As Mehboob Alam sits on his plastic chair, facing a pile of boxes packed with custard apples, he's aware of the task at hand. It's the reason he's trying to make a quick bargain even if he ends up on the losing side. As a retailer approaches him, he says, "I'm giving this to him for 90 rupees (for one box), when I know it should get me Rs. 120. But if I don't sell this stock today, it will get spoiled tomorrow and I may have to throw it."
