Standing Torture!

Standing all day...........

My legs are blazing with pain. I look for a chair. And to my intense irritation, it’s only a few feet away from me. I want to limp towards it and sit.

But No! I can’t. The CCTV, like a monster, is watching each nook and corner. A day of standing has worn out all my energy.

Now, I see a customer approaching towards me. Darn it! Not now! So not now!

A beautiful lady, draped in blue sari, approaches. She walks towards me and points her hands towards the rack of clothes above me.

“The yellow one, towards the top, take it” she commands without even passing me a smile.

My head’s spinning. Everything is in a blur. Yet, as a dutiful sales woman, I turn around and grope about in the rack for a yellow sari.

There are so many yellow ones.

“Which one, ma’am?” I ask meekly.

“Towards the top” she is snappy.

I drag out the sari she wanted.

 “It suits you madam” a clichéd sales trick follows.

She examines the sari like a preying vulture. She finds many faults in its design and print. She is not satisfied.

She asks for a red sari, then an orange one and then the list goes on. She is not satisfied with anything.

I can’t take this any longer. I am sure I will faint. My hands search for a support and I press upon my customer’s hand.

She jerks it away like I am some kind of stray dog. As I faint, the last lines I hear are:

              “Useless! She just has to stand and is not even good at that!”

Author's Note

I came across a news report that sales women are not allowed to sit.
This is an extreme human rights violation.
Serving customers shouldn't demand standing workers.
Employers have to empathize with their workers and come up with humane measures.
I wrote this short story with the hope that sales workers will be treated more humane-like by the customers.
Without their assistance, forget quality shopping!

Reviews

[Farhan Shaikh]

It is really good to read interesting story..worth reading

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much Farhan:)
Glad to read your words!

[Jacob Clifford]

The horrors of working retail! I've heard about this before (people not being able to sit). Working conditions and peoples' concern about them still have a long ways to go. This piece does very well at showing what it's like.

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much:)
I am glad to read your words!

[CAPOLAVORO]

This one is a good way of expressing empathy towards their kind. On the other side, a research says that people who sits too long could cause certain illnesses. Standing could still have a positive side. :)

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much:)
I didn't mean sitting all day. This is against standing all day:)
I am glad you liked!

[Sofia]

Wonderful piece of work..i loved this...i never knw abt this..this is so inhumane...this piece depicts ur concern for all the sales woman...thnx for sharing...

[Zephyr]

You are always welcome Sofia:)
You are like my younger sis:)

[Sofia]

Thank you for considering me as ur sis😊...so ur my big sissy :)

[Zephyr]

Haha.......I am:)

[Najam Us Saher]

Thought provoking....this piece really shows your care and concern...

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much Najam:)
Always a pleasure to read your words!

[Najam Us Saher]

You're most welcome.

[jane maria]

so good....this is really good

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much Jane:)
I am glad to read your words!

[Avinash]

Humanity lost its empathy long back. Once I helped an old man cross the road and he shunned my hand after crossing and cursed me as well. Kind soul is a rarity but your writing has it.

[Zephyr]

I am sorry to hear that!
But I am proud of you(everyone is) and your gesture:)
Many don't have the guts to help!
Humanity needs more like you:)

[Surya]

Reality we live in....But from now I will try my best not to irritate them, hahah......I enjyed it....:)

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much Surya:)
Always happy to read your reviews:)

[Priyanshi]

I loved your story....
how selfish we are... That's really so bad.. it's inhumanity work.......
. as usual ,your stories and poems always have some morals...love to read your work...brilliant work, Neetha, keep it up

[Zephyr]

Thank you so much Priyanshi:)
I am honoured by your words!

[Priyanshi]

My pleasure, Neetha.

[Olabisi Rotimi Abel]

This really got me crying, what a cruel world. I love this. Keep it up.
I am new here, I really hope I can get along.

[Zephyr]

You sure will get along dear:)

[wordman]

it`s called kiss a*s position,

[Zephyr]

Thanks for taking the time to read my work!