It usually serves the purpose of providing a dessert after a sumptuous meal.
But on a hartal day when hardly anyone opens a tea stall or cool drinks outlet, Saydu’s spread of chopped fruits, which he sells in small paper plates on his cart, becomes a meal by itself for many.
One gets around 15 moderately sized pieces of fruits, including papaya, pineapple, cucumber and watermelon, which can be eaten using a small tooth-pick-like stick, which he provides along with the fruit platter at Rs.20.
Though there are a few like Saydu who sell chopped fruits on handcarts on regular days, it would hold no great significance since there would be an entire range of food outlets otherwise opened in the city.
On Tuesday, Saydu’s pushcart suddenly occupied the centre stage as people, including passengers and pedestrians, thronged around him to savour the colourful dish in the absence of other choices.
Many might not take the risk involved in eating the chopped fruits kept at an open place on regular days.
“But on a hartal day, you have no choice, not even a tea-vendor on bicycle is seen around,” says Shibin Raj, who is on his way to Kottuli on foot after getting down at the railway station.
Placed at the Moideenpalli Junction at Palayam in the city, Saydu’s cart was like an oasis for many, as not even a single shop or hotel had opened during the daytime.
“It’s effective for thirst and hunger alike since they are pieces of freshly cut fruits,” he says.
A native of the city doing the business for several years now, Saydu was, however, not quite sure of working on Tuesday.
He was afraid the hartal supporters may damage the cart, his only source of income.
When the hartal supporters’ march passed through the Palayam area, he pushed the cart to an unnoticeable bylane.
“The police had cautioned us to do so,” he said. Once they passed, he returned to the earlier place and continued the sales. As a precautionary move, I had removed all the glass objects, including a small glass-shelf, from the cart to save them from possible aggressors, he added.
Jabir Mushthari