HIGH NET-WORTH INDIVIDUALS

Mrs. Singh has two sons. The elder one does engineering, and the younger, first-year BMS. The two sons are as different as the two poles of our globe.

Being a simple and a typical hard-working woman, Mrs. Singh had been trying desperately to inculcate in her two sons the value of hard work and money. With her 'hard-working', first son, she has succeeded. With her 'easy-going', second son, she has failed. The first one saves, the second one spends. The mother wonders ...

Yesterday, she narrated to me this story - the 'Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'.

All these years, they did not have a credit card. Surprisingly, none. Now, for certain reasons, Mrs. Singh wanted to apply for one, and the sales representative from a very reputed credit card company had come. He asked for her latest mobile bill. When he saw it, his face wore the familiar look of smelling some disgusting stuff. But, he did not mention what it was.

"Can you show me any other family member's mobile bill?" the sales guy asked. Mrs. Singh brought out her elder son's. The foul smell showed on the fellow's face, again.

Mrs. Singh did not know what was in the guy's mind. So, she asked him, "Any problem?"

"Ma'am," said the young sales guy, "your bill amounts are too small. We need bigger amounts to create a better impression."

Mrs. Singh had kept her monthly cell-phone budget below Rs. 600, and her engineering son had been prudent at Rs. 500. Obviously, that was nothing to 'show off' for your credit worthiness!

The salesman had conveyed this truth through his look.

"Oh! I see," exclaimed Mrs. Singh, "Is that so?" Then, she quickly rushed into her room to pick up something. "Is this okay to leave a good impression?" she handed over the paper to the sales guy. "Perhaps, this may provide me the required credit worthiness."

The latest cell-phone bill of her 'cool' younger son was Rs. 4,200!

"Yes! This is something!" jumped the sales guy. "Your work is done."

"Thank you my young friend for all the effort you have taken, and all the knowledge you have given," said Mrs. Singh to the excited sales guy. "You may keep your credit card with you ... I am happy this way."

The 'High Net-worth Tycoon' was my student. Last evening, his 'low net-worth mother' narrated to me this story - the 'Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani' - while enrolling her son in my class.

Her husband had been bedridden for years, and she had been struggling to keep their family afloat ...

And, to bring the the two poles of her globe together.


GERALD D'CUNHA

P.S.: She had made it very clear to her sons, that - they had to 'earn' their money to pay their phone bills. My student had to work like a true 'tycoon' ... to impress his mother, and the phone company.

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