Flaschengeist సీసా దయ్యం He is a man without any courage. He too knows it though he doesn’t admit it. openly. I am no brave no strong but I am intelligent. This is his idea about himself. He is greedy stingy and coward. This is the public opinion about him. He is not a celebrity yet he is a public figure because he has a small business but he is a big business man as his shop is the biggest shop in the small village he lives. Once he went to the lone beach near his village. He found an empty bottle. That bottle looked quite old.
He thought it belongs to eighteenth century. He is lazy who believes luck. An astrologer told him that he would get sudden wealth in near future. He thought that there must be a bottle ghost. He peered into the bottle. There was something in the bottle. The bottle was transparent. He saw something white. No doubt it is smoke. The bottle is heavy. He took the bottle to house carefully and hid it secretly in a locker beside gold and jewellery. When nobody is around he opens the locker and would watch his treasure. He is not only happy but also excited about his future. He forgets the entire world when he touches the bottle. He takes the bottle into his hands and dreams. He cursed his small business. He hates to work in his shop day long. Who sits behind the desk? Only a stupid wastes his time and life. Life is so precious. It will be even more precious when he becomes rich. He sells, milk, oil salt and sugar and everything that people need. I can't spend my time helping these worthless people.
He often indulged in such thoughts. He spent his time in planning how to deal with the ghost, what is the easy way to present all his demands before the bottle ghost. As days passed his doubts and fears hidden behind his hopes started raising heads. If I buy a car or build a big house how could I explain the world? He remembered the income tax officers. The income tax officers will not leave him. He was disappointed. Later he remembered the astrologer. He then remembered the promise he has made. He was frustrated. Because when the astrologer told him about his wealth, in a fit of emotion he promised him half of such wealth.
How can one give fifty percent of wealth to the astrologer for nothing? That seems like a death sentence to that greedy man. No I must do something about it. So the next day he closed the shop and met the astrologer. He had a cunning plan in his mind. He pressed the Astrologer to tell him the date when he receives the wealth. The astrologer replied that it was impossible to tell him the exact date. “Can’t you tell me approximate date?” Said the greedy man.
I can’t tell you the exact date but I can expedite your wealth. If you want the wealth quickly you have to offer a special prayer to God. But it should not cost me much said the greedy man with an awful laugh exhibiting all his dirty teeth.
Only three hundred said the astrologer. Twenty five rupees said the lucky man. The astrologer was about to leave when the greedy man said forty. “Get away don’t waste my time” said the astrologer. “Don’t be angry take fifty rupees.” said the lazy man. What happened to you today? I am a busy man. I am not interested in jokes. “I am too.” said the greedy man.
“Ok I will give you hundred rupees. “This is more than what I can afford. He added. “Tomorrow I will perform the pooja at your house.” said the astrologer. The greedy man returned home happily because he saved two hundred rupees. At night he remembered what he had forgotten. God! Sudden wealth made me blind, oh no forgetful. He jumped out of bed and wrote on a paper “only 10 percent” and pasted on the wall and slept.
At mid night he was startled by a terrible dream. He saw a horrible ghost in the dream. His future is in the hands of a ghost. He was frightened by the thought. What if the ghost eats or swallows him? What is the guarantee? He went to the locker but could not open.
I am afraid of ghost from the childhood. He recovered from the fear slowly he got a new idea that brought a smile on his face. He is satisfied with is smartness. The next morning after the pooja he told the astrologer about the percentage. The astrologer took it lightly and agreed to his proposal.
He then revealed the secret to the astrologer and asked him to open the bottle and talk to the bottle ghost. “money only after the work.” said the greedy man. The Astrologer was really annoyed but he concealed his anger and said “Sure, It is my responsibility;
I know what a generous man you are. When you are paying me hundred rupees can’t I do it for you?” The greedy man showed ugly laugh. The astrologer could not bear any more, “tomorrow before dawn is the right time to open the bottle. I will come tomorrow don’t tell anybody” said the astrologer. He thanked the greedy man and moved immediately. “sure, sure the greedy man laughed once again. The astrologer paid a goon and brought him to the house of the greedy man and hid in the garden in the guise of a ghost.
In the winter morning there was dim light in the sky. The Astrologer and the greedy man stood in the garden with the bottle. The astrologer put the bottle on the ground and chanted hymns. “Don’t be afraid when you see a ghost, close your eyes and ask what you want I will catch you. Don’t worry.” Said the astrologer and opened the bottle. It was not clear whether smoke came out of the bottle or not but the ghost hiding behind the bushes came out with a club in his hands. The greedy man closed his eyes and caught the astrologer firmly... wealth started raining in.... The goon started beating the greedy man. The astrologer felt that the greedy man received suitable reward.
yes... nothing comes for free
ReplyDeleteYes Sir.... Nice.
ReplyDeleteNice story, thioughly enjoyed reading it with suspense. greed is the root of all evil
ReplyDelete