Dear Kirana Chacha !!

Today I realize how much valuable you are.

Today I realize how much humane you are.

Today I realize how humble you are.

Today I realize how magnanimous you are.

The full page ads of Amazing Online Players and Shopping Kart Players were simply irresistible. The offers were simply irrefutable. They sold a story of Fad and Fashion.

They gave us the comfort of buying anything under the sky from the comfort of my space. They promised pampering and true that things were working fine. We were transported to the World of dreams. Every product looked to be highly economical, heavily discounted, every service looked very professional. We were treated like Kings and Queens.

Buying through them became a fad, becoming a premium member became a fashion, sharing the pride of ordering online became a statement. We had to just log in, swipe our cards and wishes were done. Offers were pouring, temptations too high to resist, Every day purchase became a norm. AND ... You my neighbourhood Kirana Cha cha, looked to minuscule to even be recognized. You were of no cognizant to us anymore.

We stopped talking to you, We stopped shopping with you, We stopped Stopping by you. We raved about the World of Technology, we told our neighbours that your model was outdated and dead. We were sure you will WIND up soon.

God had other plans. !!

Kirana Cha cha, while we were dating the online stores, you like the hard working ant went about your business, not worrying about the online war, you were so passionate serving people who came to you. Never once you came asking for us to come by, never once you spoke bad about us even after we severed our years of association thanks to our new found Western love.

There came the uninvited new visitor, a teacher, a messenger, a warrior of nature that the World calls COVID19. We were slapped on our face. We were locked inside our space. We were through a tough phase. But Kirana Cha Cha, you were as usual at your brisk pace !!

We were still high headed, we were sure the online is here to stay and the luxury of getting served will only get bigger.. after all, we still believed that ordering everything online was so much fun & learning too. First few buys were very comforting. Slowly the deliveries diminished.

The full page ads went missing. The offers vanished. The deliveries did not happen. The offers died down. With the lock-down, came no pay and with repayments mounting, the credit got blocked. We were stuck.. Then we remembered you !! Nostalgic Memories of our past associations came alive !! Shameless we are. Selfish we are.

With no *SHAME* we came to your door step. With *Guilt* we stood outside your shop. YET !!! You were humble, welcoming and embraced us with humane warmth. You enquired about our well being. You knew every person by name in my home. You had no iota of anger or hatred. You were magnanimous, you packed everything and more than what we wanted. You promised that you will take care of our needs from milk to grocery. You helped to deliver them on time when my western girlfriend deserted me.

You gave us Credit, never asked us for the money. You said pay me next month and take whatever was required. I was bewildered.

I looked at you as the savior, I looked at you in awe, I looked at you with pride I repent, I feel guilty, I feel too small in front of you. Codes of Values, Ethics, Concern, customer care, CRM - all of this and more that I learnt in Management was relearned from you now !!! Kirana Cha Cha, You are the true Marketing Wizard. you know the art of winning customers, you are a maverick in your trade.

I remembered the time you gifted me a pen during my exam. I remembered the time you had given us grocery credits to my dad when we couldn't afford.

I remember those times when you were our *GO TO* person for help.

I learnt my lesson. I wow to be your customer for my life. I will help you the way you help us. I will care for our small businesses in our neighbourhood. They are our true patrons of economy.

Thank You Amazing Online for spoiling me and Thank you COVID for teaching me values, keeping me grounded, helping me realize the value of my eco-system.

Thank you Kirana Cha cha.. #StayBlessed #StayStrong