Traffic signals and foot paths in the metro cities of India are huge scrolls of never ending stories. They narrate tales that are tall. Not tall stories.
There is diverse array of people trying to do business on footpaths, traffic signals and on road everyday. In our corporate humdrum dominated urban lives, we don't allow ourselves to explore their stories pregnant within. I know, we can't always afford to. In a city like Bombay, that plays host to every conceivable inhabitant on planet Earth, survival for these people gets painfully tough.
In all these years of regular commute, I have learnt to stop struggling to fight with rising decibel levels and concern about encroachment of public roads and footpaths and have learnt to shift my focus to seeing beauty amid the chaos at traffic snarls and have come across most inspiring and fascinating tales of human spirit.
Since last couple of days, on my daily drive, I have been watching two stunningly beautiful Marwari women from Rajasthan, selling bead jewelry at the traffic signal. Watching these women selling their jewelry is absolute delight! Most of the times, while so many other people at the signal don't even merit a cursory second glance, I look forward to spotting theses women and interact with them as much as possible. Apart from their raw enchanting beauty and breathtakingly beautiful sense of dressing, its their seamless efficiency and mind blowing power of striking a deal within few seconds is what grabbed my attention instantly.
Think about this. They don't have enough education as back-up or set of skills to define their "core competence" in "key result areas" to confine themselves to as each day brings in new challenges that demands them to change and adept. They have to provide for their entire family, including men and can you even guess the load of that burden? They are left with no choice but look forward to each day, face it head on; shouting, haggling, arguing, avoiding lecherous glances and touches, take humiliations in stride and yet try hard to sell their products taking all this in their stride with great élan, with a lovely, genuine smile on face and sense of "get-on-with-it, no matter what, WITHOUT seeking pity or any help!
