I have lived in Gulmi as if I were a permanent resident. I come and go from home, but I enjoy staying here.
The business in Tamghas Bazaar has decreased a lot compared to before. Earlier, there used to be a crowd of customers. They used to surround me. Since I sell chaat and pani puri, I never lacked customers.
I used to sell for Rs 50 per plate. Initially, I used to do business by roaming around Tamghas Bazaar. Even when I did business like that, I used to do good business. After the municipality banned roaming, I started by renting a shutter.
I am now 47 years old. My home is in Nautanua, India. It is near Bhairahawa. I came to Gulmi 13 years ago. Before that, I lived and did business in Butwal for 18 years. I have been doing business in Tamghas with panipuri and chaat for 13 years. I am doing business in Tamghas with Sahid Chowk. Chaat and phulki are my main business.
I earn Rs 12,000 per month by renting a shutter in Sahid Chowk. My income ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per day. Sometimes I save Rs 5, sometimes 10,000 per month by working out expenses. What about savings? It is not safe. Sometimes it is spent on something, sometimes on something else. I have a wife, two daughters and a son. My son is studying in the fifth grade with me. My daughter has grown up and is now living at home with her mother.
If you can invest more than two thousand, you can earn some income. You have to invest at least 500 rupees a day. Business was good before the Corona pandemic. You used to earn four or five thousand rupees a day. But now the income is not much. Initially, when Tamghas came, there was a line of customers. We had to feed them in turns. Now customers have to wait. I first came to serve chaat and panipuri at a wedding. At that time, I saw a good business opportunity. And I liked the climate of Tamghas and decided to stay here.
Gradually, business also got better. And it can be said that it settled here. As the business is going well, I have become a permanent resident here. I come and go from home, but since I stay here a lot, I feel happy here.
I have been doing business in Butwal since then, I have been doing business here and I have been doing business here. I am satisfied with this business. I have been able to feed my stomach. I have no skills. There was no question of getting a job. The business itself is good.
As I get older, I cannot do any other hard work. I never get greedy when I see the earnings of others. I am satisfied with what I have earned. I find this profession very enjoyable. I used to live in Tamghas Bagmare. After the market was opened in the cart, the business would be completed before reaching Milan Chowk. Sal leaves were sold for 20 rupees per plate.
There was a business of five/seven thousand in two hours. There was a lot of hustle and bustle in Tamghas. It was a joy not to have to wait for business. Due to the Corona, the prices of all items in the business increased, so the business also decreased. When it became expensive, it was bound to decrease. There were many regular customers in my cart and this shutter before. But now there are none. Only occasional customers come. It seems that it has decreased because of people going to Butwal, Kathmandu and abroad. The hustle and bustle of Tamghas has decreased. Business has also decreased.
Our family does not have such modern desires in clothes and food. It will be normal. We do not do anything rash. Our household expenses and education expenses are enough. The saved money works when we get sick. We are satisfied with this. We don't have anything else. Doing business is enough to feed ourselves and our families here. That's it. We don't need anything else!
Presentation: Santosh Mahatara
