Every day when we step out of our houses to travel to our workplace, college or school, we see the same shops, the same people, and the same traffic. After a point, we get so used to our surroundings that we stop noticing them altogether, operating on autopilot.
Amit Ghosh, a resident of Kolkata, did not live his life on autopilot. He noticed an elderly couple operating a food stall near his workplace and their plight bothered him so much that he decided to do something about it.
Although Ghosh had only tagged 40 people in his Facebook post, it went viral with over 16,000 shares. The couple selling food on the street belongs to a middle class family and financial problems have forced them to open the food stall. Ghosh wrote in his post:
The couple hails from a middle class background. Due to circumstances and financial weakness they are forced to do the selling at this age. But it doesn’t make them feel bad. They are enjoying what they are doing. I would request everyone (especially those who are associated with this area and my colleagues) to buy/eat roti-sabji from them. There’s nothing special about the food. But the way they behave is quite different from other stall-walas. As if they are ur own grandparents. They are a nice couple. Pls buy from them instead of buying from other guys. They need money and this is the only way how we can help them. [sic]Amit Ghosh
What is striking is the spirit of the couple. Their relationship with customers is personal and warm, despite their circumstances.
The comment section, with some 500 comments, is full of people who are saddened by their plight and want to help in some way.