As I was sitting alone in temple the other day, a gentleman
came and sat next to me. I don’t know him. He does not know me.
To open a conversation
he looked at his old umbrella and smiled at me. I also looked at his umbrella
which was old enough to survive another two heavy rains max in this monsoon season.
But before he could start conversation an old man joined us.
He was too old to walk but somehow managed to come and sit next to us. Luckily he was known to this umbrella carrying
man.
He started explaining to the old
man :
“ Look at my umbrella. The other day I went to an acquaintance’s
house. Who happened to be an umbrella repairer. He stared at my umbrella. I told him, my
umbrella was fine. He was not ready to listen. He stared at my umbrella more vigorously.
He told me it did not fold properly because some knots had become loose. He
inspected and told me 4 knots to be retied. Per knot he charged 5 rupees, since
he was known to me he could do it for 4 rupees per knot. I agreed to it and got
it done. You see how people’s stare generates free income for them”.
Then it was time for the umbrella carrying man to go off as someone called him to join him for walk, so
he got up. Then he made his final announcement.
“I want to use this old umbrella as much I can, though I get
free new umbrellas every now and then when I attend 13th day
function of a deceased person, you know I am member of priest’s family.”
Then he had a good
stare at the old man before walking away!
