“I have been selling balloons at Super Market for the last one year. Before this, I used to sell flowers at traffic signals in the city. My father used to work at a shop but then lost his job. He has been unemployed for the last three years. We are four brothers and six sisters. Me and one of my brothers are the only earning members of the family.

My uncle has employed me and I sell balloons outside his shop for him. I get a salary of Rs6,000 per month. My older brother works as a decorator in marriage halls and earns Rs10,000 per month. It is difficult to support an 11-member family with this income but we manage somehow. I give half of my salary to my father and the rest to my mother. We living in a rented house.

Except my two younger brothers, none of us has been to a school. I always wanted to have an education like other children, but my circumstances never allowed. Five of my sisters have acquired religious education at a seminary.

I advice my siblings to get education otherwise they would have to work like me. The life of a vendor starts early in the morning and continues till late in the night.

Selling balloons is not an easy job. I have to convince people to buy them. I mostly bring brightly-coloured balloons of various shapes to attract customers. I want to open my own shop. It will increase my earnings and I will be able to provide a better life to my family.”

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2020