Story
The Seller of Golden Fruits
And a more methodical man could not be found.
Every night he arrives at like clockwork and stops his cart under the street lamp in front of my house.
He takes stock of his fruit, this humble banana. How many customers did he satisfy today?
As he counts, he tries to tempt passersby with the remaining bunches for a bargain. The fruit gleams golden in the sodium vapour lamp.
After a counting, getting distracted and counting again, he begins the long process of safety wrapping up the left over fruit.
First, he unwraps a substantial length of rope and lays it out in a zig-zag pattern. This enables him to pull it at will without causing tangles.
Then, out comes the white netting. He unfold the porous fabric which helps the fruit breathe even though it will be wrapped under several layers. This, he spreads evenly over his cart, gently folding the corners, as if tucking a child in bed.
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He stands back to admire his effort and once satisfied, lays on the rope with the expertise of a fisherman casting a net. He secures one end and drags the rope to the other side. A sharp tug ensures that the end is secured. Then he throws the rope across the cart and hooks it, till the netting has settled over the fruit, packing it in.
Sometimes in the middle of the pack up session, longing souls linger by the cart . He caters to hunger students going home from the playground or late night tuition. The bananas will sustain them till the walk home.
Couples out for a walk, who remember at the last minute that they need bananas for breakfast, usually buy a bunch. Old folks who can have heaps of the yellow fruit without having to bother about dentures or teeth bargain for a buy a couple.
The golden fruit lures them all. Bananas are the most wholesome fruit, I think — filling, sweet, no seeds, just peel and eat.
Ungrudging, as always, the man fulfills everyone’s desires. before he ties the last knot concealing the fruit, he looks up and down the street for anyone needing a last minute snack.
The banana seller always keeps a cane basket for customers to dispose peels into. He finally empties that in the nearby bin.
He returns to his task packing task once more till the cart looks like a heap of fine fluff.
It is time to count the money. He carefully sorts the notes by denomination, alert for anyone waiting to pounce. Once he knows his earning for the day, he stashes it in a pouch under his shirt.
Finally, he is done and ready to go home.Now he finally pushes the cart away, walking away in a hurry. I often wonder who he share his dinner with.
One more day on this earth is snugly wrapped up thus.
