From Balloon to Tea

I was the Branch Manager of a small branch in Damoh district of M.P. It was my first assignment as BM. One evening, I was sitting in my lawn, when a young boy approached me with request to purchase a few balloons that he was holding in his hands. I told him that I didn’t need any, as there were no children in my house then.

But the boy was insistent, saying he had not eaten anything and he had to go back to home, where his ailing mother was waiting for something to eat. I offered him some money, but he refused, tersely saying that he was selling, not begging.

Suddenly, a lot of things crossed my mind. First of all, he was not lying, as his facial expression looked so genuine. Moreover, he refused to take money from me for nothing. I purchased three balloons from him and asked him to sell something else, as balloons are not so needed by all.

One day I was going to Riyana, an adopted village of the branch to attend monthly meeting of Krishak Mitra Mandal (Farmer Friends’ Forum). As I was entering the village, I was surprised  to see that same chap sitting on a few bricks with a kerosene stove, a kettle and a few clay cups. He was selling tea.

I stopped there and asked him when he started this business. He said, “Just a few days after meeting you.”

“But where from did you get this idea?”

“From you, sir. Tea is a thing that most people take. Not only my villagers, but passengers also stop by and take tea. I earn more money than from selling balloons, that too staying close to my mother in my own village.”

His name was Jokhan (or Jokhu for short). When I went to meet Sarpanch and others at Gram Panchayat office, they offered me tea, but I insisted to have one from Jokhu and requested them to support that honest and hard-working boy. I also gave a loan of Rs 5000 from my bank under IRDP scheme.

When I left Damoh branch after two years of my assignment, he had purchased a handcart and additional tea-ware and started selling biscuits, snacks etc along with tea. I don’t know how and where he is now, but looking to his strong will to strive and survive,  I’m sure he must be living a decent life.

–Kaushal Kishore

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