SHILLONG: Kwai is a common invigorator in the State. Though it has specific effects on individuals, sellers of kwai in the city can unanimously vouch for the high sale, especially during the day when vehicles come to a standstill on city roads and drivers want to chew away the time.
However, a particular kwai seller in Jylli Shop area of Jingkieng has adopted an approach that is not only earning him more profit but is also attracting pedestrians.
This kwai seller adjusts his movement to vehicular traffic in the city. Whenever vehicles come to a halt he targets drivers. Out of the several targets he comes out successful about 60-70 per cent of the time selling his kwai wrapped in plastic packets. Each packet costs Rs 10. The kwai seller says on a day he earns around Rs 2,000.
His way of operation is there to be seen. Almost like a machine he peels the jute off the betel nuts, cuts betel leaves into diamond shapes and place them with lime inside the plastic packets in no time.
All this he is managing in the interim period when vehicles keep moving on the road and jump when vehicles stop.
His popularity can be gauged from pedestrians who watch him in awe selling kwai. Some of them say they have seen people selling kwai on roadsides and other public thoroughfares but now there are many who are reaching out to their targeted customers. Sights of kwai and cigarette sellers in buses and public vehicles are also gradually catching pace here.
According to a hardware dealer in Iewduh’s cantonment trading area, women tea sellers are common nowadays. The hardware dealer says these tea sellers come to the city from their villages every day. They do not have a fixed shop and hops from one place to another in search of customers.
Besides shops, they are also getting customers at Anjalee parking lot, other vehicles that throng this traditional market throughout the day, vendors and customers.
The market is supporting these mobile tea sellers as their hard work indicates that if there is a will, there is a way.
