Lata Hirani
Lakhush' had now become a favorite destination for city gourmands. Dilkhush is a three-storey luxury air-conditioned restaurant-cum-shop in a large shopping complex. A wide space on the ground floor was lined with crisp farsans and expensive sweets in attractive packaging on spotless glass counters. A bustling retail shop on the first floor, a sophisticated restaurant on the second floor and a kitchen on the third floor. 'Dilkhush' was a joint venture between Kanubhai and Manubhai. He single-handedly created this empire from a truckload of small fritters. Kanubhai's son Suman wondered that even though 'Dilkhush' had now run into crores, what was Dad's interest in the small 'Shankar Chawana Mart' on Bhimrao Road? He was neither his relative nor his friend. Suman had heard that dad had sent help in the name of someone else so that the shop would not be closed. That shop must run… Kanubhai got up from the chair saying as if whispering. 'Don't worry, I'll take care' Manukaka went upstairs. Kanubhai handed over the counter to Suman and went to the inner office himself. He closed his eyes and sat in the chair. Suman kept thinking. Now dad and uncle are in a hurry to get a new shop opposite the 'Shankar Chawana Mart' on the same road. Opening our branch. Suman understood about taking a new shop but why in the same place? Dad was saying yesterday, two shops are closed in the opposite building. Go check it out. I will give whatever price you want. Well, the surprise was about this. If you look like this, Dad is worried about Pai-Pai. He or his brother would get limited amount of handout money. While here, they were willing to pay 'whatever they want'. How many new shopping complexes were built in the city! Suman also suggested that we book in it. But 'No!' There should be a shop! Suman's ideology was broken. Dad came and said, 'You go home now. Check the ground I said. Let's make it this Diwali.' And arranged himself at the counter. Now it was afternoon and now the seventh-eighth festivals were over so there was some peace. In front, a man was making a buffalo cross the road by reprimanding it with a stick. The scene changed before Kanubhai's eyes. On Barda, Sabosub Sabosub was beaten with a stick. Two teenagers were screaming and there was no one to save them. There was no such thing as mercy in the owner's mind. These two fatherless younger brothers were working as laborers here. Finally, when the owner got tired of beating me, he put the stick aside, 'If it has been stolen, I will not leave it alive.' Both of them reached home with a stumbling footstep. As soon as I left, I cried in my mother's lap. No one could say a single word but there was such outrage as to set the whole world on fire. During the whole day, the stomach could hardly eat enough food. Drinking water filled with loto on top would make the stomach feel full and sleepy. What else but luck? But today the limit has been reached. The shop was sometimes stolen. The situation of these two brothers used to get worse by stealing money from Kesh's canteen and working in the shop in broad daylight. Biting inquiries and whispers. It was good that none of the two were allowed to touch the cash counter so they would have been saved. Seth became a little stricter, the theft of cash stopped, but from now on, the goods got a foothold. At night, Seth's son would open the shop and read. He used to stay at the shop that night, saying that there is an exam, 'no studying at home, peace in the shop'. Only after that, little by little goods started to be sold. The owner's son, the owner! Who can point a finger against it? But there was theft and the needle of suspicion turned and settled on these two brothers and the result was a brutal beating. After crying and crying, I started thinking. How long will this last? The stomach was not full even after eating. On that day, Kanu's eyes were red, 'Brother, we do not work in this shop. Without this from me, Vanke will not be beaten.' 'Son, this blow has not fallen on you, but on our poverty. Poverty is the greatest crime.' Ma was still crying. Kanu's mind continued to boil with a face like copper. 'No, this is not a job. Seth will not pay the outstanding salary, what else?' Change of mind. Change direction. The mother sold her last bangle and put the money in her son's hand. Instead of labour, a small bhajiyan lorry was created and it grew to 'Dilkhush'. Kanubhai's hard work to keep 'Shankar Chawana Mart' alive has not changed so much. 'It shouldn't stop.' Seth had now grown up and the son had become a bankrupt. He could no longer survive this competition and the rickety shop was on the verge of closure. Finally Kanubhai's hard work paid off. Two shops were bought opposite 'Shankar Chawana Mart'. Renovated to become a large state-of-the-art shop. The board was felt and Kanubhai placed the counter in such a way that Seth of 'Shankar Chawana Mart' could see. What is the use of 'Seth' until he sees the joy of touching the sky and sweating it out and even sitting on the table in the absence of Kandoi if necessary? Kanubhai's tongue came… 'Now even though that shop…'
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
