A tale of three sisters at fair

This is a story of three sisters. Brijender (19), Rajni (20) and Manpreet Kaur (21), reports Jatin Anand.

This is a story of three sisters. Brijender (19), Rajni (20) and Manpreet Kaur (21).

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From Shastri Park in East Delhi, the sisters are pursuing their graduation from Delhi University.

But while most of their college mates avoid classes to watch movies or hang out with friends, the sisters are hard at work, assisting international participants strike a fair deal, at the India International Trade Fair (IITF).

"Sometimes, one can learn more from the real world," Rajni said.

Offering Rs 400 to Rs 500 for a day's work, the IITF exposes the sisters and many like them to cultures one normally gets to read only in books or watch in TV documentaries.

"This is the third time I applied," said Brijender, youngest of the three. She has retailed everything from jaipuri chappals to Chinese vases over the last two years.

“This is a great platform not only to learn about other countries, but even your own."

This year, she is assisting a Bangladeshi saree retailer at hall no 12.

Manning a saree stall at the Nepal pavilion during her second stint, Manpreet, meanwhile, seems to have become a saree expert.

"Whatever I am learning here will help me when I start my own shop someday," she said.

First-timer Rajni, on the other hand, retailed Afghan carpets on the first three days and is now helping sell saffron.