I immediately went from ‘aankhon ka taara’ to ‘you are not my child’ in one swoop. To my good fortune, however, I instinctively told her it was on sale and I actually picked it up at 50% off.  

Fire extinguished. Aankhon ka taara status restored. And mom pricing strategy decided for life. 

From that day on, I realised that there are two kinds of prices for everything you buy:

The real price and the mom price. 

Anything I would purchase would automatically shave off 20% of its price tag before making it to my mother. It was as if mum had this power to reduce perceived prices in an instant. 

I’m nearly 30. My mother is well aware of the economy and in what soup we’re in with regard to price-rise. But I’m still scared of telling her I bought something at full price. 

While the world monetary capital has seen many a rise and fall, my mum’s perception of it has remained constant. There’s a parallel economy in my life where lower prices exist solely for my mother. No inflation ever happened in this economy and there’s always a sale of at least 30%. 

I still don’t get why we do this. Or is it just me who does this. All I know is, it’s literally a combination of all the things that my mother loves — a new thing, a good bargain, my happiness, and money saved. And if she’s getting all of this with a tiny little white lie, then what is the harm really? 

Even if the world economy comes crashing down and we have to buy air to survive, I’d still be telling my mum I got my air cylinder at half-price and see pride in her eyes as she coughs with joy. And maybe my kids will give me this BS too.

Now, if only things were actually available at mom prices for real.