Ambling through the aisles, watching the new ensembles of
various brands wetting their showcases for a new season, that unfortunate day
of March the 15th of 2020 when it was announced that we have to close down for
the fear of spreading Corona, I was enthused and overjoyed that there will be a
small holiday in my life. Hardly did I
know that this will be a complete transformation in the way I have lived.
The initial few months were a total devotion to social
media, volunteering inside the town with special permissions to move around
during the pandemic, helping friends and f-of-f in getting e-passes, food
packets, medicines, essentials, and even some comforting talks to those who
required them. And above all my own encounters with music, ha ! ha !
Slowly, the days were now months and today it is past a
year, my business has not picked up despite a change of location. Happenings
around me have created worrisome predicaments and the milestones now stand
changed with very little capacity to look ahead. I have not just become jobless, but now a debtor with none of my expenses on the business front stopping leave alone those made for a living. A person who loses a job loses the income, but a retailer like me not only loses the income but also has to incur the established basic expenses from reserves so also loses reserves.
With money flowing in the system due to the schemes rolled
out for the industry ,and the politics of appeasement doing its five yearly
rotation, many like me who own small outlets in the retail field have lost it
all to online shopping and thrifty purchasing by those who have it all.
It is pathetic to see beautifully decorated high street
stores who used to once be busy with hustle and buzzle of discerning customers
now idle, planning to cut down salaries and even reduce staff strength, some
finding it difficult to even close counters.
There is always a time that comes as a heal
There’s always a wind which spreads good feel
There’s always a season that blooms beautiful flowers
There’s always the energy which empowers all endeavors
The economy is after all driven by people. No matter how dire the situation may be, as long as people are firm, a turnaround, revival and progress can be possible.
