On the day of Maha mandi i.e. 31st July, when I somehow pulled myself out of the bed early, it was raining cats and dogs (of course…its July and its Mumbai). I wondered how difficult it would be trample down the streets and sell in pouring rain. I got ready quickly and ran to gulp down some breakfast. Nitie bus was suppose to come by 8:15 a.m. Since the bus was late, we like diligent, responsible sales people started with our selling right in our SIMSR academic block. There I realized how business can get harshly competitive or rather mean too. I and my mandi partner Harshit,targeted people who were free and steered away from those who were already being persuaded by other mandiians.As we spent time and energy trying to convince them with all our heart, the moment he was ready to buy a classmate of mine emerged from nowhere and sold off the item to him. It was like capturing someone's else's customer but then life or rather business is not all fair,that taught me to be alert all the time!
Then we strategically moved on to Polytechnic and Engineering blocks and sold quite a lot of items.
When we reached Nitie, Mandi inauguration was in full force. But seeing infra of Nitie we felt much more appreciative of our own college and hostel. That was a good feeling. In Nitie bus we left to western side of Mumbai. We played antakshari and had gala time in bus. We got down at Andheri. It was pouring thickly, we stood by the road under the umbrella trying to keep safe the mandi bag of goodies. As we wondered where to go, one option was "Infinity Mall" and we started walking towards that direction. Before boarding an auto I thought lets try our luck in nearby buildings. We entered a big official block which had lot of small, quiet offices. We stood outside the doors and tried to peep in and gauge the prospective buyer. I realized how challenging it must be for salesmen to muster courage, approach peple,sweat and toil and be ready for hearing refusal or bear disinterest of people. Many of those posh office people heard elaborately about all the items and at the end they just bought one piece of the cheapest item of all. Some doors had explicit "Salesmen strictly not allowed" written which somehow felt offensive. Some people were considerate, caring and bought in bulks. But definitely all had a word of praise for we management students who had given one day for this noble cause. And it felt like music to ears and left a very satisfying feeling. Every item sold, any word of praise lifted our spirits and made us happy. It was an awesome experience. In fact after having lunch, thanks to Harshit's initiative, we sold our last item a T-shirt to the hotel owner, a grandfatherly lean man who on hearing our social mission, instantaneously agreed to buy the "XL T-shirt" and sportingly said that he would wear it.In less than two hours our whole inventory was sold.We were ecstatic.Meeting so many people, talking, selling,taking snaps and getting drenched in Mumbai rain has left wonderful feelings and priceless learning. A good take-away was the re-enforcement of the fact that world is full of good people.
While we were returning to our college in local train an unfortunate accident happened.While train was stopping at Bandra station a man slipped on wet platform and came under the train.His one leg was badly crushed but he somehow survived.I had no courage to peep out and witness all that.I felt terrible thinking how delicate the life is and prayed silently. Fellow passengers talked for a minute or two on the misfortune of the victim and then got back to their own work.Train too chugged off in less than ten minutes.On one side a person life was devastated,on the otherside no matter what happens life just goes on....apt evidence!
I feel so glad that I participated in this noble event. True was its theme "Selling is the game, learning is the aim,mandi is the name"!!!
