THE DEATH OF A POOR SALESMAN

THE DEATH OF A POOR SALESMAN
By Sanjay Yadav

Raju was a poor salesman living in a small town with his wife Priya and their two children. Every morning, he left home with silent determination, carrying not just his lunch but also the burden of responsibility. Though his job paid well enough to support his family, it came at a cost he never spoke about. One night, when he returned home late, Priya sensed something was wrong. She asked gently, but Raju avoided her questions, hiding his pain behind a tired smile. Even while eating dinner, his mind seemed lost, as if something was troubling him deeply. The next morning, life continued as usual—Priya prepared his meal, and Raju left for work, pretending everything was normal.
That afternoon, while Raju sat outside his shop to eat, a stranger approached him and demanded to know his name. When Raju remained silent, the man suddenly slapped him in front of everyone. Humiliated and hurt, Raju said nothing. He returned home early that evening with visible injuries. Priya was shocked and worried, but even then, Raju tried to hide the truth. Only after repeated questioning did he reveal what had happened. Priya urged him to leave the job, but Raju refused. The fear of losing income was greater than the pain he endured. “This job feeds our family,” he said quietly, choosing sacrifice over safety.
The next day, Raju returned to work as if nothing had happened. But fate was waiting for him. The same man came again, angrier than before. This time, words turned into violence. In a moment of brutality, the man struck Raju on the head with a rod. As he lay injured, no one stepped forward to help. Eventually, a few people took him to the hospital, but it was too late. That night, a man came to Raju’s house and informed Priya about the incident. Shocked and terrified, she rushed to the hospital, her heart filled with fear and hope. She begged the doctor to let her see her husband, but she was asked to wait outside.
After what felt like endless hours, the doctor finally came out and delivered the heartbreaking news Raju was no more. Priya’s world collapsed in that moment. The man who had silently carried his family’s burdens was gone forever. His body was brought home, and the village gathered for his final rites. As Priya stood beside her husband’s lifeless body, she realized the harsh truth of their reality that survival had cost him his life.
The next day, with tears still fresh in her eyes, Priya stepped into a new life. She took on the responsibility of raising her children alone, determined to give them a better future. Though Raju was gone, his sacrifice lived on in their lives. Behind every poor worker, there is a silent struggle, and sometimes, that struggle remains unseen until it is too late.