Three-in-one.............................Real Stories......................."The Samosa Vendor"
Len Vaz, My Son
Three-in-one Real stories
The Samosa Vendor
White Collar vs. Blue Collar
A short, but, a real story!
Today in India it’s unbelievable.......
The numbers are a little difficult to swallow...... But interesting nevertheless.
It was my regular train journey home from work. I boarded the 18:50 pm train from Paranur.
When the train was about to leave Guduvanchery, a samosa vendor with an empty basket got on and took the seat next to me. As the compartment was sparsely occupied and my destination was still far away, I got into a conversation with him.
Me: "Seems like you've sold all your samosas today."
Vendor (smiling): "Yes. By God's grace, full sales today."
Me: "I really feel sorry for you people. Don't you get tired doing this tiresome job the whole day?"
Vendor: "What to do, sir? Only by selling samosas like this every day do we get a commission of 75 paise for each samosa that we sell."
Me: "Oh! Is that so? How many samosas do you sell on an average each day?"
Vendor: "On peak days, we sell 3,000 to 3,500 samosas per person.
On dull days, we can't even move 1,000 samosas a day.
On an average, we sell about 2,000 samosas a day."
I was speechless.....for a few seconds.
The guy says he sells 2,000 samosas a day; at .75 paise each, he makes about 1,500 rupees daily, or 45,000 rupees a month. That's Rs. 45,000 a month. OMG. I intensified my questioning and this time it was not for time pass.
Me: "Do you make the samosas yourself?"
Vendor: "No Sir. Our proprietor gets the samosas through a samosa manufacturer and we just sell them. After selling we give him the money and he gives us 75 paise for each samosa that we sell."
I was unable to speak a single word more but the vendor continued... “But one thing... most of our earnings is spent on living expenses. Only with the remaining money are we able to take care of other business.”
Me: "Other business? What is that?"
Vendor: "It is a land business. In 2007 I bought 1.5 acres in Urupakkam for 3 lakh rupees and I sold it a few months back for 15 lakhs.
Now I have bought land in Uthiramerur for 5 lakh rupees."
Me: "What did you do with the remaining amount?'
Vendor: "Of the remaining amount, I have set aside 6 lakhs for my daughter's wedding.
I have deposited the other 4 lakhs in the bank."
Me: "How much schooling have you had?"
Vendor: "I studied up to third standard; I stopped my studies when I was in the 4th standard. But I know how to read and write. Sir, there are many people like yourself, who dress well, wear a tie, wear shoes, Speak English fluently and work in air-conditioned rooms. But I don't think you guys earn as much as we do wearing dirty clothes and selling samosas."
At this point, what could I reply! After all, I was talking to a millionaire!
The train chugged into Chromepet station and the samosa vendor got up from his seat.
Vendor: "Sir, this is my station...has a good day."
Me: "Take care."
What more is there to say...!
Hyacinth Vaz
The above story was sent to me by my brother Hyacinth Vaz,
This is what I sent him, a real short story of my son Len Vaz.
Hi Hyacinth,
What a lesson to learn, great man, I am struggling since 14 years to make ends meet.
This guy has taught me a great lesson, now a lesson to learn from my son too.
Once Agnes and Len were in the bazaar shopping and after some purchases they stood at the pani-puriwala's lorry. Both started having their share of pani-puris and Len was busy watching the other guys gutting down those delicious pani-puris. Meanwhile his attention caught of something that Agnes was unaware of.
What was it?
The way Agnes described it to me when they were back home, "You know what happened today?" bluntly I said, "What is it?" Agnes chuckled, “We were having pani-puris and Len noticed something," I instinctively asked, "What?"
Agnes completed her sentence, " Len was counting the cash that the pani-puriwala was collecting within the short span of time we had our pani-puris,"
Len asked his Mom, "Mama, see this pani-puriwala, he is making so much of money, can we do this business?" he also added, "Maa, you are such a good cook; you can make better pani-puris than this guy."
Agnes was shocked with the imagination of Len at the age of 5 or 6 years. He knew Dad was not earning much and we faced a lot of financial problems, so he wanted to do something that could ease our financial status.
I don't have anything to say, do I?
With much love,
Theo (Babush).
This is what my relative Maria sent in return to my story, a real one too.
Hi Theo,
A very nice story and just goes to show our misplaced values in life!!!
Driving the latest cars, acquiring the latest gizmos is our way of achieving success,
But we hardly ever get there as we are always trying to catch up!!
Why Agnes did not start that business, I wonder as she is an excellent cook!!
But I always tell my husband, don’t worry if need ever be I will stand
on the street and sell chai and bhajia!!! (Lol)
Jokes apart, but this is a good eye-opener!! We just have to change the image of success that we have in our heads!! Once we do that then the sky is the limit!
I must share the story of Sureshbhai who was Anushka's driver!
He would come and pick and drop her to and fro from school everyday. On interaction I found out that he was a goldsmith by trade but when things did not go well, he sold his share in the business, sent his son home and started driving a car as an unofficial cab, a common practice in Bahrain today.
He had his school kids whom he dropped at fixed time and you can call him any time of the day or night and he would take you to your destination for a fee!!
Meanwhile his son and daughter in law settled in Gujarat and Sureshbhai visits them annually.
Six months ago he told me that he was leaving for good. After the good byes, we really missed him as he was safe and reliable.
Three months ago I got a call that he was back and looking for business!! I was surprised and assumed the worst that maybe his son did not want him anymore!
When I met him it turned out that he came back as he missed Bahrain! His kids were fine and did not want him to come back! His visa was valid for another six months and so he decided to come back! But the main reason was that all these years he had the lease of a building in Manama! He then rented out rooms in that making a cool 1200 to 1500 Dinars a month!!! With driving he made another 800 to 1000 dinars per month!!!!
Please calculate almost 2500 Dinars a month!!! More than any hotshot Sales Manager in a multinational!!
This from a man who has passed high school and goldsmith by trade!! Need I say more!
Question: Do I really need another degree!?!
Do I have to spend 40 000 dollars to earn 3000 dollars a month!?!
I am really asking myself this today!!!
Regards
Maria
Hope you guys enjoyed the real stories about guys of whom we mostly think as just good for nothing but when we really get to know them, we are shocked!!! Aren't we? If you have one such real story of your family, relatives, friend or acquaintances, please feel free to share with us. We will surely share it with everyone, cause by sharing we learn. Send your Real Story at [email protected]
The Samosa Vendor
White Collar vs. Blue Collar
A short, but, a real story!
Today in India it’s unbelievable.......
The numbers are a little difficult to swallow...... But interesting nevertheless.
It was my regular train journey home from work. I boarded the 18:50 pm train from Paranur.
When the train was about to leave Guduvanchery, a samosa vendor with an empty basket got on and took the seat next to me. As the compartment was sparsely occupied and my destination was still far away, I got into a conversation with him.
Me: "Seems like you've sold all your samosas today."
Vendor (smiling): "Yes. By God's grace, full sales today."
Me: "I really feel sorry for you people. Don't you get tired doing this tiresome job the whole day?"
Vendor: "What to do, sir? Only by selling samosas like this every day do we get a commission of 75 paise for each samosa that we sell."
Me: "Oh! Is that so? How many samosas do you sell on an average each day?"
Vendor: "On peak days, we sell 3,000 to 3,500 samosas per person.
On dull days, we can't even move 1,000 samosas a day.
On an average, we sell about 2,000 samosas a day."
I was speechless.....for a few seconds.
The guy says he sells 2,000 samosas a day; at .75 paise each, he makes about 1,500 rupees daily, or 45,000 rupees a month. That's Rs. 45,000 a month. OMG. I intensified my questioning and this time it was not for time pass.
Me: "Do you make the samosas yourself?"
Vendor: "No Sir. Our proprietor gets the samosas through a samosa manufacturer and we just sell them. After selling we give him the money and he gives us 75 paise for each samosa that we sell."
I was unable to speak a single word more but the vendor continued... “But one thing... most of our earnings is spent on living expenses. Only with the remaining money are we able to take care of other business.”
Me: "Other business? What is that?"
Vendor: "It is a land business. In 2007 I bought 1.5 acres in Urupakkam for 3 lakh rupees and I sold it a few months back for 15 lakhs.
Now I have bought land in Uthiramerur for 5 lakh rupees."
Me: "What did you do with the remaining amount?'
Vendor: "Of the remaining amount, I have set aside 6 lakhs for my daughter's wedding.
I have deposited the other 4 lakhs in the bank."
Me: "How much schooling have you had?"
Vendor: "I studied up to third standard; I stopped my studies when I was in the 4th standard. But I know how to read and write. Sir, there are many people like yourself, who dress well, wear a tie, wear shoes, Speak English fluently and work in air-conditioned rooms. But I don't think you guys earn as much as we do wearing dirty clothes and selling samosas."
At this point, what could I reply! After all, I was talking to a millionaire!
The train chugged into Chromepet station and the samosa vendor got up from his seat.
Vendor: "Sir, this is my station...has a good day."
Me: "Take care."
What more is there to say...!
Hyacinth Vaz
The above story was sent to me by my brother Hyacinth Vaz,
This is what I sent him, a real short story of my son Len Vaz.
Hi Hyacinth,
What a lesson to learn, great man, I am struggling since 14 years to make ends meet.
This guy has taught me a great lesson, now a lesson to learn from my son too.
Once Agnes and Len were in the bazaar shopping and after some purchases they stood at the pani-puriwala's lorry. Both started having their share of pani-puris and Len was busy watching the other guys gutting down those delicious pani-puris. Meanwhile his attention caught of something that Agnes was unaware of.
What was it?
The way Agnes described it to me when they were back home, "You know what happened today?" bluntly I said, "What is it?" Agnes chuckled, “We were having pani-puris and Len noticed something," I instinctively asked, "What?"
Agnes completed her sentence, " Len was counting the cash that the pani-puriwala was collecting within the short span of time we had our pani-puris,"
Len asked his Mom, "Mama, see this pani-puriwala, he is making so much of money, can we do this business?" he also added, "Maa, you are such a good cook; you can make better pani-puris than this guy."
Agnes was shocked with the imagination of Len at the age of 5 or 6 years. He knew Dad was not earning much and we faced a lot of financial problems, so he wanted to do something that could ease our financial status.
I don't have anything to say, do I?
With much love,
Theo (Babush).
This is what my relative Maria sent in return to my story, a real one too.
Hi Theo,
A very nice story and just goes to show our misplaced values in life!!!
Driving the latest cars, acquiring the latest gizmos is our way of achieving success,
But we hardly ever get there as we are always trying to catch up!!
Why Agnes did not start that business, I wonder as she is an excellent cook!!
But I always tell my husband, don’t worry if need ever be I will stand
on the street and sell chai and bhajia!!! (Lol)
Jokes apart, but this is a good eye-opener!! We just have to change the image of success that we have in our heads!! Once we do that then the sky is the limit!
I must share the story of Sureshbhai who was Anushka's driver!
He would come and pick and drop her to and fro from school everyday. On interaction I found out that he was a goldsmith by trade but when things did not go well, he sold his share in the business, sent his son home and started driving a car as an unofficial cab, a common practice in Bahrain today.
He had his school kids whom he dropped at fixed time and you can call him any time of the day or night and he would take you to your destination for a fee!!
Meanwhile his son and daughter in law settled in Gujarat and Sureshbhai visits them annually.
Six months ago he told me that he was leaving for good. After the good byes, we really missed him as he was safe and reliable.
Three months ago I got a call that he was back and looking for business!! I was surprised and assumed the worst that maybe his son did not want him anymore!
When I met him it turned out that he came back as he missed Bahrain! His kids were fine and did not want him to come back! His visa was valid for another six months and so he decided to come back! But the main reason was that all these years he had the lease of a building in Manama! He then rented out rooms in that making a cool 1200 to 1500 Dinars a month!!! With driving he made another 800 to 1000 dinars per month!!!!
Please calculate almost 2500 Dinars a month!!! More than any hotshot Sales Manager in a multinational!!
This from a man who has passed high school and goldsmith by trade!! Need I say more!
Question: Do I really need another degree!?!
Do I have to spend 40 000 dollars to earn 3000 dollars a month!?!
I am really asking myself this today!!!
Regards
Maria
Hope you guys enjoyed the real stories about guys of whom we mostly think as just good for nothing but when we really get to know them, we are shocked!!! Aren't we? If you have one such real story of your family, relatives, friend or acquaintances, please feel free to share with us. We will surely share it with everyone, cause by sharing we learn. Send your Real Story at [email protected]