(AI generated translation of वह रहस्यमय बूढ़ा)

by Shikha Tailang

Meanwhile, a poor man came out of the crowd, he pushed the old man and snatched his bundle. The old man and the crowd present there were stunned by this sudden incident. The poor man tried to make the old man fall by pushing him again. In this pushing and shoving, the old man’s fake beard slipped from his face. The cloak on his head slipped.

The poor man said – Hey! Jamnalal sahab, the owner of Agarwal Group!

On hearing this, the old man got a little confused and asked the poor man – Who are you, I have never seen you in this slum before. How did you recognize me?

The poor man said – Hey sir! Who doesn’t know you? I am Manoj, a journalist of Dainik Khulasa. I have done reporting about Agarwal Group many times, but this is the first time I have seen you disguised like this and coming to this slum at midnight. What is this Jamnalal sahab!

Stunned by this new incident, Jamnalal Sahab after some time regained his composure and said – Manoj, this is a secret. I will tell you in private. Let me finish my work first. Give me my bundle.

After this Manoj handed over that heavy bundle to Jamnalal Saheb. Jamnalal Saheb opened it. Then he started calling out to the people present there and giving them gifts. Some got cash, some got sarees, some got kurtas, some got medicines, some got sweets! People from the slum would come and go after blessing Jamnalal Saheb. This work of distributing gifts continued for about half an hour.

Then when the crowd dispersed and the silence of the night started deepening, Jamnalal Saheb took Manoj to a secluded place near the temple of the slum and then started telling him – Manoj, you have caught me red-handed. But I have one request do not discuss this incident too much. Actually, since childhood, I have had the feeling of serving the poor and helpless people and I have also suffered a life full of deprivation. Hence I can understand the pain and suffering of these slum dwellers. When I had established my business well, I decided that I would distribute ten per cent of my income among the poor and the deprived. If such donations become a topic of discussion, then what is the use of it? Hence, I took the initiative of making this secret donation on the nights of Amavasya. I hope you have understood what I am saying.

Manoj said – You are great. I am a fan of your charity. If capable people like you adopt such charity, then society will start benefiting and new examples of humanity and progress will be established.

Jamnalal said – Manoj society gives us wealth and prosperity. Hence, we must take from it and return something to it. I do not think it is right to live only for oneself, to spend one’s wealth on one’s luxuries.

Now, having understood the whole matter, Manoj returned home filled with new energy and he called Ram Gopal and briefly explained to him about the gathering held every Amavasya night in the slum. But during this conversation, neither the name of Agrawal Group nor that of Jamnalal Saheb was taken. After all, he had to follow the duty of a journalist to maintain confidentiality.

Moral of the story: Whatever wealth we get from society, a part of it must be used for social work.

(Fictional story)