Gerald D'Cunha

E verybody around us is not sly, not cunning. But, some are. Many a times, I get carried away by others’ sweet talk. I also trust them easily. Doubting what others say, reading between their lines, decoding their intentions… all these don’t come to me naturally. So, there are times – not too many though – I get foxed! That’s the time, I remind myself, “Hey champ, get smarter like the Rooster who saw a wild pack of dogs coming!” O ne day, a Rooster, perched on the branch of a high tree, was crowing aloud. A hungry Fox heard this and decided to have this Rooster for his meal. Thus, the sly Fox came near the tree and said in a sweet voice, “Hi dear! Have you heard the good news? The new Treaty of Harmony has been just proclaimed by our King. Accordingly, we all are going to live here as fine friends, without causing any harm to each other. So, please come down dear; rest assured, we will be good friends… and, we can spend a good t...

Some time back, a friend of mine was driven to the wall. He had used all his strength to fight his battles ... Financially, the times were tough for him; it seemed, that all the taps, suddenly, had dried up. Then, like an oasis in the desert, came a substantially big assignment, all from the blue. And, he saw the proverbial silver lining. The task was performed by my friend, to the best of his abilities. And then, came the 'invisible' enemy, again ... as if to frustrate my friend to death. They held up his fees, and started harassing him. My friend, first tried all the gentle ways - the noble paths. Then, he attacked them bluntly, ruthlessly. He spoke to them with the 'most straight forward' language he he could ever do ... and, after that, told them - "Now, do what you like ... To hell with my fees." Within two days, the phone rang. The guy on the other end informed my friend politely, "We will courier your cheque in two days." No 'ifs' and ...