ITS THE SEASON

The air was laden with the aroma of the festivities around. So typical for this time of the year. The streets were all lit up in bright colours. Matching with the spirits of the crowd in the streets.  

Dibakar was engrossed in these scenes as he watched out from his jewellery showroom. The glass did not allow any sound to seep in. But the positive energy and the sheer joy and happiness was somehow flooding inside. 

Dibakar was not expecting any business to happen this evening as the whole city was busy in enjoying themselves. But he really did not find the courage to stay alone in his small studio apartment today. Definitely not an appealing option. So he had asked Ranjan to keep the showroom open, more as his escape route from the desolation of solitude.

It was around the same time some years back. The incidents that took place silently had shook his life totally. Tonight while gazing out in the tumultuous craze he was suddenly taken back to that time. When a sudden illness of his father forced him to take over this family business. His life plans were though grossly different. He was on the verge of setting up his life with Meenakshi. Both had lucrative job offers abroad and were planning to get relocated and embark on a new future that lay ahead. But destiny had other plans. He was made to chose between his legacy and his dreams. He chose the former and his relationship with Meenakshi ended pretty abruptly. She tried to reason with Dibakar one last time before breaking up. She had said that taking the plunge will give him the opportunity to take care of his ailing father and family in a much better way. But Dibakar was always unsure about this, staying back and taking up the family business definitly seemed to an option with much less risk

Dibakar still remembers her parting statement, “For a more secure future sometimes you would need to take a risk every now and then, where you stay unsure of what will happen. But if you show some courage and take that risk, more often than not it reaps well. But do you that courage in you commit to that to that uncertainty?”

Dibakar was dragged back into reality by the quintessential jingle that is linked with the opening of the showroom main door. Dibakar could only see a timid hand with a tentative push on the door. And that brought back Dibakar to his senses. He was back again as the shop owner of family run jewellery shop. Before Dibakar could react a nervous face peeped in the shop. The face had an unsure feel and Dibakar could make out that he must have been in his early twenties. And with in the same instant he was almost pushed inside the shop which created a deep impression of embarrassment in his contour. The culprit of the crime was a young girl about the same age. And she made her way in as soon as she could clear her path with a contrasting confidence. And that had embossed a sense of achievement in her already enthusiastic demeanour. Dibakar was now sure whom to talk to as a prospective buyer. The enthusiasm spilled over as she instructed him sharply “Move in, nah. Get inside”. 

Dibakar was smart enough to take the clue and he promptly took the opportunity to start a conversation to convert it in to a successful business deal.

“Yes Madam. How may I help you?”

She was smart and clear in her reply “We are looking for a jewellery set. A full wedding set for the bride. Yes that’s what we want”

Dibakar was momentarily taken aback by this unabashed confidence but reacted quickly “Yes of course! If you may please let me know your budget I will gladly show our range accordingly”.

It was his turn to join the conversation now and with the same tentativeness he said “Something in the imitation range please.”

“But it should definitely look as grand as ever” She added before Dibakar could react “And it should have the colour green like the saree I have here”. And she took out a saree from a small bag she was holding on her hand which Dibakar was not observant enough to notice. But Dibakar could definitely see the tentativeness in her male counterpart suddenly increased; and mixed with a sense of ignominy made him shrunk a bit. Dibakar now called up Ranjan to open up the required cabinet and show whatever was there in the stock. 

Dibakar was witnessing his two young customers closely and saw how she was able to rub on the enthusiasm in her male partner and how they were now both participating equally in selecting the perfect set for her. Dibakar was also trying to create a story to go with them. They did not seem like the normal effluent customers in his shop. But that deficit was aptly made up by their youthful exuberance. They are definitely planning to get married but why they are alone on this festive day? There must be some inconsistencies and disagreements with the elders. But what else? Are they planning to run away from home? What will the future hold for them? Dibakar was lost in his thoughts when suddenly a triumphant decisive “This is the one” made the present more important than the future. 

Dibakar turned his attention to his customers as Ranjan would need his help to close out the deal. She was gleefully stating again “This has to be the one. It has the exact green shade of my Saree and the design seems perfect for me too. Please please please. Get me this, please”. He was though looking at the price tag with piercing eyes. And it took some courage in him to look up towards Dibakar and utter with a lot of discomfort “Sir the price is a little too much us. What can be the best price that you may offer us?”

“Well you can see that due to the festive season the prices have been already reduced by 15%. And any further reduction is next to impossible” replied Dibakar in a very businessman like fashion. 

He looked back at her and said “I don’t have this much money with me. Let us select a cheaper set, please." And he "spelt out an amount to her. 

“But I have some with me. We can use some from there”. 

“We really should not be doing that. We have kept that for ...”

She did not allow him to finish and retorted “Always calculating and planning for the future. Who knows what’s in store for us in the future?” And with a small pause she said with a deep intent “You also have the option of asking from our parents also. But can you manage the courage to ask them with a straight face and honest heart? Do you have that courage in you?”

Silence descended instantly in the room. She had a sense of dissatisfaction in her face while he has his face facing the floor with his sense of ignominy back with its full glory. Dibakar meanwhile was struck speechless with this déjà vu feeling. 

And it was Dibakar who finally found the courage to break the silence. “Oh let me see. Hmm. Ahem. Well indeed this is an item from the old stock. And let me calculate.” And after fidgeting a bit with the calculator. Two pairs of  pensive eyes following it closely while a dumbfounded Ranjan was too surprised to even react. Dibakar finally decided “An additional 15% discount is definitely possible on this model. My apologies for missing it the first time.” The pensive looks turned into beaming smiles. 

A few moments later the hand which was once tentative was now confident in pushing the door open wide. He had her hand held firmly on his other hand as both of them ventured out in the unknown with new found belief and faith. The musical chimes from the open door provided the ideal backdrop as Dibakar looked out through the glass into the future. Courage seemed to be a newly gained character he could now associate with himself very clearly.