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Buddhuram and Buddhilal (A moral story) By- Shah Pravinchandra Kasturchand I am a B.Com. graduate from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, of 1957 batch. I have worked in diverse capacities like Teacher, Accountant, Sole Proprietor, Building Contractor etc...all for sustaining life. All the time heart remained attached to WORDS. I have a feel and confident one that writing, mainly poems, is my religion. The other side is my ignorance of academic side of English Literature as such, literary dignitories of present time and their contribution to literature. I am sorry for this but this does not come in my way. I have little to cling to from them and therefore I am more dependent on self alone. My companions are my friends who read me and feed back me. I express my sincere thanks to them. Shah Pravinchandr is facilitating sawf with material for building a children section. He invites all others interested to join his efforts.

There was a town named Buddhidham. In that town was a shopkeeper called Buddhilal. In his shop Buddhilal sold most of the merchandise required by the people of the town. For helping him in his work he had engaged the services of a man, named Buddhuram. Buhhduram was honest and sincere in his work and never disobeyed his boss's instructions. At the same time, he was an innocent and a fool as well.

Once Buddhilal invited some guests over at his home and was not able to attend to the shop for some time. He called Buddhuram for help.
"Buddhuram, I have guests at home so for some time I will be away from the shop while I attend to them."
"Okay, shethji." Buddhuram reassured his master.

Shethji further instructed him, "Now all you have to do is keep your eyes fixed on the windows and the cash box in the shop".
"Okay shethji" replied Buddhuram.

Then shethji left for home to attend the guests. And Buddhuram quickly went to work. He kept a vigilant eye on the windows and the cash box in the shop just as his master had told him to.
A few minutes later Buddhuram"s friend Phoolchand came to visit him.
"Buddhuram, I have some work in the bazaar. I need your help in my work." Phoolchand insisted
"I cannot come with you." Buddhuram said
"Why?" asked Phoolchand impatiently.
"Shethji has asked me to keep my eyes fixed on the windows and the cash box in the shop so I can"t leave this place till he is back." replied Buddhuram.
"Oh, that is not a serious problem! Just let us bring out the windows from the wall and carry them with us. I will put the windows on my head and you keep the cash box safely in your hands. On the road to bazaar, you continue to keep your eyes fixed on the windows on my head and cash box in your hands." Phoolchand suggested.

Buddhuram, though reluctant, was relieved from the worry and happy to help his friend in his time of need. He took the windows out of the wall placed them on Phoolchand"s head and he himself took the cash box in his hands and started for the bazaar. Everything seemed to go according to the plan.

Soon after some time Buddhilal returned to the shop and found Buddhuram gone from the shop with cash box. The shop was without any windows which really puzzled him. But before Buddhilal could do anything about it, he saw Buddhuram returning with windows on his head and the cash box.

Buddhilal now really upset started yelling at Buddhuram and scolded him severely. But simpleton Buddhuram could not understand why shethji had been so angry with him.
"Where had you gone?" yelled Buddhuram"s master.
Still confused Buddhuram innocently replied " To the bazaar, with my friend, Phoolchand."
" Why did you disobey my orders?" Buddhilal shouted now extremely angry.
"You never told me not to go to the bazaar," replied Buddhuram. "I have not done any thing against your orders" he further said.
"But why did you take out the windows from wall and the cash box from the shop?" asked Buddhilal who was now enraged.
"If I hadn't taken out the windows from wall and taken cash box with me, how could I keep my eyes fixed on the windows and the cash box? That was your order and I have fully obeyed it, didn't I?" clarified Buddhuram.
"O God, What to do with this man?" Buddhilal muttered under his breath and fell silent.

The Moral of the Story is Loud and Clear: Keep in the company of wise and practical people who will use common sense. Even if honest, sincere and obedient, such fools like Buddhuram should be kept away.

Credits:

• Graphics by Suruchi Thakur

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