Many of the suave femme fatales managing the stalls at the fair were city residents and mostly students pursuing studies at some city college or at the university. Mega exhibitions held in the city have proved to be a good platform from where they can get "feel of the market" while still studying.

"If you are working on a weekend and you make over Rs 1,000 plus good experience then I think it's a good bargain and my parents agree with me," said 20-year-old Natasha Verma another stall manager and a BA Part I student. "It's decent job and sharpens your communication skills, gives you the feel of the market. For me it's very important as I have yet to decide which profession to pick up. Though I have never thought about it earlier but now I realise public relations is the best course for me," she added.

However the immediate benefit and drive is the money involved. Working from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each person makes anything between Rs 900 to Rs 1500 depending upon other facilities like food and refreshments. And how will the hard earned money finally be spent? "Good brand jeans and T-shirts, good bags, expensive cosmetics and a part of it will be blown up at fast food joints," was the immediate response from Pretty, a final year student.

"It's good fun - I am working with four of my friends and each one of us will make Rs 1,500 in three days. This is good pocket money and we will have our own party and blow this money on things which otherwise our parents won't let us buy saying it's extravagance," said Monica, who has just done her MA in French from PU and was working at one of the CII stalls.

The companies don't have to go far if they are looking for confidence and experience for the girls, however young, seem to have it all. Dilraj Kaur at a furniture stall and student of B. Com Final Sector 46 Government College said, "This is my fourth exhibition and I have found the experience tremendously helpful. Fast money is one aspect and healthy interaction with people, what it takes to give satisfactory answers to their queries and whether we are able to affect the sales of the product we are selling is what is more important."

However whether the city is ready to take on this imminent change remains to be made clear. On the flip side there were uncomfortable moments for girls too. As Shivani a stall manager remarked, "People find it hard to digest that girls are smarter these days and enthusiastic to put their best foot forward. Many times we have to bite our tongues or ignore certain rude or cheap remarks."