I wrote in my last blog post (Interesting Robbery) the following:
PS: There is a reason for writing this blog post. Stay tuned for my next blog post.
So, here it is.
A few of our blogger friends know that my company transferred me to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a few years. Here is what happened. On a nice weekend afternoon, we went to a store to buy some Objet D’art. In that store there was the shop owner and 2 Indian sales guys.
We were interested in a particular item. The owner, who attended us, quoted a price around US$250. We thought that was too much. So we gave a counter offer of US$200. The owner refused to accept our offer and therefore we dropped the idea of buying that item.
We were still in the store looking for other items. The owner left the store. The 2 Indian sales guys came toward us. They heard I and my wife talking in Tamil. They asked us “neenga tamila” (Are you Tamils?). We said yes. Then they started to talk to us in Tamil.
They said how bad the store owner is and how the life is so difficult for them in Saudi. We just listened and never gave any comment or opinion. Finally they said:
"Neenga nammavanga. (You are one of our own). The owner is not here. We are in-charge here now. Therefore, please take that US$250 Objet D’art and walk out of the store. You don’t have to pay anything. It is free for you."
My wife froze. I was shocked. We thanked them for their offer and told them we don’t want anything without paying for the item. Then, we walked out of the store.
My wife was bad mouthing those 2 sales guys all the way to our home. I told her this may be their attempt to take revenge on the store owner.
First and foremost, we don’t believe in stealing or shoplifting. Plus, this $250 is not going to make us rich.
What if these two guys were laying a trap for us and catch us if we take that item and walk out.
What if the store has a CCTV.
I am told if you are put in jail in Saudi, it will take 6 months for a lawyer to find out which jail you are in. I don't know if that is true or not.
You did the right thing. I don't feel the guys wanted to trap you... it might have been a combination of home sickness and getting back, or maybe just the addictive feeling of the abuse of responsibility/ownership. It was good that you reacted this way, that'll help them to mend their ways as they grow up.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. Hope they grow up.
DeleteThought Provoking Story....here are my thoughts
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to help those guys with a good revenge
Then again, I have no idea if they are telling the truth
You did the right thing, and after reading your blogs I feel you always do.
Thanks for your comments Dee. And, thanks also for your complements.
DeleteThe boys must have been frustrated. Definitely they would have been caught in some way if they had let you take the article. And they might be familiar with the Saudi's law too. Just impulsive, they were.
ReplyDeleteThank god, you came out of the shop safely.
Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Sure they were frustrated.
DeleteEven though, the salesmen were fed up of their boss and would have been happy (in a perverse way) had you complied with their suggestion, but you did the right thing by simply walking out of the store. It was a wrong suggestion ethically, morally and legally too!! Waiting for the next post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Shilpa. As you correctly said it was ethically, morally, and legally wrong.
DeleteIt was definitely an inspiring act by you, SG :-) How contradictory the situations were in the two instances! Those boys have met the right person, I hope the incidence had crafted their personality well :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sindhu. And, thanks for your compliments.
DeleteHey SG - You is a fool…FOOL!
ReplyDeleteAn opportunity presents itself for a “five finger discount” and you say NO?
What’s wrong with you man!
It doesn’t matter if it’s some Podunk store in Riyadh or Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.
I’m always walking out with stuff without opening up my wallet.
Regards,
Winona Ryder
Thanks for your comments Winona. I always have a soft corner for you. I loved your acting in the movie "When Love is not Enough. The Lois Wilson Story".
DeleteThe boys might have been taking vengeance for the poor remuneration
ReplyDeletethey received .And also without a second thought they wanted to show concern over a native of theirs.
Thanks for your comments Sarala. They actually, I think, wanted to take vengeance on the owner.
Deletegood choice, may be it was trap to blackmail you
ReplyDeletenice story good lesson for everyone
Thanks for your comments sm.
DeleteYou take right decision S...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Yashi.
DeleteWhy the sales boys acted the way they did is pure conjecture. Like it's been speculated above, either it's a revenge or a trap.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, listening to the boys and walking out of the store without paying for the objects, would have been extremely foolhardy.
If anyone did listen to them, instead of shopping they would have been only a pawn in the sales boys' game.
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. You are absolutely correct.
DeleteI think you did the right thing by not taking the item. Why did they not steal something for themselves, I wonder? or maybe they have been stealing. Why don't they change their job, if they hate the owner so much? Hmm too many questions come into our mind. Good that you guys stayed away from this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Ash. Changing jobs from one employer to another employer in Saudi is not that easy. I understand and agree with you.
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