There was a little boy named Adithya who lived happily with his mom, dad, and grandparents. Every day, he would go to the vegetable market with his grandma. Sometimes, she would be a bit clumsy, and he’d have to help her out. Some days, he’d be super chill; other days, he’d be totally bored or tired. His grandma would often argue with the sellers, chatting with them, complaining about prices, and making sure they didn’t try to cheat her.
The Market Routine
The vendors sat there, bargaining with customers. Adithya didn’t really understand it all, but he always listened, sometimes laughing and sometimes getting worked up. Grandma was always negotiating and adding more vegetables to her bag before heading home.
But Adithya was different. He felt a little shy. He noticed how hard the vendors worked to earn a living and didn’t like seeing his grandma argue over prices. He wondered, "Why does she do this?"
One day, Grandma received a wedding invitation from someone in the village and had to leave for ten days. Now, it was just Adithya and his parents at home, and he started going to the market with his mom instead.
A Different Shopping Experience
Unlike Grandma, Mom was polite and trusting. She smiled, picked vegetables, paid, and left—no bargaining, no checking.
At first, Adithya thought, “This is much easier! No arguing, no drama!”
But as the days passed, he started noticing something strange.
Whenever his mom went shopping, the vendors seemed unusually happy—they greeted her cheerfully, spoke sweetly, and even smiled more than usual.
Vendor 1 (grinning): “Ah, Amma! You came today? No bargaining, right? Here, take the best vegetables!”
Vendor 2: “You’re such a kind lady, Amma. Just take what you like. No need to check, we only sell fresh vegetables!”
They handed over vegetables quickly, without any fuss, and his mom paid without questioning them.
At first, Adithya thought, "Wow! The vendors are so nice to Mom!"
But later, when they got home, the vegetables weren’t fresh. Some had a strange smell, some were too light, and others rotted quickly.
Even Dad noticed.
Dad (frowning): “There are hardly any vegetables in the meals these days.”
Mom sighed in frustration.
Mom: “No matter how carefully I choose, the vegetables just aren’t fresh! I don’t know what to do.”
That’s when Dad shook his head and sighed.
Dad: “Looks like we’re not going to eat good food until Grandma comes back. We all have to wait for her, or we’ll keep getting cheated.”
Hearing this, Adithya felt bad. He thought of how Grandma always managed to bring home fresh vegetables, while Mom struggled even though she tried her best.
And then, Adithya had a realization.
"The vendors are only sweet to Mom because they know she won’t argue! They trick her by giving bad vegetables with a smile. But with Grandma, they have to be careful because she checks everything!"
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Grandma’s Return & Investigation
A few days later, Grandma returned from the wedding. As soon as she entered the house, she noticed the worried expressions on everyone’s faces.
Grandma (concerned): “What happened? Why do you all look so dull?”
Mom explained the situation—how the vegetables weren’t fresh, how the food didn’t taste good, and how Dad was convinced that only Grandma could fix it.
Grandma listened carefully, nodding. Then, she clapped her hands together with confidence.
Grandma: “Well, that settles it! I’ll handle this. Tomorrow morning, Aadhi and I will go to the market, and we’ll find out exactly what’s going on.”
Adithya’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Adithya: “Really, Grandma? You’ll teach me how to shop like you?”
Grandma (smiling): “Of course! It’s time you learned how to shop smartly.”
And so, the next day, Adithya went to the market with Grandma, ready to uncover the tricks of the vendors!
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Uncovering the Tricks
1. The Fake Weight Trick
At the tomato stall, Grandma watched carefully as the vendor weighed the vegetables.
She whispered to Adithya, “Look at his hand.”
The vendor was pressing the scale slightly, making the weight seem higher.
Adithya (eyes wide): “Wait! So he’s making us pay extra for nothing?”
Grandma: “Exactly! That’s why I always check the weight myself.”
She removed the tomatoes and reweighed them—the weight dropped instantly!
The vendor smiled nervously.
Vendor: “Oh Amma, it must have been a mistake.”
Grandma (raising an eyebrow): “Yes, yes… always a ‘small mistake’ when you’re caught!”
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2. The Magnet Trick
Next, they stopped at a potato stall. Grandma carefully watched as the vendor weighed the potatoes.
She pointed under the scale and whispered, “Do you see that, Aadhi?”
Adithya bent down and saw a shiny object stuck underneath.
Adithya (confused): “What is that?”
Grandma (whispering): “That’s a magnet! Some vendors use it to increase the weight on the scale.”
She took a piece of paper and slid it under the scale. Suddenly, the weight dropped!
Nearby customers overheard and checked their weights too, demanding refunds. The vendor tried to deny it, but Grandma’s sharp eyes had exposed the trick!
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3. The Water Trick on Greens
At the next stall, Grandma picked up some leafy greens.
Grandma: “Look, Aadhi. These look fresh, don’t they?”
Adithya (nodding): “Yeah, they’re even wet!”
Grandma shook the bunch, and water droplets splashed onto Adithya’s hand.
Grandma: “That’s another trick! They spray water to make greens heavier and look fresh. But once the water dries, they shrink, and you get much less than you paid for.”
Adithya: “So we’re paying for water instead of vegetables?”
Grandma (chuckling): “Exactly! That’s why I always shake the greens before buying.”
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4. Mixing Papaya Seeds with Pepper
Finally, they stopped at a spice stall. Grandma picked up a handful of black pepper and spread it on her palm.
Grandma: “Look closely. Do you see anything strange?”
Adithya squinted.
Adithya (confused): “They all look black, but… some are shaped differently!”
Grandma crushed one between her fingers—it had no smell.
Grandma: “That’s because it’s not pepper—it’s a papaya seed!”
Nearby, a customer overheard and checked his pepper.
Customer (angrily): “Hey, vendor! You’re selling fake pepper?”
More customers started complaining, and some demanded pure pepper.
Adithya (grinning): “Grandma, you caught them again! You’re like a detective!”
Grandma (laughing): “Shopping wisely is a skill, my boy! Always check what you buy.”
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A Lesson Learned
That day, Adithya realized the importance of being aware and asking questions.
On the way home, he held Grandma’s hand tightly.
Adithya: “Grandma, I never knew people could trick us like this. From now on, I’ll always watch carefully when we shop!”
Grandma (smiling proudly): “That’s my boy! If you stay alert, no one can cheat you.”
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Moral of the Story:
✔️ Always stay alert while shopping.
✔️ Check for tricks like fake weights, magnets, and water-soaked greens.
✔️ Question vendors and demand fair pricing.
✔️ Being aware helps you avoid being cheated.
Smart shoppers always get the best deals!
