~ A Slippery Story...~

She sits in the middle of stack of slippers, many of them scattered all over a well-entrenched periphery – that is what she calls her ‘Shop’ – exuberating confidence and a knack to sell, she is talkative and a charming smile.

I happened to visit her place with an aim to buy bathroom slippers and suddenly the ‘Shopkeeper’ caught my eye out of confluence of people roaming around in our weekly flea mart. The zig-zag movement of people was causing a subtle hinderance in observing her from a distance – though I wanted to reach the little peddler – her comatose sitting stance and observing her customers and keeping a strict vigil on her sell was her key stroke – Apparently, she was well trained by her mother, who happened to be sitting next to another makeshift shop – selling artificial jewellery.

The only time she got up from shop was to give her earnings of her sell – which happened to be intermittent. It was my turn to select a set of slippers and I asked ‘him’ the price and which amongst the lot were best suited for me.

Her tomboyish looks gave her a cascading look of a ‘Boy’ – as I addressed him, she was quick to respond – “Uncle, I am Girl” – realizing my fault, I immediately corrected myself and said an apologetic ‘Sorry!”

I asked her name in all humility, she responded with a haughty laugh “ Uncle, Laxmi!” – a sheepish smile engulfed me to the point of a subtle embarrassment, I then started the conversation “ Beta, do you study?”, she responded “ Yes uncle, I study in class 4^th in a government school.” I can sense another coincidence, she was actually sitting in front of her school across the street to which she told me further “Uncle, that is my school!”

I was overtly impressed with her vividness , in between she was quick to respond to other customers queries – her multitasking skills were really impressive – How an almost toddler all about 8-10 years of age was single-handedly spearheading a small enterprise – dealing with biggies and answering their varied questions with an unequivocal confidence. She knew price list of every variety of chappas as if she had learnt it by rote, you ask her any set of slippers and the cost would come as a prompt reply!

Suddenly she looked at me and asked “Uncle, take these chappals, this would fit you and it is of good quality – the color green is good too!” I was rendered speechless, I checked the size and it exactly fit my foot – what a good Samaritan she was – almost perfect in her art and behavior, I could see a budding entrepreneur in a decade, who knows what she turns out to be, though many people will shun off my decree as of today – I know the journey would be tough but not at all unachievable!

She wasted no time to pack the slippers in a newspaper and a polythene bag and quick she was to hand over to me with one hand and taking a Rs 50 note on the other. Suddenly she lost interest in further conversation and focused her sight on other customers who happened to be a lady carrying along with her a girl child as equal age as my little salesgirl… The lady seems to be proudly telling her daughter “See such a confident girl, at your age she is singlehandedly running a shop!”

These words made me feel proud but as well as a little stoic to the current scenario, her family situation made her work at this tender age, but she had taken this in her stride and had taken the challenge upon herself to help her family to bring comfort to them whilst she worked part time along with her studies.

Looking at the confluence of people around me , I could see so many “Laxmi’s” who had donned the hat of a part time salesgirl and unknowingly taken the entrepreneurial part, this came as a blessing in disguise, the confidence and experience she showed is a sparkle in her aura of life… Well done Laxmi, keep the spirits high, your choice of slippers for me are of utmost importance, for when I wear them, deep in my heart I bless you for giving me this gift,... I wish one day your balancing act of studies with your entrepreneurship might lead you to a unicorn… who knows... time is the best answer….