Amway- Blocking your way

Well… back to writing again after a little gap. I never want to live out of this habit of writing as it is a good exercise for brain. Most of us have either a dominant left side hemisphere or right side hemisphere of brain. Well writing evens it… this particular activity of writing needs both sides of our brain… feelings are the work of right side and putting them in words is the work of left side of brain.

This time I am going to write few funny/weird experiences of ours with the Amway representatives. One day in Wal-Mart (this was some time around my first week in the US), we were standing near the shelves of some cosmetics just thinking which one to pick. Suddenly there comes a man

Man: There are so many creams in the market we juz don’t know which one to pick. (he said looking at Vijay)

Vijay: some times giving us so much choice ruins us.
Man: well I am so & so****

Vijay introduced himself and me.
Man: have you guys been living here since long?
Vijay: I am here since almost five years.
Man: Well, I am new to this place and looking around for some help. Can I have your mobile no.?

Vijay was little skeptical but he didn’t have a choice but to give his no. The man then gave a ring to Vijay’s cell from his mobile so Vijay can save his no. as well

Well, two days passed by and our life is as normal as ever. On the third day Vijay’s cell rang and it was the guy we met in Wal-Mart. He spoke little this and that and then he asked Vijay if he could come for a meeting or so… Vijay could sense some thing fishy and that he was dragging him into something. Having heard the stories about Amway people Vijay straight away asked him if he was working for Amway. The man couldn’t skip answering said yes. Vijay gave him a piece of his ire (lucky guy…. Normally he shares it with me :D) well we went till the mouth of the crater but managed not to fall ;) well pretty smart us,,, right:)

We came across many similar incidents after that, but we were smart enough not to get trapped. We learnt enough from our experiences. Whenever a stranger walks-in and tries to make conversation, we just run away from him.

A few days back Vijay and I had been to temple dressed pretty well as it was Vijay’s birthday. Vijay was busy in pradakshina and I was standing alone chanting some prayers. Suddenly a female came and stood beside me. She smiled at me and said hi.

Girl: Are you from Bombay?
Me: (Did she find me familiar? Or is she another Amway person?) ‘No’ ( I smiled back)
Girl: Then where are you from?
Me: (now she is coming… I know she is from Amway, be careful Sharmi) I am from Hyderabad (maintaining the same artificial smile)

Girl: I love your skirt, did you buy it in Hyderabad or in Dallas?
Me: (I know my skirt is beautiful, that is why I bought it) Thank you, I bought it in Dallas (same smile again)

Girl: How long have you been staying here?
Me: ( Aaahhh, now she is on track, the same usual Amway question) It's been quite a while (my smile little faded)

Girl : So do you stay near by?
Me: (Does it matter to you? I know your next question would be my phone no.) I stay in Irving. (intentionally showing sign of little ire)

Girl: There are lots of Indians there, right. We stay in Dallas.
Me: (did I ask you? Run Sharmi run before she asks for your number) ok (not showing any sign of interest)
Girl: Are you working any where?
Me: No

Vijay just finished his pradikshina, I left her without saying good bye and joined Vijay and told him about the girl. Vijay was surprised and we were both skeptical if people could do this even in temple. We became curious and while leaving Vijay told me to say her good bye and see if she asks for my phone no.

I went to her and said good bye and exchanged pleasantries. Well to our surprise she didn’t ask our phone no. I felt so bad for behaving vile. Well she might genuinely be a social person, but I behaved ill-cultured because of our fear and cynicism. Well now I learnt that I need to deal with each situation differently. One size doesn’t fit all.