Spread the Diwali cheer and how !!!!

Diwali is approaching. While most of the world around is excited with anticipation and looking forward to the festive season, Maya is not so inclined. She hated the approach time of the festivals. That just meant more work for her. Maya worked in a Super Market and approaching festivals brought in the crowds. They had to work extra time and long lines at the counters. Just the thought of the unsmiling, innumerable faces passing by the counter with their Diwali shopping brought a frown on her face. But work is work, so she forced herself to get up and prepare for the day ahead. She wore her uniform and entered the Super Market.

The place was already bustling with people of all sizes, shapes and ages. People were loading their trolleys with anything and everything and making their way to the counter. Kids were being a pain as usual, asking for this and that. Grandparents were smilingly obliging, while parents were giving stern looks. Most men were looking bored as they accompanied their wives and looked like they came along to just get it done and over with.

Maya made her way to her counter as her shift timing kicked in. She looked at the long line already waiting and sighed, it’s going to be a long day indeed. The man in front started emptying his items on to the counter and Maya routinely started scanning them for the billing. It’s a mechanical job. Most people think that the people at the counter are also machines just like the scanner and the computer. They never acknowledge you, look into your face or smile. They won’t see the difference even if an automaton is put in Maya’s place.

As the day went on, Maya continued her work and helped many customers to bill and pack their Diwali shopping. As she looked at the items, her mind kept wandering back to her own kids back home. Sweets, chocolates, clothes, crackers, diyas, candles, savouries; she was yet to get her own shopping done and wasn’t sure what all she could afford to get her kids. And here were people who stood nonchalantly by as she billed hordes of the stuff. All they had to do at the end was produce the card or the cash and they were off. Where do people get so much money from, she wondered. And why is it that every festival, I end up working and compromising with my kids gifts? Life is tough, and you had to keep going.

In came the next lady, she was well dressed, looked fashionable. I bet she doesn’t have to lift a finger in her house, thought Maya. When you are the deprived one, it is easy to be bitchy about people, at least in your mind. Outwardly, you just kept up the uninterested face and continued billing. Hey what’s this, the lady seems to have emptied half the chocolate counter on to her cart. God, here I am struggling to buy one for my kids and look at her. What is she going to do with all this? Must be to distribute among her rich friends, I am sure. And here I thought rich people had diabetes!!!! Well, at least someone’s having a happy Diwali after all!!!!

She looked at the lady and saw that she was checking messages on her mobile as Maya continued to bill the long list of items. Whew, finally it’s done. Maya asked for the payment and the lady pulled out her card and the payment was done. Maya started loading the items into the carry bags and suddenly she heard the lady say, “Hey wait a minute”. Now what, she wants something more or she wants to reduce something from the bill. Prepared to talk it out, Maya looked up from her work with a rather stern, questioning look.

To her utter surprise, the lady was smiling wide at her and Maya was taken aback. Smiles are contagious and Maya too smiled back, now a little more genuinely, but still unsure. The lady picked up two boxes of chocolate from her purchases and handed it over to Maya. Maya was wondering, “oh she doesn’t want it”, when the lady still smiling went, “Happy Diwali”. Maya was puzzled. The lady continued to hold out the chocolate boxes and said, “These are for you, I am sure you have kids at home too. Take this home and have a happy Diwali”. Maya was stunned to say the least, and she felt lost. She could not find her voice to even say “thankyou” and her hands were trembling. The lady came closer and handed over the boxes forcibly into her hands and then waved a goodbye and was out of the super market before Maya could even react. She just kept watching and then saw the next person in line who was busy with his phone till now watching at her strangely. She realized that without her knowing, she was actually crying at the random act of a stranger who she was bitchy about in her mind. That lady had managed to change her notions about humanity. Diwali did not look so bad anymore and Maya now had a smile one her face for the rest of the day and the season. She even smiled at the grumpy customers and they were forced to smile back. One smile and two boxes of chocolate can make all the difference indeed to someone’s life and the goodness is contagious, so it spreads all around.