Some things in our country only foreigners stare at They are everywhere around us – in grocery stores, petrol stations, Uber cabs, restaurant counters. They keep company with luxury department stores and veggie sellers sitting by the open drain. Foreigners can stare all they want, but some things in our country don’t invite a second thought from us.
Like polluted air. Or the garbage under the flyovers, which govt thinks is somehow invisible if the concrete columns are covered in bright frescoes. Yes, there are some things that just blend in the ambience here, lurking about, waiting for people to extend their hands and move them swiftly, give a slight nod that shows easy accomplishment, and go on with their next task.
It’s difficult to imagine life without them in India. No, not houseflies or mosquitoes. Well, those too.
And payment QR codes. Which have burgeoned with equal frenzy, though I had to google to learn that it stands for Quick Response Code. Some call it by the name of the app they use, others say ‘scanner’or ‘barcode’.
I’ve used it to send ₹1 to confirm someone’s account details and pay ₹10 to buy green chilies. Premium stores link it to their billing software, and sales executives try not to beam at you when the code displays the exact amount payable. At small kiosks, men point at the cardboard placard with chipped edges kept beneath a low light and try to look expressionless when you confirm the name that appears on your phone – it’s oft.
