Strength or Weakness

People grow old only by deserting their ideals and outgrowing the consciousness of their youth. Years wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul…….Dr. L.F.Phelan

The sweetmeat proprietor stood in the corner ,  his thoughts focussed towards a young lad who sat on the manager’s chair. There were helpers who were busy stuffing Balushahi, an Indian confectionery in packets. The shop was owned by the sweetmeat retailer who is a Balushahi specialist. I came to know this through the printed wrap of the packet in which they pack the savouries. The shop was crammed with a variety of snacks, hot and sweet. There were sweetmeats being made. A few were lying open to cool down. It was evening and the shop was brimming with people. We picked our favourite Ding laddoo which is particularly healthy for winters as it has the gum of plants, a kind of resin, as we stood near the counter.  I was looking for telltale signs to know who the young man was. He resembled the owner but seemed studious with his spectacles and I could corroborate it from the owner’s loving smile. I looked at the proprietor who is not more than fifty . I smiled back as we were regular customers. He wanted me to know that the young man was his son. I softly told him that it was his cheerful countenance and his appeal which attracted all of us to his shop. I recalled the day when the owner began his career outside the shop a decade back. He had very little money and so the savouries were made on orders. People distrusted his appearance and the pumping stove but he and his wife were constant companions never giving up. He had the advantage of hawking his goods at the busiest spot’. Slowly he started getting generous orders. As time stirred on, he moved into the shop, and introduced a few well known packed savouries for the people who believed in nitrogen packed savouries and sweets like laddoo, anarasa, karaunji for Diwali and other festivals. His specialisation, the Balushahi won him customers from far and near. He grew busier with time and so did the area with the whole locale filled with Bhel puri vendors , soda, fruit juice vendors and not to forget the ice cream shops. Dilli swad a fast food chain opened its outlet but the sweetmeat wholesaler had turned into an enterprising business man growing leaps and bounds with Pune turning into an IT sector. Hinjewadi the IT park brought many professionals to the city soaring the property prices turning the place into a crowded one. Being professionals with a good pay packet gave way for the sweetmeat shop to grow. He employed assistants and handed over the art to his helpers. He would now be seen relaxing while his helpers cooked.  His shop still had the human touch and the things were made out of the best ingredients in the market. He now had time to talk to the customers. What attracted us was his smile and his humility. But today as he cast a conceited look at the youngster whom I had never seen anywhere near the shop earlier made me a little apprehensive about the future. The boy did have his father’s looks but he seemed more realistic. He was committed in collecting money ,adding and subtracting profits . Somewhere I felt the unassuming nature which attracted us to the shop was missing.

It reminded me of an old lady bent with age who prefers sitting at her roadside stall rather than handing it to her children, perhaps death would only retire her. I could recollected another young lady pushing her vegetable cart to the market square reminding me that retirement or growing old should be the point when one is powerless of managing affairs rather than bequeathing the excruciatingly brought up entrepreneurship to children who have never seen your great effort to comprehend your voyage.

You are as old as you doubt , your fear, your despair. Keep your self confidence young . keep your hope young………….. Dr. L.F.Phelan