A Serving of Joy – Lessons from a Street Stall
After a rather good day at work, I decided to treat myself that evening.
I stopped at a new pani-poori stall on my way home. It was owned by a woman in her late 50s, dressed in a salwar kameez, her hair tied in a bun. She greeted me warmly, handed me a plate, and asked, “Regular or spicy?” “Spicy,” I said. She smiled knowingly as if she understood the thrill of spicy food.
There was an instant connection. One pani-poori after another, my eyes began to water. “Regular now?” she asked, and I nodded. She sweetened the next two, then added a couple of extra dry pooris. The gesture made me smile.
As I reached for my wallet, we heard a phone ring. It turned out we shared the same ringtone. While I took my work call, she waited. When I hung up, she asked in fluent English, “Work never really stops, does it?”
It caught me by surprise. Her polished English didn’t match the image I had unconsciously formed in my mind. It made me recall my DEI lessons on how not to judge and assume!
Curious, I asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, do you do anything else apart from running this stall?”
What she said next left me stunned: “Oh, I run this stall purely because I enjoy it. I’m actually a business lawyer.”
My mouth dropped open. She noticed and added, “I love cooking. It’s my passion. There’s no greater joy than spending time doing something you truly love.”
Again, assuming she needed extra income, I said, “I really admire your hard work. You must be exhausted by the time the day ends.”
She smiled. “I don’t do this primarily for money—I do it for fun! Money is just a by-product. Fun doesn’t exhaust me. I finish my official work by 6:00 in the evening and run the stall till 9:00. It’s enjoyable, and I earn enough to spoil myself a little.”
She continued, “It’s also a stress buster. Engaging in something simpler helps me clear my mind. It gives a whole new perspective towards life, you know. My daughter, who is currently interning in a software company, also joins me on some days.”
I was awestruck. What a woman! What an evening!
“That’s so cool,” I said happily. “I have to get a picture with you!”, I added. She clicked a selfie, and that photo remains a cherished memory.
Since then, I’ve visited her stall often. As much as I enjoy the pani-pooris, I enjoy conversations with her and her daughter even more. She’s a friend I made over food and is an inspiration.
She made me believe that if you’re not having fun, then something’s wrong. We don’t stop having fun because we grow old. Instead, we grow old because we stop having fun.
Here’s to meaningful connections and more!
Neha Wagh,
L&D Manager
Thermax House, Pune
