Celebrating abilities of a different kind

Couple of months back, I was in a store of a shopping mall. I was looking at shirts to wear at work. A salesboy approached me with a smile as I told him about my requirements. He promptly walked up to a specific section and started displaying the collections – light colors, bright colors, size, fits, cuts etc while he kept mumbling the specifics of each garment. I could not understand what he was saying, and I kept asking him to repeat himself. Just then his fellow salesman approached me and told me that he cannot speak. Some mishap took away his ability to speak though his hearing was spot-on.

 I looked at him and he pointed his forefinger to his lips and shook his fingers and then pointed at his ears and showed me a A-1. He smiled radiantly as he indicated to me that he can help me out. His eagerness was that of a child. I told myself that I will slow down myself to match his pace. Turns out, I did not have to. He was extremely efficient and had good knowledge of attire.  The moment I finalized a shirt, he pulled out a dozen trousers that would be a good match and for each of those dozen trousers he had a few more shirts to go with. As I was about to wrap up on the numbers of combinations that I picked up, he was ready with 6 belts and shoes. He had good eyes I observed, for he got the shoe size correct. Then, like a perfect salesman, he push-sold a few pairs of socks as well, telling me that ‘Nu shu, nu …’ and giggled.

 I didn’t have plans for such elaborate shopping, but the boy was so convincing, and his energy was shooting through the roof. At the check-out counter, the manager was standing. I mentioned about the boy and his great salesmanship. He informed me that he is 23 years old, and that, for over a year, he struggled to find himself a job because of his handicap. His family, back in the village were starving. “We thought we will hire him and engage him to do odd jobs. But in just three months, after finishing his appointed chores of cleaning the floors and shinning the glasses, he started shadowing other salesman between work. He came early, rushed through lunch hour, and stayed late. Now, not only is he a trained salesman, but he is also our best. From next week there is a batch of fresh salesperson coming in. We decided we will let him train them. I believe that in another one year’s time, we will be able to promote him as a store manager. I think he will be able to do it”.

I left the store amazed. He redefined the concept of ‘handicap’ to me.

That boy did not need us to slow down, did not want us to match his pace, show pity, give charity, or hold his hands. He just needs us to accept him and believe in him. He needs a little bit of faith and opportunity. He will do the work.

Today, UN is celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities – IDPD – and it gives me immense pride to share the story of this boy who could not speak. Let’s take this opportunity to not ponder over the disability. Instead, let’s celebrate the different abilities of a seemingly disabled person!! For I believe that that boy, in the store, was much more abled than many ‘wholly-abled’ person. And if we allow ourselves a little bit of perspective, we will find many more of such wonderful people!!

The views expressed in the blog is purely mine and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which I have been, am now or will be affiliated.