She

The other day while I was going to pick up some grocery, I saw a woman selling veggies in a cart at the corner of our street. I haven't seen her when I came home last time.
I dropped the idea of going to the market and decided to pick up my list from hers. Tucked in a yellow saree, and a shy smile she looked ordinary yet confident.
During our conversation, her accent didn't sound like Maharashtrian. She said she is from Tamil Nadu. We finished our business, and we broke into a small chit-chat.
I was in Koperkhairane after almost 14 months. There were few changes in the neighborhood... Some new shops have come across the corner. Casually I asked her if she knew the specialities of one such "new" shop around the corner.
With a broad grin on her face, she replied she owns it!
She wakes up quite early in the morning and makes fresh Sambar. Big aluminum steamer gets busy in preparing soft pillowy idlis. After the initial breakfast rush is over at her shop, she heads off to the retail market to get veggies, which she sells in her cart during late morning. Evenings are busy again as she has to prepare the batter, set it to fermenting in preparation for the next morning.

In between all these, she is being ably assisted by her daughter who is in 7th standard and her husband, who also sells newspaper.

In the back of my mind, I could not but appreciate this hard working couple. A immigrant family who is satiating the needs of a busy metropoly and hopes to make it big some day!