Dreams for sale

 

"Baba, why are we selling balloons? Can't we do anything else? We don't have enough money to buy things, how can we go on like this?" 

"Maitrali, don't worry dear daughter, we have enough for all our needs. we managed to get you the new shoes for your school, did we not? and also what else can I do? Selling balloons is all I know and did in my life, and I do not just sell balloons, I sell dreams to all the kids out there. One day you will understand." her father smiled and replied.

" No, I mean, there is a speech competition at our school, we are asked to speak on jobs our fathers do? what shall I say baba?." Maitrali asked, she was still not convinced with the answer her father gave to her initial questions. All her friends' fathers were doing big jobs or business, somehow this business that her father did, made her feel small in front of her other friends at school.

It is very hard for small kids to understand the work their father or parents do, for they are yet to face the raw world that will test their determination, values, and courage every day.

Keeping aside the balloons that are yet to shape dreams, the father replied, "Look Maitrali, it is not easy to do something new now that more than half of life is spent selling balloons.., but are you ashamed of your father? Work is worship, my dear child, no work is big or small it takes courage to take a stick laden with balloons and expect a child to arrive and purchase one that hardly costs 2 rupees. I am not ashamed of my work, so you also should not feel that way. if the speech competition is about jobs you can come with me today and see for yourself perhaps you will get something to talk about.

Maitrali liked this idea, it wasn't that she never accompanied her father on one of the rounds he takes around town selling balloons, but today she will observe. So in the evening, the father-daughter duo took off towards the town. All along the road, Maitrali was occupied by what she will say about her father tomorrow, she loved her father but she was scared that all her other friends would make fun of her.

Once near the park, the father just stood there, for he knew that at 4 pm park opened and all the kids would flock towards the park and he will be able to sell few balloons at least, it was important that he should be able to sell few balloons, so he could show his daughter that no work is big or small and man should not be judged by the work he does but the way he does the work.

The restrictions of the pandemic were just lifted and yet parents were scared to take kids to the park. few of those who dared and took kids to the park avoided buying anything or letting kids go near anyone or anything suspicious. Yet the father hoped and stood there smiling, it was good for business the smile is more contagious than anything in the world, it affects the people just by looking at it. Just look at anyone smiling, you cannot help smiling back and kids they were most vulnerable to this instrument, they like people who smile.

Slowly the sun was sinking below the horizon, and not one kid had bought the balloon. The father was sad for he really wanted to show his daughter the importance of his work. He hoped and hoped, all his life, he had hoped, somedays it was good, somedays it wasn't that good, but nevertheless, he did not give up on hope. Soon it was dark and it was late for the park was now visited by old people coming out to exercise. They would not buy balloons for they weren't with their grandkids. It was a time once when late after the closing of the park, the father would still stand and sell balloons to grandkids but now that the virus has erupted again it would not be so.

It was eight on the watch and it was time to go home, her father would have to come tomorrow again. it was his routine.

Meanwhile, Maitrali observed her father in silence, first, she was angry that no one would buy a balloon from her father and she was angrier at her father for she thought he should quit selling the balloons and do something else. The thought of tomorrow's competition was far far away in her mind. she was troubled by the entire state of affairs and her mind was disturbed for she could not help her father and had to be just a mute spectator of this sorry state.

Picking up his staff, the father signaled daughter for it was time to go, it was night now. and the father-daughter were soon on the way. Once in the main square, a ragged looking kid arrived out of nowhere,  he was waiting for the balloon seller that passed every day from the square and now that he had saved two rupees from all his work, washing and cleaning vehicles at the garage, he could get the balloon, he had his eyes on the big red one. The boy asked for the red balloon, and was soon gratified with the balloon, he smiled happily for he had just fulfilled his first dream of getting the big red balloon. All the work he did to get this balloon was nothing. It was all worth it. The Big Red Balloon.

Maitrali, saw this and was amazed by what she has seen, she understood what her father meant by selling dreams. At that exact moment, she was so much proud of her father. 

While midway towards the house, Maitrali thought of buying a balloon from her father, she was very proud of him, wanted a dream for herself. She quietly reached out to her frock pocket, where, in a dusty old purse she had treasured her small pocket money, she had 20 rupees in change there a balloon should cost no more than 2 rupees she can afford this to make her father happy.

"Baba, wait, I would like to buy a balloon from you," Maitrali said to her father, stopping midway. Her father looked back at her and smiled, he was so preoccupied with the thought of bringing in ration to support his family that he did not understand what her daughter was asking of him.

" I would like to buy a balloon from you." Again she said. This time the father caught her words clearly and broke into tears, he was happy that his daughter cared for him, and yet he was crying for the lesson he wanted to impart to his daughter had been learned.

Wiping his tears, he took the biggest balloon attached and presented it to his daughter. Maitrali, took out the two rupees from her purse which she treasured above all, and gave it to her father. After this, both father and daughter walked home hand in hand, with daughter holding the balloon in the other...

Work is something you need to do to put food on your table, but what matters most is your determination about the work you do and the pride you take in it. Maitrali, discovered the importance of her father's work.

Again what you do is not as important as how you do it.

Sharad.