What do you call them? Golgappas? Panipuris? Phuchkas? Fulki? Gup-chup?

That day I was in a supermarket late in the evening and while leaving, I noticed a golgappa-wala just on the verge of wrapping up his day’s ware. I thought ‘why-not’ and walked up to him for a treat of those spicy water-balls.

By the way, what do you call them? Golgappas? Panipuris? Phuchkas? Fulki? Gup-chup?

This is amazing – the name you call these water-balls will allow us to roughly place you in the map of India!!

So, as I was instructing the Golgappa guy with my preference – more sweet chutney, no green chilies, some sprinkle of chopped coriander etc – I watched him side by side lay out 5 plates of some mixtures from his kiosks. I asked him if he was expecting more customers. He laughed and said ‘yes’, as he pointed his fingers to a pack of stray dogs waiting patiently behind him. He was still laughing as he placed those plates near those dogs and told me jokingly that they were his ‘end-of-day chief-guests’.

We talked as he served me my six pieces of golgappas one by one. I learned that he had two kids and his brother’s 12 years old son too lives with him after his parents died. They all go to school. He sells sambar-rice near the hospital street at 15 rupees a plate. “Who are your customers?” I asked him. He said that all the hospital workers, and nearby store and mall workers, delivery guys, cab drivers etc were his customers. As we conversed, I learned that he knew the names of most of his customers and a little bit about their lives too! He also talked about other street food vendors who sells dosa-idli-sambar, daal-chawal, samosas and pakodas and coconut water in the same street. They always share each other’s food for their lunch. When he referred to his fellow colleagues by their names, I got a distinct sense of the democracy of the street food. Non-religious, non-judgmental and a blast of spice with a punch of brotherhood. While we write literature about sharing, caring, friendship and togetherness, they practice it as a way of survival.

I suddenly got tuned in to the intrinsic network of people who directly and indirectly works for us and about whom we know so little, though from whom, there is much to learn. Today, every food and grocery item, every electronic gadget, clothes and draperies, books and stationaries are being delivered at our doorstep. I don’t think I have ever looked at their faces even as I mumble a ‘thank-you’ while I accept the package. But the network works seamlessly and silently.

These days though, I look, as I pose a salute to these life’s warriors –

A delivery guy stuck in the rain in traffic in his two-wheeler, drenched top-to-toe, but protecting his delivery. He then suddenly gets down and helps a colleague pull his bike from the sludge.

At the street-food corner, two workers share a small stool to perch on as they eat and tuck a bottle of water. Judging by their body language, I don’t think they even knew each other. But they helped each other. And shared. That was so impressive – that they shared what little they had.

I saw another worker put his hand across the coconut sellers’ shoulder as they yapped away. The other one helped shift his used coconut shells to an empty space before he ran off to his job. They all were laughing so much!

A little boy handed cups of chai to those who wanted and one of them pushed a onion-fritter into his mouth. He walked away smiling with the fritter clenched between his teeth.

The place was a cacophony as they all talked, shared, and laughed. They were all in a hurry – delivery to make, timeline to meet etc. When a cab driver extended his hand from his cab, one of the customers ran with a packet to deliver it to his car. I couldn’t help but notice how, a seemingly unorganized sector, functioned so seamlessly. If they wrote their resume, under skill set they should write ‘supreme compassion, camaraderie, brotherhood and an attitude of give-and-take.’

Doesn’t sound like much huh?

But let’s factor in this – the whole sector functions through these, and only these qualities – a helping hand for each other, a nudge, a push, a space by the stool! There is never a breakdown of the system or a system glitch. They work in the shadows, each day to earn a living and make our lives easier.

My tuning-in sharpened my observations towards them and I find myself learning some much precious life’s lessons – Brotherhood, compassion, and camaraderie. Humanity at its best!

 Let’s share. Let’s care. And let’s keep it simple!

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.