“What did you do during lockdown? Spent time with your family? Enjoyed home-cooked meals? Guess what I was doing? Struggling every single minute of it.
I was a farmer in my village until I underwent an emergency surgery. I was asked not to do tedious work like farming. I didn’t know what to do with my life. I had four children to take care of, along with my wife. I moved to the city and started working as a watchman. Life went smooth for a fleeting period. I used to water the walls of the under construction houses. Well, life took a new curve again. I lost my job again. That’s when I had decided to start my own business of selling coconut water because back in my childhood, we used to pluck coconuts from the tree, take it around on our cycles and sell them. I thought of starting my own business. I took this pushcart on rent. I started this in November 2019 and with in three months, lockdown befell. I had to shut it close. My wife, who used to do household work at a few houses too was asked not to come due to Covid fear. Neither of us had any income. My children who attend government school too were at home. I had to feed 6 mouths and had no penny. We saw hell from close quarters during these months.

Finally, we resumed selling coconut water. The prices have increased drastically. Somehow I managed to get a few to sell. I also have to pay Rs.30 towards rent for this pushcart.
Summer is here and I am hoping to make some money.

Imagine, going through this ordeal! The reason behind my rant is, people from privileged backgrounds come here and bargain with me to sell for lesser price. I hope people read our stories through you guys and understand it is not easy for us. We don’t make profits in thousands. Infact, not even in hundreds. Our profits are two digit numbers. I hope people understand and not bargain with people like us.”