Inflation in Amar Colony

5 years ago when I moved into a new locality in Delhi, Amar Colony behind my residence was the nearest market one could go to for sensible shopping. But then situated in the middle of a "refugee" colony with houses built like little steel trunks stacked on top of each other, there was not much to the market. You went there only when the posher shops in GK1 markets did not provide the services or goods that you might just require - shortening a new set of trousers, colouring a dupatta, buying note books, art papers, razai or fresh samosas or locally made farsan. You get the slant.
Over the years, there has been a cleaning out process, the toy shop has become so big that Vikki, the owner, young that he is can still dream of giving Hamleys a run for their money in his lifetime, the local milk and paneer shop going by the now famous name of Gopala actually stocks Mishti Doi as well as multigrain bread, there are a few export huts where you can buy original addidas and nike at "affordable" prices, the local confectionary, Junejas, is stocked with all sorts of colourful bottles including a few of English mustard, and packets of exotic chocolates. The Nokia shop looks swank, the Coton showroom looks is full of posh ladies - the crowd of course comes down from as far as Defence Colony and GK2. The small tailor shop, the razai shop and the momowalas are still around as are the cycle rickshaws, but certaily there are more Honda cities and Corollas than Maruti Zens parked all over the place.
This is the market I frequent now and on my last visit, the toy shop known rather sweetly as KiddiLand had a queue at the entrance, inside it looks more like a godown where free toys are being distributed than a well stocked shops frequented by doting parents from Defence Colony. At the milk shop Gopala, it took around 10 minutes to get the attention of the salesperson, at the humble stationery shop at least 10 teenagers were crowding and mobbing the elderley owner. And I did forget to mention, the newly opened Cafe Coffee Day was full too. At Junejas, one had to take recourse to the elbow trick to find one's way. Even the humble but good GP who is gradually building up his practice, now charges Rs 200 at least per visit and has patients lined up.
Those who say we are hit with 12 per cent inflation must visit Amar Colony and breathe a sigh of relief. The news of inflation has not yet reached these parts.