I like to visit the local market, whenever I visit a foreign
country. One can learn a lot about a foreign culture actions and
behavior of people in the market.
Sometimes
one can see strange events rooted in the local culture.
That is why I was not surprised when I saw a weighing competition taking place in the market square. A large weighing scale stood in center of a little square in the market.
That is why I was not surprised when I saw a weighing competition taking place in the market square. A large weighing scale stood in center of a little square in the market.
Standing
by one side of the balance was a beautiful woman, whose deep purple
silk sari shone in the sun.
On the other end stood a tall man, his bare chest revealing his powerful muscles. The judge was in the center. He was an old man, a huge mustache hanging under his nose. The judge gave the opening signal.
The woman put on the balance some red glistening skin tomatoes. Tomatoes are the queen of vegetables boasting perfect beauty, much like women. The Weighing scales tilted towards her.
The man was quick to put a radish on his side of the scale. The radish is stubborn, strong, big and tough, perfect qualities to overcome hardship, qualities best describing manhood. The weighing scales tilted his side.
After a moment of reflection, the woman, smiling a little smile, added a sweet and soft peach, such juicy sweetness to make one's mouth water. Now the scale moved towards her side.
The man was confused, but soon recovered. He put on the scale a carrot, as straight as a ramrod, broad base and sharp end, as if to say, "Look at me! I am very honest, and I use my broad based knowledge and sharp intellect." This moved the balance to his side again.
The woman, smiling cynically, added a watermelon on his side of the scale and now turning to the man, she said: "Maybe you look tough, but I think you are full of water". Surprisingly, the scale tipped in her direction. a murmur of astonishment was heard from the bystander gathered around the scene.
The man was startled for a moment, but soon recovered. He spoke to the audience, "Do you know what is under the skin of the tomatoes?" With this he took a knife and cut her tomatoes, and squashed them. The juice spurted out staining the woman's beautiful sari. The balance was again in favor of the man.
The woman replied, choosing her words as she peeled an onion: "If you care to look inside the onion, you will find hidden secrets." The scale moved slightly. She removed another layer of the onion, and another, and another, until the scale tilted in her favor.
Suddenly a rich fat man pushed his way to the front row, saying, "Nothing you may put on the scale palm, can beat this." And with these words he through a bag full of coins on the weighing scale. The Judge raised his hands in protest against the intrusion, and demanded that he should leave.
The woman looked at the man, the man looked back, and both nodded sharing the same thought. "Let it be," the woman told the judge, "We are ready to meet the challenge." Then she looked again toward the man who nodded with a smile. The rich man put his hands deep into his pockets and looked at them both with contempt, "Nothing can outweigh my money."
the man and the woman each pulled out a knife, cutting the vegetables thinly, adding oil to all the ingredients, mixing it well creating a healthy salad. Adding a pinch of pepper, some 'Salt of the Earth', and sure enough, the scales' balance tipped toward them.
On the other end stood a tall man, his bare chest revealing his powerful muscles. The judge was in the center. He was an old man, a huge mustache hanging under his nose. The judge gave the opening signal.
The woman put on the balance some red glistening skin tomatoes. Tomatoes are the queen of vegetables boasting perfect beauty, much like women. The Weighing scales tilted towards her.
The man was quick to put a radish on his side of the scale. The radish is stubborn, strong, big and tough, perfect qualities to overcome hardship, qualities best describing manhood. The weighing scales tilted his side.
After a moment of reflection, the woman, smiling a little smile, added a sweet and soft peach, such juicy sweetness to make one's mouth water. Now the scale moved towards her side.
The man was confused, but soon recovered. He put on the scale a carrot, as straight as a ramrod, broad base and sharp end, as if to say, "Look at me! I am very honest, and I use my broad based knowledge and sharp intellect." This moved the balance to his side again.
The woman, smiling cynically, added a watermelon on his side of the scale and now turning to the man, she said: "Maybe you look tough, but I think you are full of water". Surprisingly, the scale tipped in her direction. a murmur of astonishment was heard from the bystander gathered around the scene.
The man was startled for a moment, but soon recovered. He spoke to the audience, "Do you know what is under the skin of the tomatoes?" With this he took a knife and cut her tomatoes, and squashed them. The juice spurted out staining the woman's beautiful sari. The balance was again in favor of the man.
The woman replied, choosing her words as she peeled an onion: "If you care to look inside the onion, you will find hidden secrets." The scale moved slightly. She removed another layer of the onion, and another, and another, until the scale tilted in her favor.
Suddenly a rich fat man pushed his way to the front row, saying, "Nothing you may put on the scale palm, can beat this." And with these words he through a bag full of coins on the weighing scale. The Judge raised his hands in protest against the intrusion, and demanded that he should leave.
The woman looked at the man, the man looked back, and both nodded sharing the same thought. "Let it be," the woman told the judge, "We are ready to meet the challenge." Then she looked again toward the man who nodded with a smile. The rich man put his hands deep into his pockets and looked at them both with contempt, "Nothing can outweigh my money."
the man and the woman each pulled out a knife, cutting the vegetables thinly, adding oil to all the ingredients, mixing it well creating a healthy salad. Adding a pinch of pepper, some 'Salt of the Earth', and sure enough, the scales' balance tipped toward them.
The
judge declares them the winners, "marriage defeats wealth!"
The
man took her hand, and they walk away together, as the spectators
applauded excitedly.
“
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