Chapter 6: A Small Risk
By the time the crowd began to thin, the sun had already climbed higher.
Most of the deals were done.
Some farmers walked away with a little money in hand. Others carried their sacks back home, unwilling to sell at the price offered.
Nothing unusual.
Just another trading day in the village.
But for Akshy, something had already shifted.
He stood under the banyan tree for a few moments longer, watching as Ram Prasad continued his work without hurry.
There was no rush in his movements.
No wasted effort either.
Everything he did had a rhythm—check, speak, decide.
Again and again.
He's not guessing, Akshy thought.
He already knows.
That was the difference.
Ramesh stretched his arms and stood up. "I'm done here," he said. "Coming?"
Akshy shook his head slightly. "You go. I'll come later."
Ramesh gave him a strange look but didn't ask anything more. "Don't start working for him now," he joked before walking away.
Akshy didn't smile this time.
His eyes were still on the sacks.
After a few more minutes, when only a handful of people remained, he turned and walked back home.
The path felt longer today.
Not because of distance—
But because his mind wouldn't stay still.
Buying here… selling there.
It sounded simple.
Too simple.
And that was exactly why it was dangerous.
When he reached home, his father was already there, sitting outside, resting in the shade.
Mahavir looked up briefly. "Done?"
Akshy nodded. "Yes."
"Price was low?" Mahavir asked.
"Same as before," Akshy replied.
Mahavir gave a quiet hum, as if he had expected nothing else.
Akshy stood there for a moment.
Then he sat down across from him.
There was a pause.
"Father…" he started.
Mahavir looked at him again, waiting.
Akshy chose his words carefully.
"What if we didn't sell everything at once?"
Mahavir didn't react immediately.
"What do you mean?"
Akshy leaned forward slightly. "What if we keep some… and sell it later?"
Mahavir's eyes narrowed just a little.
"To whom?"
That question came quickly.
Naturally.
Akshy didn't answer right away.
Because that was the real problem.
To whom?
The village had only one option.
The trader.
And outside the village…
That was a different world.
"I'm not sure yet," Akshy said honestly. "But the price in town is higher."
Mahavir studied him quietly.
"You asked him?"
"Yes."
Another short silence.
Mahavir didn't reject the idea.
But he didn't accept it either.
"Higher doesn't mean better," he said finally. "You don't know the cost of going there."
Akshy nodded.
"I know."
And he did.
Transport.
Time.
Risk of not selling.
Everything added up.
Still…
The gap was there.
"I'm not saying we should take everything," Akshy added. "Just a small amount."
Mahavir looked away toward the fields.
The wind moved lightly across the dry land.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"Think about it properly first," he said.
It wasn't permission.
But it wasn't refusal either.
For now… that was enough.
The rest of the day passed slowly.
But Akshy didn't waste it.
He walked through the village again, this time paying attention to smaller things.
Who had extra grain.
Who sold quickly.
Who hesitated.
He spoke less.
Listened more.
By evening, one thing became clear.
There were always a few people who needed money urgently.
And those people sold at the lowest price.
That was where the gap widened.
Not in the market.
But in people's situations.
As the sky turned orange, Akshy sat alone near the edge of the field.
The air had cooled slightly.
For the first time that day, things felt… quiet.
I don't need much.
The thought came slowly.
Just enough to try once.
Not a big plan.
Not a big move.
Just one small attempt.
If it failed—
He would learn.
If it worked—
Things would change.
Footsteps approached from behind.
It was Savitri.
She stopped a few steps away, holding a small metal container.
"You've been walking around all day," she said. "Looking at everything."
Akshy glanced back at her.
"Just noticing things."
She tilted her head slightly. "That's not what you used to do."
He didn't deny it.
Savitri looked toward the fields, then back at him.
"You're planning something," she said quietly.
It wasn't a question.
Akshy gave a small breath.
"Just thinking."
She didn't push further.
But before leaving, she said one thing.
"If you try something new… people will notice."
Then she walked away.
Akshy remained where he was.
Her words weren't wrong.
In a place like this…
Even a small change stood out.
He looked at the fading light in the distance.
Then keep it small.
That was the answer.
Not hidden.
Not rushed.
Just careful.
And for the first time since morning—
His thoughts finally settled into something clear.
Tomorrow…
He would try.
📖 End of Chapter 6