The Crying Game

As you approach Goribi's tiny stall located in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Market, it is tough to believe that the nation is going through an...

As you approach Goribi8217;s tiny stall located in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Market, it is tough to believe that the nation is going through an onion crisis. For spread across two hand-carts and almost completely filling up her little shop are hordes of the not-so-humble vegetable that has found mention even in international newspapers for giving Indian consumers a tough time.

But point this out to Goribi Baba Khan, who has been selling onions for the past 50 years now, and she painstakingly holds out a few to show you the extent of the rot that has set in. Damp and shrivelled, the contents of at least one hand-cart are almost ready for the garbage dump. 8220;I have spread them out in the sun for them to dry but to no avail. And if the onions in the second hand-cart do not sell by tomorrow, they will also begin to rot,8221; she despairs.

Born and brought up in Chennai, Goribi came to Pune some five decades ago when economic compulsions drove her family and her out of their hometown. Since then, she has been selling onions and potatoes at the market. 8220;I remember onions being sold for 25 paise a kg when I began. In all these years, there have been times when prices soared and sales dropped but none as bad as this. Either the onions remain unsold or we are forced to dispose them off at a loss to prevent them from rotting on the carts8221;.

As if on cue, a customer marches up to her to show a bagful of onions purchased a day ago that have already rotted, and demands an exchange. With a helpless shrug, Goribi replaces them. 8220;From selling 20 sacks of onions a day, we have now come down to one or two,8221; she adds.

Competition is rife at the congested little vegetable market, with three to four onion-sellers trying their best to incite the odd customer seeking onions. Prices range from Rs. 12 to 25 a kg, depending on the onions8217; quality. 8220;My son gets four to five days8217; stock from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard. And while this saves us daily transport fare, the unsold stock rots easily. Sometimes, when the quality is really bad, we get just two days8217; stock.8221;

Goribi8217;s day begins at 6 a.m. at her home near Guru Nanak Nagar. She finishes household work to reach the market by 9 a.m. and is there till almost 9 p.m. A short break in the afternoon suffices for her dabba.

However, much like the price of her wares, Goribi8217;s life story is also one that is likely to induce tears. With a physically handicapped husband and two sons who have never held stable jobs or contributed much to the household, the family burden has never been lifted from Goribi8217;s ageing shoulders. 8220;I earn about Rs. 2,000 per month. Out of this, 150 go towards the stall rent and the rest to feed the family of 12. Three grandchildren are studying; their annual fees total Rs. 1,200. Another grandson failed last year, so I had him taken out of school. He now handles a vegetable cart in this market and shares my burden somewhat8221;.

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The only bright spot in her life seems to be the yearly trips to Chennai, a product of great financial juggling. 8220;The fare itself is Rs. 600. Then I have to take gifts for all my relatives. But perhaps this year, I should just carry some bags of onions for them. That should be a much-appreciated gift,8221; she chortles, making the other stall-owners lapse into guffaws of laughter as well.

And so life goes on for Goribi. A life much like her onions, whence you peel layer after layer to ultimately uncover nothing.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More