N. Raghuraman's column: No need for a 'master plan' to fill the blank pages of life

It was the Navratri fair. The stalls of pani-puri were the most crowded, followed by the stalls of homemade pickles and bedsheet-pillow cases. But there was no one in that one stall, not even one. At first I thought he was too old and his luggage was also old-fashioned. He had something made from waste materials, promoting sustainability. Despite being a retired bank employee, he could not attract the attention of the people passing by. Probably never handled customers at the counter while at the bank. He waited patiently for someone to come and ask about his product. Then a girl of 12-14 years old stopped. She asked, 'Who are these dresses for?' He also revealed that there is a fancy dress competition for pets in the evening. He has also created dresses for small to big dogs and cats through curtains and tailor's leftover clothes. The girl smiled, took out the phone from her pants pocket and showed a photo of her pet dog and said, "This is a Lhasa Apso breed, whose hair is neatly cut." The girl said, 'Female', so he bent down and took something out of the carton from under the table and said, 'This dress will make her a princess.' He also showed a photo of his dog wearing the exact same dress. The girl promised that she would return with Papa in a few minutes and left. Five minutes later they returned. The happiness on the faces of the child and the elderly was not just about sales and purchases, although the father's reaction was slightly different – perhaps because of the expenses. They had a conversation. It was the first time an adult (the girl's father) had touched the clothes he had made. Seeing the design of the nose in the dress, the long ears on top, Papa smiled and said, 'What a clever design this is. "They bought it right away. Gradually, pet honors started coming to his stall. They were listening to stories of strangers' pets and felt as if they were their neighbors. Later, he told me that he was surprised to see so many people connecting in the small booth. A woman told him that her grandmother used to sew quilts from old curtains. A retired teacher told how he learned to give a new look to his brother's bell-bottom pants, which used to burst while cycling. Most of them stayed there and told them their stories. They may have made much less sales than others. After paying the rent of the stall, the profit may have been very low, but he did not care about it at all. For them, they were not customers, they were friends. Every story, every laugh and every story shared about the naughty pets – was bringing positivity to that stall. No one left with a sad face after meeting the old man. That booth taught me a lesson, one that means much broader. I felt that purpose could be found in the smallest and most unexpected places. Who knew that a folding table covered with crafts, that too made of vintage fabric, could bring so much joy to those who sell and buy. They were initially strangers, but within five minutes the seller became an adviser to the customer's pet problem. Maybe he will get a chance to earn more at the next fair. The trick is that retirement is not a blank page. All that is needed is to try something different, involve yourself in it, and let it fill in that blank page through your experience.