Small Story 464.

Small Story 464: The Stationery Stop Encounter Shalini walked into a newly opened stationery shop near her apartment and was surprised to see a familiar face behind the counter. It was Vishwa, her Dubai friend’s elder brother. Seeing her, Vishwa smiled warmly. “Hello, Shalini. How are you? How are your parents?” Shalini nodded. “Everyone is fine. When did you start this business, Mr. Vishwa?” “You’ll be surprised,” Vishwa replied. “I’m an ex-banker. What motivated me was the changing lifestyle. Today, most apartment complexes have at least 300 flats, and some are much larger. Stationery items are essential—especially for schoolchildren and people working from home.” He continued, “I was inspired by my retired army friend, Swamy, who runs a successful stationery, Xerox, and courier business. I started this shop just two weeks ago near your apartment, and the response has been very encouraging.” Shalini smiled appreciatively. “Being an MBA rank holder, this was a bold decision,” she whispered. Vishwa nodded confidently. Buying a notebook for her sister, Shalini reflected, “The world has changed dramatically. In India, anyone with minimum qualifications, education, and the willingness to explore new avenues can succeed. There’s always scope for business here.” She nodded to herself, got into her car, and drove away toward her next assignment in independent journalism. K.Ragavan 19-12-25