Twisted

“Oh god, I really look like a fool”. Nalin thought. He was right; it was really odd. Because it was 2 O clock in the afternoon and he was in a park looking for a beggar. Other than him there were only a few cleaners there. There was a reason for him being there.

On the previous day he went there with his dad for the first time, Ratnakar, the owner of RK group of industries. And while talking they started arguing on a matter. The problem was a clichéd one. Nalin runs an old age home, Kripa, just outside the city limits. Since Ratnakar believes that the place will be part of the city skirts in 2 or 3 years he wanted to build a Shopping complex there. On the next day he was going to sign a deal with a Korean company who will be his partners in building that shopping complex. He was not even ready to give Nalin another place to run the old age home.

“Why are you doing this dad, for money? Can’t you see - how many people are going to be affected by your action?”

Ratnakar smiled at his son as he is looking at a three year old son crying for a toy.

“You are right son, I can’t see that and I don’t have to because unlike you I am not a social activist. I am a business man. You have seen race horses right, their eyes will covered partially, so they will not get distracted, they will be having one aim , one business, one target. A business man is also like that he should only see the target, which is profit; If he gets distracted he will lose. “

Nalin was tired, arguing to his father every day for one or the other reason, and even after these years he was not able to correct his father. He was baffled.

“You are right you were always looking at profit, that’s why you failed to notice that you are left with nothing but money, no friends, no relatives. This attitude of yours even caused mom to leave us, and I am too leaving you now dad, forever. And remember one thing dad, profit of yours is somebody else’s loss,  your gain is somebody’s pain. What you earn from other’s pain is not going to be eternal”.

Nalin took off.  Ratnakar was also about to leave. It was at that time he heard

“He is right you know, Don’t lose him too, call him back"

Ratnakar looked back. There was some one standing behind him, a man in his mid-sixties.

 “Really?” . He thought because the guy looked like a beggar, his dress was torn here and there “last thing I want now is an advice from a beggar!!”. 

He started leaving. But the beggar said

“Hey sir, don’t leave, listen to me. I know I look like a beggar and I am one, but I was not. A year back, I was like you, a business man. My life was good till my partner cheated me and took all my wealth. Then only I understood that I was standing alone, no friends, no family. You don’t want to end up like that, do you? ”.

Ratnakar was appalled hearing all this. He could not believe what he heard. He thought somebody is making fun of him after hearing the conversation between him and his son.  But next thing the man said shocked him more

“And don’t demolish that old age home, you might need an asylum when you become like me or can you live in the streets like me?”. He laughed loudly and ran away.

Long story short, Ratnakar was terrified and he cancelled the dea. He told everything to Nalin and asked him to take the beggar to old age home. Nalin fianlly found the beggar finally and told him

“your speech yesterday made my father change his decision; thank you for that”

Nalin handed over a cover to him and said.

“you don’t need to act as a beggar any more. Change the dress, our plan has succeeded”.

And they started laughing!