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Would you like an umbrella madam? We have umbrellas in various sizes. We have the usual long handled umbrellas and two fold and three fold umbrellas. As the monsoons have arrived, those who travel by cars prefer the long handled umbrellas, while those who travel on motorbikes and on foot choose either the two fold or three fold umbrellas.
While some stick to sober colours, most prefer colourful ones. The umbrella industry has developed over the years and people are now spoilt for choice as umbrella companies roll out designs in polka, stripes and checks. This umbrella which has a newspaper design is popular. So is this one of a huge sunflower on top. The umbrellas come in different materials too, with satin, nylon, plastic… There are umbrellas with handles that are straight or slightly curved. We even have umbrellas that have wooden handles.
Most of these innovative umbrellas are sold out though. You will get more varieties if you come next week. While the grandfather umbrella (kalan kuda) is popular with men, women and children prefer the more colourful umbrellas. The prices of the umbrellas start from Rs. 150.
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My uncle is the one who sources these umbrellas. He buys them in bulk from Madurai, Chennai and Bangalore. He goes there every week. There are around eight of us selling umbrellas on this stretch of road on the Chakka bypass. This includes my uncle. He divides the umbrellas he has bought from these places amongst us and we sell them for a small profit. The profit we make, is for us to keep. It is very marginal, maybe Rs. 10 per umbrella. On good days, we manage to sell around 45 pieces.
As there is ample parking space by the road, people who go on bikes and cars, stop when they see the colourful umbrellas. Many find the prices reasonable and buy a piece or two.
I am actually a chef in Dubai. I came down for my sister’s wedding in March. I will be going back to Dubai mid August. I am manning this roadside store as a means of assisting my uncle and also as a way to make an extra income before I go.
I am from Vallakkadavu and have studied till class 10. After completing class 10, I started assisting at a store in the city. I left for Dubai after a year or two and started working as a cleaner at an Italian restaurant. As I love to cook I would watch how the chefs prepared their dishes. I soon started helping out and now am in charge of the dessert spread.
Although I would love to treat my family to some of the dishes I have learnt to prepare, I can’t as most of the ingredients aren’t available here.
As it is the month of Ramadan, this stall is open from 1 p.m. till 6 p.m. Earlier, it used to be from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. See those clowns over there? They are my friends who have come to help me with the sales. They are actually better sales people than I am.
Although I love being with my family, I look forward to going back to Dubai. I want to earn enough money so that I can look after my parents. Who knows, maybe one day I can even save up to start a restaurant of my own?
(A weekly column on men and women who make Thiruvananthapuram what it is)