There were no obituaries or photographs when Manoj died. He had neither “news value” nor large companies that would book advertisement space to laud his qualities and quote Sanskrit shlokas in his memory.
Manoj was “just a shopkeeper”; something like the innumerable Indian home-makers who describe themselves as “just a housewife.” A small shop that sold a variety of eatables, snacks, cool drinks and ice cream. A shop in one of the side roads of New Town Yelahanka.
But Manoj was a friend, a shoulder to lean on, and a great buddy to everyone around – students from far off states living in PG accommodation, retired people who had a welcoming chair outside the shop to rest during their evening walk, and construction labour who would walk in hesitatingly holding their crumpled rupee notes.
Whether his shop stocked your favourite brand or not, he always had a welcoming smile to give you – and any helpful suggestion he could.
Manoj also had his naughty side. He could charm little girls and demure old ladies alike. He had a cute poster in one corner of the shop that read. “When I was a little baby, all the women wanted to hug and kiss me; now when I want to return the favour, no one is interested!”
At the same time Manoj was so compassionate that he could never deny credit to any of his customers. He had a wealth of promissory notes, and very little cash in the box. But he would never lose his temper, and never stop credit.
One day Manoj, a young and fairly healthy man, went to sleep, never to wake up again. The shock was unbelievable; no one could imagine the full-of-life Manoj lifeless. But that was the bitter truth. And even more bitter was the fact that when Manoj’s brother and sister revived the shop, no creditor came forward to return his hard earned money.
There was a persistent cash crunch, and loads of nostalgic memories of what a wonderful man he was.
Manoj’s siblings fought a valiant battle against the economic drought, but to no avail. And then the huge Malls and Departmental Stores opened the doors in the fast-growing colony. The battle was lost. The little shop “Cake’s Crust” is waiting to empty its fast depleting shelves and shut down for ever.
