May 15, 2006

This year, I could identify only one name that appeared on the ‘Fortune List of 500 richest’ in the world. That name belonged to my neighbour who had his flat opposite to mine on the same floor. The day his name was declared in the press and all over the TV news channels I requested for a personal audience with him. He was not too keen to see me, though. 

“Come on in” he said with disgustful voice as if I have come in dire need of some cash, perhaps to repair the water pump of our housing society. “But I suppose we have met before, somewhere, if my memory doesn’t fail me?’ 

“Exactly” I said. “I am your next door neighbour and at times take the privilege of overtaking you during our morning walks”

He laughed his hearts content. “Strange are the ways of life. We are on the same floor but seldom meet to get to know each other”

“Nothing unusual” I said. “Its 21st century and we cannot live a life of our ancestors anymore for that matter. We ought to find ways and means to become successful in whichever ways we could and not remain back home to chat with our neighbours”

“But I beg to disagree with you, Sir” he said. “At the most we must know each other by our last name if not the first. Who knows, tomorrow I may die of heart attack and you neighbours may not even know my name to call my doctor”

“But I know you very well, Sir” I said. “Your success stories are all over the news magazines. Secondly, we may be staying on the same floor, but unfortunately both of us are a class apart. You’re such a successful businessman and I remain forever a R. K. Laxman’s common man, struggling for survival. Forget about that, how did it all started?”

“Started what?” He looked at me with a blank face. I rephrased my question: “I do not think you inherited the wealth from your forefathers. According to the media you are a self made man. You started as a small time scrap dealer and today are a proud owner of a number of business ventures including steel factories, paper mills, investment companies, car dealerships, so on and so forth”

“That is called the Grace of God” he said with a great sense of satisfaction in his tone.

“I have done nothing except for some hard work. I have always respected my elders including my parents, I have all along loved my seven brothers and four sisters and their respective families. I have loved my wife of forty years as if she is an angel from above. I have loved and brought up all my children as if they are gift from Heaven”

“Exactly, that’s what I have read about you” I said. My neighbour was beaming with pleasure of spending a graceful life.  He went on narrating his life further -

“I have always believed in giving everyone their rightful due. I have paid my staff on time, at times beyond their expectations. I am giving bonus to them twice in a year – I treat the families of my workmen as my own. I give out to charities without keeping an account and without seeing the end results - may be to the orphanages, schools, old age homes, hospitals; I do not really bother from where the money comes and where it flows”

Daijiworld exclusive caricatures by Harini

“You are such a super human,” I said. He was too excited. 

“Have you seen the benches all along the beach in our vicinity? I had donated all of them for the elderly to sit and relax in the evenings. Have you seen the water coolers installed in front of our Temple Bhargavi? I had donated them so that that the worshippers get a taste of pure drinking water”. 

“You are such a noble human being” I said. “But unfortunately I hear that none of your family members stay with you. Is that right information or a piece of gossip, as usual?”

“Don’t grill me like a seasoned sting journalist” – my neighbour became sick of my question. “You will never understand the agony and ecstasy of a successful businessman unless you become one, yourself. One has to lose something to gain. My sons were becoming wayward hence I threw them out of my house. But I love my grand children so much that I send basketful of chocolates during their birthdays. My riches bit my daughters and they married the boys of their choice without my consent and I shunned them away. But I love their children and make it a point to send them priceless gifts during their birthdays” 

“But what happened to your wife, I heard she is staying with one of her brother”?

“That’s nothing new in a businessman’s life” – he said. “Many of our businessmen inherit a selfless wife and greedy brother in laws. My case was no different. My brother in laws disagreed with whatever I said and my wife supported them. I had no more patience left to digest their non-sense. One such not-so-fine day, I asked my wife to make a choice between have and have-nots. Either she will want me as her life partner or she will go along with her brothers. She opted for the second option and ever since lives with them. That’s fine with me. I want her to be happy wherever she lives and you better mark my words, gentleman, one day she is going to come back to me”

“I wish she does,” I said. “But I have a last question, How did you manage to be in the ‘Fortune List’ of 500 richest persons in the world? The income tax department records reveal that you have not paid your returns for the past three years”

The colour and the shape of my neighbor’s face changed significantly. He became furious and agitated. For the first time during our long conversation he became hysterical and mystical:  “What did you say, which list are you talking about?”

“I am talking about the ‘Fortune list of 500 richest men on earth and you are one among them!”

“Are you gone broncos?” said my neighbour in sheer desperation and his he was in tears. With folded hands he pleaded with me: 

“Please let me explain to you, Sir. I was never been a millionaire to be listed on the Fortune list. Whatever wealth I call mine today has come from my father in law who died leaving his only daughter behind, to malign my name and to black mail me every year”

“I don’t think I got you right” I said. 

“No one gets me right, including my wife and her children. Three years ago they spread similar gossip in the press listing me in the ‘Fortune list’ and I paid through my nose towards my income tax dues including a 20 years’ penalty. Now in this year they have played this dirty trick, yet again. What have I done to them to deserve this disgrace?”

As I rose to leave, he told me in a tone befitting a good neighbour – Please don’t hesitate whenever you wish to see me, after all we are good neighbours. By the way what is your first name you said?”

I told him with a pinch of salt: “In the first instance, Sir, you were never bothered to ask me, my name. But I promise I will be right here tomorrow at your door step with my business card and you will read my name printed on it.” 

“Which company you’re working, Sir?” 

“I am working for the Indian government, in the income tax office, over there, in that red bricks building, See you tomorrow.”