Are you lost

“Are you lost?”
“There was a shop managed by an old man here. He used to sell oil lamps,” I said.
“That was my grandfather. He died a few years back. Please do come in.”
“I am sorry. I just returned after two decades.”

The shop had a vast range of electrical appliances on display.
“Your father is still in Mumbai ?”
“He has settled down there. I like this village better,” he said.

As I walked out with a purchase, he said. “It was a pleasure serving you.”
The comment made me smile.
The boy’s grandfather used to say that when a customer left.“

He taught me how to treat customers, the boy said.”
“You learned well. You learned from the best,” I said.

My village is more of a town now, but I was happy to see that some old-world traditions had survived.