Goddess Laxmi watched lovingly while sitting next to Lord Vishnu her devoted bhakts Shiela and her daughter Sangeeta embark on their trip to Yusaf Sarai to purchase the murti of Lord Ganesh and Ma Laxmi for their prayers this Diwali . Clutching Rs 50 in a hanky their only saving for the said purpose .

On reaching the market it seemed impossible their venture would bear fruit . All the murtis were beyond their frugal budget . As if with a stroke of pure luck one of the stalls had a broken murti of Mother Laxmi which the stall owner was in the process of disposing . Shiela and Sangeeta implored him to let them have it . Sensing a customer in them over a useless piece he condescended to hand it over for Rs 50 , their only saving .

Overwhelmed by her bhakts faith Goddess Laxmi descended on Sarojini Nagar Market in the disguise of an aged lower middle class lady . The overcrowded market had shops flooded with people buying expensive sarees amongst many other cheaper wares . Ma Laxmi entered one saree shop brimming with customers examining costly sarees at sale prices . Ma Laxmi requested the shop owner she wanted two Georgette printed sarees for Rs 300 each . Refusing her request and ignoring Ma Laxmi completely he focused his attention to his rich clientele . Similar conduct was witnessed in other two shops . Ma Laxmi entered the last saree shop in the row having less customers . Seeing an elderly lady the kind shopkeeper ordered a seat to be arranged for Ma Laxmi and she be shown the simple sarees . Selecting two sarees as Ma Laxmi left the shop the customers from previous shops rushed to the last shop which had attended disguised Ma Laxmi with utmost respect .

On Diwali night Shiela and Sangeeta adoringly placed the broken murti of Goddess Laxmi on a cloth while arranging a few flowers at its feet . As both sat down to pray their tattered shelter was suddenly flooded with blinding light and magnificent Ma Laxmi appeared in full splendor . Blessing Shiela and Sangeeta with the two sarees she had personally purchased Ma Laxmi disappeared but not without further blessing both . Instead of their broken down shelter there stood concrete walls enclosing a large enough area for comfortable living .

Spreading contentment to where it is due is the wealth Ma Laxmi bestows every Diwali and always !