Father's Sons: Work Life Balance

"What is the price of 'chakli'?" I asked picking up a transparent plastic packet of chakli sealed using an incense stick. I was able to know it because I observed the process of sealing salted roasted ground nut (seeng dana) packets at the entrance of the Rajkot bus stand. Initially, I thought the vendor squatting on the ground to be religiously inclined with an incense stick stuck near packets of ground nuts. While I was waiting for the bus, I noticed the vendor pouring roasted ground nut into plastic packets, weighing it on an electronic machine, rolling the upper portion of the plastic packet and then carefully thermally stitching the packet by gently touching the plastic packet with the lit small ember at the tip of the incense stick, four spots on the plastic roll touching one side of the plastic pouch. The process of packaging appeared ingenious and innovative. I was delighted to see it. [Chakli is a salty snack prepared from rice batter.]

"Rs60/-," he said.

"And, banana chips?"

Rs60/-," he said and added "for 250 grams. It is spicy. I also have moru (plain) chips."

I compared the price, only and only price, of banana chips with Kerala banana chips and I found the price reasonable. In Vadodara, one kilo of Kerala banana chips packets costs Rs350/- [There is a shop adjacent to the bus stop, Vadodara, inside the premises of the South Indian temple].

"Please give me one," I said.

"You can check this also," he said and picked out a packet of deep-fried spicy ground nut.

"How much do you charge for that?"

"Rs 60/-," he said.

"All the products are priced at Rs60/- each?"

"Yes," he said.

I found the pricing strategy interesting. This type of pricing is quite common among the small traders, and I have been witnessing it since childhood, "Harek Maal Rs1/- Every item is priced Re1-" was a popular tagline of many small-time shoppers. Now, Rs2/- is almost worthless. I have noticed the "same price of every product" strategy is the most popular strategy across informal markets in India. I think it makes business convenient from the mathematical calculation perspective. It makes transactions easy. It makes buying decision making easier.

I found the person interesting. I found the location of the business more interesting. It was a gallery of a public office in a multi-storied building. In Ahmedabad, government offices of many departments are located in clusters of multi-storied buildings, one office occupying one floor.

The time of business also sought my attention. It was around 2:15 PM. The lunch recess of these offices is from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM.

"Do you come here daily?" I asked.

"No, I come here on Monday," he said.

"And on other days?"

"I visit many offices during the week. I do not visit more than once in any office in a week unless and until the staff call me over phone," he said.

"Do you supply products on demand?"

"Yes," he said.

"Do you prepare these products at home?"

"No, I buy these products from the producers and carry them in a handbag and move from one office to another," he said and added," I prepare thepla that is very popular. Today, I could not bring it."

I picked up the bag to get a sense of weight of the bag. It weighed around 5-6 Kgs.

"Since how long have you been selling these products?"

"Two years," he said.

"What were you doing before that?"

"I was working as a salesperson at a medical shop," he said.

"Why did you change your profession?" I asked.

He did not say anything. He looked at me.

"Is it more remunerative?" I asked with prejudice.

"Not exactly, two years back my father suffered a paralytic stroke, and a regular job was not possible. He needs constant support. My regular job at the medical shop was from 8 AM to 8PM with half an hour lunch break," he said.

"How about monthly income?"

"On an average I earn Rs 15000/- every month from this business. I have not completely abandoned my medical shop job," he said.

"Please explain your day," I said.

"In the morning, I prepare tea for my father and then work at a medical shop from 8AM to 10:30AM. I rerun home and wipe and clean my father, moving him from one side to another. In between my elder brother had fed him breakfast. While I am at home my brother goes to work. He was also working regularly at a shop. He left his job when the owner of the shop refused to give him leave to take care of father. After my brother returns, I leave home after feeding lunch to my father. I sell these products and reach home to prepare tea. In this period my brother is at home. In the evening, I go to the medical shop and collect list of creditors and go to creditors to collect money till 8 PM. In my absence my brother is at home," he said.

"What about your mother?" I asked.

"She died long time back," he said.

"About your marriage?" I asked. The salesperson was in thirties.

"I am bachelor," he said.

"Your brother?"

"He is also bachelor," he said.

"Sister?"

"We are only two brothers," he said as he picked up the cotton handbag.