human being. Your thanks will be uttered in a most mean and sarcastic tone and you will make a big show of rushing out of his shop swearing silently never to come back.
No Comebacks
Patronize Vikram Ajit Singh? Never!
Mr. Singh need not worry. You will be back soon.
Article comments
1 - diana hartman
I am pleased to tell you this article is being featured in the Culture Focus today, June 26.
Diana Hartman
Culture Editor
2 - heh
Find another bookshop pink princess, nobody's asking you to hang around there.
3 - ruchi
Hi Mayank,
Read it on some of cheap T shirts on Janpath .. "Education ruined me" … some one ruined by reading .. Nah ?? anyway .. good to see your blog .. though am not a blogger but I claim to be a book lover albeit low profile one. It was good to read your article on Fact & Fiction (which happens to be my last resort on so many books ) .. … coouldn’t help but thank u for the smile I had when I read about Mr. Singh .. Oh yes .. that’s so true.
Thanks..
4 - Saurabh
Fact and Fiction is perhaps my favorite bookshop. It is beautiful and delightfully personal. I love the place, Mr Singh's frown and all.
5 - Vinay Kumaran
My favorite book shop. The one place where I know I'll find the books I want and want the books I see. Wonderful selection and Mr Singh is amazingly knowledgable. And I never asked him for a discount!!!