In your head

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Wake up Kabir, Its time for you to go to work!!
Don’t forget to brush your teeth, comb your hair, and wear clean clothes.
You dont want the customers to run away because of your body odour, do you?
Okay, so today is buying day. This calls for a visit to the city market,
where you need to haggle to get cheap prices. Don’t forget to carry all
the money you have!
What? You don’t have any? Well then, you’ll just have to buy on credit.
Remember to be nice to the wholesale shopkeepers. And hurry!
They cannot be kept waiting. You need to run fast, till your head spins
and everything is a blur.

Be quick, you need to reach Struggler’s street in the next 20 minutes. You need at least half an hour then to setup your stall. Make sure you arrange the products in the most attractive way possible, or you may not have any customers coming to your shop.
After all, that narrow little dingy corner where you sit is barely noticeable.
Be sure to stay alert and keep your helper on guard.
In case the police see you, you have to run as fast as possible.
And if they catch you, your family will go without food, and
you will be thrashed mercilessly.
You wouldn’t want that now, would you?



Your little shop was set up hours ago. Not even one customer.
What will your family eat? What will you take home to them?
You can’t go home empty handed again.
There! A customer’s finally come. Go, go now!
Make sure she buys something.
Its already 3 pm. No sales yet? Why weren’t you engaging enough to sell something to that customer? Your family will go hungry and its all your fault.
Your little shop was set up hours ago. Not even one customer.
What will your family eat? What will you take home to them?
You can’t go home empty handed again.
There! A customer’s finally come. Go, go now!
Make sure she buys something.

Its already 3 pm. No sales yet?
Why weren’t you engaging enough to sell something?
You know how important it was for you.
Your family will go hungry and its all your fault.

Oh! Another customer. Now pay attention and make sure he BUYS something.
You don’t want to lose another opportunity. Be polite to him! He will appreciate it.
Okay, so he was a bit rude, but at least he bought that ring. I know you didn’t like him,
but what does it matter. The first sale of the day, at least
you made some money.
You needed him more than he needed you anyway.
Deal with it.
Motherfucker? That’s what he called you?
Never mind.
You need to swallow all your pride, and listen to
everything he says to you without a single retort.
You have the responsibility to feed a family remember?


Now, now, I know you didn’t want things to turn out this way.
What was it you wanted to be? Ah yes! An actor, right?
In the village as a young boy you entertained everybody by
mimicking Shahrukh khan.
King Khan, your idol, the man who shares your surname, but
not your fate.
Forget about these things.
They are only dreams.








Only Rs. 100 so far. Come on! You have to do better than that. Think of your children’s expectant faces when they meet your dismal one.
What will they think? Oh, they will not think. They will become just like you.
Strugglers on Struggler’s street, selling cheap goods to make money.
Insignificant.
Just tiny dots in the struggling crowd.

You need to pay for your children’s education too.
You know the importance of education don’t you?
But definitely not in some small village school.
You want them to become whatever they desire.
Your daughter needs to be married to a good man too.
So work! Work hard and long, and give them a comfortable life.





Its 6pm now. There! That girl is glancing at your stall. She looks like a potential customer.
That boy! With the multiple chains and piercings.
He might be interested in one of your goods.
Search, search, find a customer!

That girl likes that necklace.
It cost you 10 rupees buying it. Sell it for 100.
How else will you make easy money?
She looks like she would bargain. Start at 150.
You made a sale! It sold for 100. good work.








Its 10 pm now. You should start packing up your stall. The crowds are gone and you need to go home. Pack up your stall and store it away for tomorrow. You dont even need to go to the market tomorrow. You need the rest.
Did you see the look on your children’s faces when they were given food? Radiant.
They look up to you. They are completely dependent on you.
And you are content with this strugglers’ life because in the end it’s all worth it.
That little smile is all you need to feel satisfied.
You have learned to deal with this life, and be satisfied.
But make sure that they do not do the same,
I know you don’t want that.
So work hard again tomorrow.
And as for me, I am always there.
Inside you.