In our town, Lala Badriprasad was famous for his stinginess and strictness. At his grocery shop, he kept a sharp eye on everything—from the weighing scale to the person holding it. He often declared, “Not a single grain should go missing from this shop.” One day, he hired a new servant named Bhola.
Though his name meant “innocent,” there was a clear spark of intelligence in his eyes.
On the very first day, Lala Ji tried to intimidate him. “If even a single penny goes missing in the accounts, I’ll cut off your ears!” he warned sternly. Bhola bowed his head respectfully and replied, “Yes, master,” but smiled quietly to himself. He quickly realized that his employer relied more on fear than fairness.
A few days later, Bhola came up with a plan. He hung a board outside the shop that read: Special Discount Today – Limited Time Only. Customers flocked to the store. Items that had been gathering dust for months suddenly sold like hotcakes. By evening, the cash box was fuller than it had been in a long time.
When Lala Ji returned and saw the crowd, he was stunned. “What is going on here?” he demanded anxiously. Bhola replied confidently, “Master, I’m increasing sales.” That night, when the accounts were tallied, the profit exceeded expectations. Lala Ji felt pleased—but as soon as he remembered the discount sign, his forehead wrinkled with anger.
“Who told you to offer discounts?” he asked sharply.
Calmly, Bhola answered, “Master, you said that if even a penny went missing, you’d cut off my ears. I thought if sales increased, there would be no question of any shortage.”
For a few moments, Lala Ji was speechless. For the first time, he realized that wisdom works better than fear. Soon the story spread through the neighborhood that Bhola had outfoxed his master—without even lifting a finger.
After that day, Lala Ji’s attitude softened a little, and Bhola’s salary received a well-deserved raise.
RAJEEV VERMA 