T - The ?What Not Store?

The "What Not Store"

I was waiting for my results after my High School Examination. I
decided to spend a month with my Granny. Whenever I visited Granny, I
enjoyed going to Mr. Rana's 'What Not Store' for it was one of its
kind. This time there was a surprise for me at the 'What Not
Store'.

Mr. Rana, the proprietor of 'What Not Store' offered me a temporary job
as a store assistant because his one and only store assistant was going
on leave for a fortnight.

Mr. Rana was happy that he did not have to go in search for an
alternative as he found me fit for the job. On the other hand I was
excited on getting a job and I would also earn some money.

My first day's work experience started on a Monday. Bubbling with
excitement, I was there at the store at 9 a.m. My working hours were -
9 a.m. to 12 noon, and 4p.m. to 7 p.m.

'What Not Store', the name itself speaks of variety. My first days
experience was very exciting. Customers from different walks of life
came to the store. This store sold so many different things. There were
sports goods, musical instruments and different kinds of drums, masks
and costumes for mythological plays and artificial bearskin.

There were also antique pieces, in demand among the foreign tourists
who came to this place while on their way to the Simlipal Forest,
popular as the tiger reserve.

It was a big store, but Mr. Rana was very stingy and had always taken
the help of only one assistant. My job at the store was to see to the
wants of the customer, and the cash was handled by Mr. Rana. I enjoyed
the work that I was doing.

That was the tenth day at the store. Mr. Rana had gone to the bank for
his urgent need and had given me the charge of the store. There were no
customers and feeling bored I was examining the artificial bearskin. I
put on the bearskin and through the eye-holes when I looked into the
mirror, my reflection showed the figure of a real bear. Just then a
customer stepped in and taking me to be a real bear shouted at the top
of his voice, "a bear has entered the store". People ran in with sticks
in their hands to drive away the bear.

I screamed, "I am not a bear, please don't beat me up". I pulled out
the bearskin and the people stared at me in amazement. By now I was
sweating and crying loudly.

Just then Mr. Rana stepped in and came to my rescue. He gave a laugh
and said, "Ha! You are a brave girl, you could frighten people in your
disguise. Why do you cry?"

He consoled me and gave me a glass of cold lemon juice. After a few
minutes I was laughing with Mr. Rana over the incident. Back home I
told Granny about the incident.

The fortnight passed off so quickly and my temporary job was over. But
I had gained experience and Mr. Rana paid me a good amount, more than
my pocket money and a surprise gift. When I opened the cardboard box, I
found the bearskin and a note, "To you my child as a remembrance of
your temporary job".

I thanked Mr. Rana for his gift but to my utter surprise he said,
"Young lady, this is a gift from your Granny. She has paid for it and I
have only done the packing. The written words are hers".

I ran home and hugged Granny, no words but tears of joy ran down my
cheeks.