|
Scribe
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 73
|
The miserable miser
Mr. Jhola was a miser. Nobody who knew him could deny this. Every day he was thinking up of ingenious ways to avoid paying his way. And now, he had taken a taxi to the airport. He had a friend travelling with him, but he knew that he coudn't get his friend to pay for it directly. He hit upon a plan.
As soon as they reached the airport, Mr. Jhola put his hand into his pocket and exclaimed.
"Oh dear, I fear I've left my purse at home!" he cried after casually examining his pockets. His friend, knowing his ways, was wary. He knew this might be one of his tricks. But he waited patiently. So did the taxi driver.
"Could you lend me 100 rupees so that I can pay the taxi?" asked Mr. Jhola politely, "I'll give it back later!"
"I'm sorry, Jhola, I haven't got a single rupee on me," said the friend, hopefully.
"Sir, can I have my fare, please!" intervened the taxi driver impatiently.
"Just a minute, my good man!" said Mr. Jhola. And then he suddenly found his purse in his trouser pocket and sighed.
"Ah, Mola, I've found my purse. Now I can lend you 100 rupees so that you can pay on my behalf."
Mr. Mola thought about it.
"Why don't you just give the driver 100 rupees and be done with it?"
"Never mind. Here you are. I asked you for a loan and even though you couldn't give it to me, I felt I had to return the favour. Here!"
And he thrust the note into Mola's hands. Mr. Mola was pleased. At least this idiot was paying for himself, he thought. He paid the driver and they got off. Mr. Jhola, who was going to Mumbai at the expense of his company (he wouldn't have bought his own air ticket) bid his friend goodbye.
Ten days later, they met again.
"Hey Mola!" said Mr. Jhola, "I just remembered. I wanted to thank you for paying for the taxi ride that day. You're a true friend!"
"Wait, Jhola," said Mr. Mola, suspiciously eyeing his friend, "You paid for it yourself, didn't you?"
"I didn't. I distinctly remember you paying!" said Mr. Jhola, "Oh wait! I get it. I lent you 100 rupees didn't I? You said you didn't have any money!"
"You didn't lend me anything!" said Mr. Mola, a little indignantly.
"WHAT!" said Mr. Jhola, aghast, "I did lend you the money. Since you hadn't the money with you to lend me, I wanted to do you a favour. So I gave you 100 rupees!"
"But that was for paying for your own taxi ride!" said Mr. Mola, "I was merely an intermediary between you and the taxi driver!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" said Mr. Jhola, "Let's take one thing at a time. Did I or did I not give you 100 rupees?"
"Yes... but..."
"No buts. Just answer Yes or No. Now did I or did I not tell you that it was a loan?"
"Yes..."
"Ok, fine. Now did you pay me back?"
"I paid for your taxi ride, you dumbhead!" cried Mr. Mola.
"Answer correctly - did you return the money yet?"
"No, but I don't owe you anything!"
"How could you say that, Mola!" said Mr. Jhola, "You take 100 rupees from me. You pay the taxi with that money. But you haven't returned that money yet. You didn't lend me anything so I owe you nothing. I owe the taxi driver nothing since it was paid for. Now you are the only one who owes anything at all, because I lent you 100 rupees. Can I please have it back? I know we're friends, but please don't be dishonest. That's the first thing that will come between a lovely friendship..."
"Stop, stop! Ok, well... here's your 100 rupees! Take it and go away!" said Mr. Mola, almost tearfully. The deliberate way in which Mr. Jhola spoke was too much for him.
"That's all right. Thank you, my man!" said Mr. Jhola heartily, eyeing the 100 rupee note, "There's just one more thing."
"One more thing?"
"Yes, you see, the taxi fare was 100 rupees. But since you also did travel with me I feel you should share the cost. Now, now, I know we're friends and all that, but I believe in principles. Equal shares for both of us... now you should give me fifty rupees. 50% of the fare. That's fair, isn't it?"
"What! But I just gave you 100 rupees, you dumb..." burst out Mr. Mola.
"That was repayment of a loan. Now although you actually paid for the taxi it was my money, wasn't it? I lent you the full amount. Could you please give me fifty rupees so we're square? Nothing between friends, I say. All these money matters will only make it worse between us!"
Mr. Mola could recognize the logic of Mr. Jhola's demand and yet he knew that the miser was screwing him out of a hundred and fifty rupees. He thought about it for a while and gave it up in despair.
"All right, here's your fifty rupees!! But I'm finished with you!! GET OUT!"
"Thanks, Mr. Mola," said Mr. Jhola.
As he walked away from his former friend's house, he felt quite self-satisfied. Not only had he got back the hundred he'd paid for the taxi but he'd got a profit of fifty rupees as well. Although it didn't help him make too many friends, at least it paid the bills.
"Ah, well! There goes another beautiful friendship," thought Mr. Jhola sadly as he walked all the way back home to avoid paying the taxi fare.
Copyright 2005-2006 Harishankar. All rights reserved.
Last edited by harishankar : 05-31-2006 at 09:39 PM.
|
