Inmate Stories: True Crime Documentary.

THE OLD MAN IN THE WHITE JILABI

One evening, I found myself navigating the bustling jungle of small shops in Malviya Nagar, a suburban wonderland in South Delhi. You know, the kind of shops where you stand in front of the counter and play a game of grocery charades with the shopkeeper.

As I entered Safwan's shop, I spotted a charming older gentleman in a flowing white jilabi, whose presence behind the counter was as prominent as a traffic signal on a busy road. It seemed he had Safwan, our obliging shopkeeper wrapped around his storytelling pinky finger.

As Safwan gathered my grocery requests mechanically because all his focus was on the older gentleman who kept spinning tales like a grandmaster. Safwan nodded along religious with intent focus, I half expected him to take notes.

Finally, it was time to settle up. I handed over a ₹1000 note, and in return, Safwan mechanically handed me ₹450 in change, all while the gentleman in the white jilabi continued his narrative opus. The rain had decided to make a grand entrance so I couldn’t help but hang around a bit longer, hoping the weather would take pity on me and ease up before I made my grand escape back home. Safwan was still nodding to the older gentleman in the white Jilabi who was narrating his story, then Safwan gave me another ₹450. He had given me my change twice.