Heart of sweet

In my city there were many sweet shops. All the shops had a very unique tradition. Whenever any milestone academic years (eg 10th or 12th) results would get announced, the sweet shops used to offer discounts. The higher one scores the better would be the discount on sweets. I used to love this tradition. It would give motivation to the students for achieving good marks. At the same time the discounts would help the pocket of the parents. This story comes from my own experience with my favorite sweet shop.

The result of Grade 10 was announced. I was in Grade 10. I went to my school to collect my marksheet (This was several years ago when the marksheets used to be available in the school and the not online). I collected my marksheet and I had scored 83% in my 10th board exam. I was happy at the same time I was slightly disappointed. I was expecting 86%. The marks in the language were very less where I was expecting 90 out of 100. My school teachers told me that probably I would have scored really well, my answer sheet went ahead for score moderation, and after the score moderation the score was reduced drastically. Whatever be the case I was disappointed with my score in the languages. Anyway nothing could have been changed at that time.

I went to the sweet shop to buy the sweets. This was my favourite sweet shop from my childhood. All the staff in that shop used to know me very well. That was because I often used to visit this shop with my parents. Either we would buy Indian sweets or we would buy savoury food items (eg, dhokla, samosa, kachori) from this shop. All the staff in the shop used to know me by my name. So of course when I got good marks in my 10th board exams I went to this shop to buy sweets.

This shop was also offering discounts for the board students. As I had scored more than 80% I was entitled to receive 20% discount on the total cost. I had placed an order for sweets. As I entered the shop the staff welcome me with a loud applause. All of them were clapping for me. They knew that I would have scored really well. This simple gesture choked me up. I was on the verge of crying. Partly because of their grand gesture and partly because I was disappointed in myself. I looked at their promotional advertisement. If I had scored 85% I would have received 30% discount on my order. That really hurt me. But I was not going to cry. Not in public for sure.

I went to one staff member who had kept my order ready. He congratulation me and give me my pactked order of sweets. I was taking out my marksheet to show them for the discount but the shopkeeper said that would not be required. He said just tell me how much you have scored and I will give you the discount right away. I told him the score and heard a disappointment in my voice. He asked me if I thought I would score better. I said I was expecting three to four percent more than what I have scored right now. He kindly told me to not get disappointed. He also said that my score was the best of what they have heard throughout the day in their shop. That was little encouraging for me. Despite knowing that it was not true. He was trying to keep my motivated.

Also these staff members from the sweet shop used to know me since my childhood. They would always give me some gooddies whenever I used to visit them. They did this today as well. Along with my order they had kept four samosas in my bag. I noticed that and I told them that maybe they have given me the wrong bag and that was not my order. The shop owner was right there when this discussion was taking place. He used to know me very well too. He said that the samosas were on the house. The staff wanted to give me something on my milestone academic year. They could only offer Samosas which were available in the shop. This was another kind gesture by them which made me feel special. Now my disappointment was little reduced. I was encouraged and I felt little more proud of myself. Scoring 83% in the board exams was not a simple feat. I thought to myself. I decided something that moment. I will score much better for 12th.

This sweet shop is still there in the city. Their business is no longer what it used to be few years ago. It has slowed down as compared with how it was few years ago. But the shop is still special to me. It holds special memories in my heart. Whenever I am in that area I definitely visit that shop and buy something from there. It is my way of expressing my gratitude towards the beloved shop. It is my small contribution to keep the local business running. I want more people to experience what I had experienced for all days years.

As a long as I am alive this shop will have a special corner in my heart. Probably it will be the sweetest corner of my heart.