Trading From Memory

Trading from Memory

P K Routray

During these twilight days’ monotony of leisure

relish I often recollecting the events that I treasure

Many of them happened before I crossed my teens

Over fifty years old they are, still live are the scenes

Incidents and individuals on the scene fondly I remember

Here is one of their stories I bring for you from the treasure

Up to twenty as highest number my elders then could count.

Within those numbers they could settle their day to day account.

A charcoal line on the floor Indicates one set of twenty is over

that helped them to cross over anything higher complex number.

The commodities came to villagers’ door steps carried by the sellers

at times as head load or within the arm pit, at times on back or on shoulders.

Seller used to be either a man or a woman from communities that produce or trade.

Over the generations they carried their business never allowing their areas to fade.

For clothes, utensils, fish and fashionable items ladies had the privilege

to choose, bargain and purchase from the traders in the village.

Fastidious are the ladies’ taste and their bargaining stamina is superb,

for choices they claim to be better, hence them men folk did not disturb.

At this age I salute both buyers and seller analyzing the then deal.

Win- win position with loss to none, awesome was their trading skill.

Once the deal was over both parties usually talked on the articles of the next meet

In the mean time the seller used to get betel to relish and some snacks as a treat.

Felt I now both sides used to end their task in a win - win position

They remained bonded, hence the trade continued over generations

As agreed upon at the end bartered exchange used to take place,

grains of rice or crops harvested then were   exchanged in the process.

Compare I through my experience the commerce and trade now and then

Inspite of advances now appeal me the system then which kept them cools calm and sane.

(N.B In villages of Odisha in 1950s the house trading scene as observed by me as a child)