'I realise our lives are much easier, but we still keep complaining…' Surat woman’s post on juice seller is breaking hearts online

At a time when many people are talking about expenses, income and daily struggles, a simple story from a roadside stall is getting a lot of attention online. It is not a dramatic incident, but a quiet conversation that has made people reflect on how they look at money and effort in everyday life.Nalini Unagar, a resident of Surat, shared how her frequent visits to a juice seller slowly turned into casual conversations. Over time, one such interaction moved beyond small talk and focused on his daily routine and earnings.That is when she began to understand the reality behind his work.During their conversation, the vendor explained that he sells around 60 glasses of orange juice every day, priced at Rs 35 each. Along with this, he sells about 25 coconuts daily at Rs 60 each.This brings his total daily sales to nearly Rs 3,600. At first glance, this amount may seem reasonable.But this figure only shows the total sales, not his actual income.From the total amount, he spends on fruits, materials and transport. After these costs are deducted, his daily earnings come down to around Rs 1,080.If calculated over a month, this comes close to Rs 32,400. But this is still not the final amount he takes home.The vendor pays Rs 6,000 every month as rent for the space he uses. After subtracting this, the amount reduces again.Since working all 30 days in a month is not always possible, his actual monthly income usually stays between Rs 20,000 and Rs 22,000.His daily routine is demanding. He starts work at 6 am and continues till 1 pm. After a short break, he resumes from 5 pm to 10 pm.This means he works for almost 12 hours every day, mostly standing and serving customers.With this income, he supports his wife and two children. His expenses include house rent, school fees and daily household needs.After covering all these, there is very little left for savings or emergencies.One point that stood out in this story was how customers often feel that Rs 35 for a glass of juice is expensive. But the seller keeps only a small part of that amount after all expenses.After the story was shared, it received a wide range of reactions. Many people said it shows the reality of small vendors who work long hours but earn limited income.At the same time, some questioned the figures. A few pointed out that earnings can vary depending on location and demand, while others said vendors in busy areas may earn more.Even with different opinions, the story has made many people pause and think. It highlights how easy it is to judge situations without knowing the full details.For many, it served as a reminder that behind simple daily services, there is consistent effort that often goes unnoticed.Thumb image: Generated by Canva AI (for representative purposes only)