Babuji was considered the wisest and most farsighted man in the village. People often said that if he offered advice on any matter, half the problem was already solved. However, when it came to his own son Brijesh, even Babuji’s wisdom sometimes seemed to fail.
Brijesh was good at studies, but he was fascinated by the dream of becoming rich quickly. After college, he decided to launch a startup with his friend. Babuji warned him not to take such a big step without proper planning, but Brijesh confidently replied, “In today’s world, risk is the key to success.”
In the beginning, the business did fairly well. Then suddenly, a new competitor entered the market. Their customers began to decrease. Expenses kept rising while income shrank. Brijesh believed that investing a little more money would fix everything. He even put the family’s savings into the business.
Babuji repeatedly advised, “Move slowly, son. Don’t make hasty decisions.” But Brijesh trusted his own judgment more. Within a few months, the situation worsened to the point where they had to shut down the company. Bank loans piled up, and their savings were gone.
One day, Brijesh sat quietly at home, lost in thought. Babuji came and said gently, “I tried to stop you, but now is not the time for regret.” There was no anger in his voice, only pain. Brijesh’s eyes filled with tears.
That day, Brijesh realized that dreaming big is not wrong, but running without a plan can be dangerous. He began searching for a job again and slowly worked to rebuild his life.
Babuji would quietly smile when he saw Brijesh working hard, often saying, “Money comes and goes, but experience stays with you.”
Today, whenever Brijesh hears young people talking about getting rich overnight, he smiles and remembers that Babuji was right. A little caution at the right time could have saved him from standing helplessly, wringing his hands in regret.
RAJEEV VERMA 