Chocolates, Love and Faith make the world go around
Every day seemed to be a struggle with no trace of light and the darkness was intensifying by each passing moment. But something kept me going, my faith…. I knew I will come out of the tunnel, but believe me the journey was extremely difficult. I took one day at a time……. Today I try to create more opportunities for the young. It’s now a mission for me that is doable and not Mission Impossible.
Don’t give up Once in every life, there comes a time
We walk out all alone, And into the light
The moment won’t last but then, we remember it again
When we close our eyes. Like stars across the sky
And in order to shine, you will have to win
We were born to shine. All of us here because we believe Look ahead and never turn your back
On the caress of your dreams, Your hopes and then,
Turn towards the day that will be. There is a finish line there. Like stars across the sky
And in order to shine. You will have to win
We were born to shine. All of us here because we believe don’t give up
Someone is with you. Like stars across the sky. We were born to shine
And in order to shine. You will have to win
This song by my favourite singer Andrea Bocelli somewhat sums up the motto of my life and my journey. It also inspires me a lot.
Everyone lives a number of lives in one life to reach their destination and shine forever.
My journey had long started when a four year kid was munching a bar of chocolate & dreaming, how it would have been if the world was made of chocolate……amazing, isn’t it, thought the kid and started giggling, not knowing that the seeds for future was sown in the heart and years later it would’ become a reality.
A very happy and contended corporate life is what I was leading after completion of my academics (Masters in English Literature and Mass Communications). As a PR professional and communication specialist is how I had started my professional career. Working with different agencies and corporate houses, life was more satisfying and happier than expected. I was climbing the success ladder quite fast. Everything in life was set according to me but my actual calling was somewhere else. Destiny was smiling while I was sitting contented.
After 17 years of successful corporate life, it was time to see the other face of life.
March 14th 2014 was the day when I was given the pink slip. I was caught unaware, is to say the least. I was totally unaware that I was entering a tunnel that was darker than my imagination. Every day seemed to be a struggle with no trace of light and the darkness was intensifying by each passing moment. But something kept me going, my faith…. I knew I will come out of the tunnel, but believe me the journey was extremely difficult. I took one day at a time and there was no option.
The darkest hour is just before the dawn. One year had gone by and I was tired…. was at the verge of breaking, when one of my friends called me. She was taking a baking class and she asked me to join her. She also had a one-day chocolate making session to attend as a part of the course. I was always passionate about cooking; especially, baking. My love for chocolates drove me to attend both the classes; purely as a time-pass, not knowing that this was going to be my dream comes true.
The first time I made chocolates at home and displayed it on Facebook, my friends went gaga over them. One of them even took it seriously, and forced me to make 50 boxes of chocolates for her son’s forthcoming birthday. It was on 31st January, 2015, that my first order was delivered and ‘Mad Chocolates’ was born. Though the kid couldn’t turn the world into a chocolate world but surely created a world of chocolate.
‘Madhumita, you have to do this professionally because they are awesome in taste and texture’ — was the feedback that I received. I was not yet fully convinced, but my friend was. She had faith in me, and her persistent encouragement made me think about it seriously. Then I went in for a professional course in chocolate making and honed my skills to the point that I could do it professionally. I started my journey…. a journey to the unknown.
A madness for chocolates is inherent within me. They were my weakness, and my loving dad indulged me with a bar of chocolate every day when I was a kid, in spite of my mother being totally against the idea. Somewhere in my growing-up days the dream of making chocolates got buried deep in my heart and with Madchocolates I am living my dream.
The Journey had begun but it was arduous. After the first order that went out on 31st January 2015 my fight to make this whole thing work, started. Working nonstop for hours, saving every penny wherever possible, along with bad health was too much. I had taken up a path which was unknown and I had absolutely no knowledge as how to go about it. Nearly two years later I got my first break when the management of Spencer’s believed in my business model and the uniqueness of my products. I was all smiles when they allotted me a small space to open my counter. I opened my first counter on April 16th 2017. It was a huge achievement for me and for that I am indebted to the management and the entire team of Spencer’s who believed in me and have helped me relentlessly in my journey. With no knowledge of retail, here I was operating a counter, standing for nine long hours and coming back home to make the products. But the help, guidance and moral support that I received from everyone at Spencer’s was unlimited. I wouldn’t have been able to survive without their unconditional help and support.
Life was getting somewhat normal and happy. My product was getting acceptance and people were recognizing the brand but then there is more to life. My designation/destination/goal was not yet clear. It is rightly said that life is a learning curve. I was happy with what I was doing and days were passing by.
Little did I know that another storm was brewing in the horizon, which would turn my life upside down. I lost my mother, just 6 months after my first counter was opened. I was devastated. Nothing could bring me back to normal. Within a year I had three counters, even then I was unhappy and yes there came a time when I wanted to quit because I had lost the purpose for life.
I started questioning my existence and that’s when the pearls of wisdom were shared by my brother that helped me come back on track. He simply pointed out that it was not just I anymore.
There were few people, whose livelihood depended on me and wasn’t I being selfish in trying to see only my side of things and wallowing in pity rather than taking this as an opportunity to serve the society by generating more employment. Today when there is dearth of jobs, isn’t it the best way to serve the society by creating more and more opportunities, however small it may be. Serving the community doesn’t just mean opening of orphanage, homes etc. but helping the youth is also another way of giving back to the society. Think about this and even after that if you feel like quitting then it’s alright.
Here was my learning. I was answered. My brother made me understand that I was here to make a difference, however small it may be. His words inspire me every day, makes me work even harder. I love my work and keep bringing new products to see the smile on the face of my customers and as I grow, I try to create more opportunities for the young. It’s now a mission for me that is doable and not Mission Impossible.
