POOR RICH GUY

What we see is not always true. We have first impressions, which turn out to be very different from the truth.

One of the training programs turned out to be a personal tuition program for me. About four candidates, were selected in an interview. Three of them did not turn up for the training. Only one did. Therefore, I was stuck up with the lone student.

His name was Rajendra Kumar, similar to that of the silver jubilee star of Hindi cinema. He was from Gurgaon, near Delhi. He had a sad story to tell. His father had borne two sons, through his mother. When the children were about eight years old, he fell in love with another young woman. In her love, he deserted   his family, refusing to support them in any way.

 The mother and two sons stayed with the maternal grandmother. His mother had to do work hard to support her sons. They had lived a frugal life. In the meantime, the sons grew up and managed to graduate, amidst hardships. His father did not look them up even once during those years.

I felt sad for the boy and the needless trauma he had been through, because of an irresponsible father.

While he was narrating the gloomy tale, I noticed that he was wearing an elegant deep grey shirt. But it was not the right time to appreciate a shirt. I kept quiet about it.

The tuition went on for 10 days. He was an average student. His performance was just about OK. It was a challenge to be continuously optimistic about his presentation.  

Finally the last day of the training came. He was wearing the same shirt. Now I could not contain myself. I asked him, “That is a wonderful shirt. Where did you get it? “

He said, “In Chennai sir.”

It was a branded shirt. I asked him, “How much does it cost?”

“Rs.2500, sir,“ he said.

I was surprised. I asked, “It is costly, how could afford it? You said you came from a poor family’”

He smiled. “ Yes sir. However, we had some family property; about 4 acres of agricultural fields in Gurgoan.  They were worthless. One day the government wanted to convert these wastelands into an industrial area. They wanted to acquire these lands for that purpose. They offered a good price for it. So we sold it to the government. “

I asked, “ How much money you got for the lands?”

I was least prepare for the answer. He said, “ Rs. One crore. “

I sat upright in my seat. “One crore?” I exclaimed.  “Then why did you choose to come for this ordinary job? You could have done some business.”

He said, “ I tried, my hand at catering. I lost some money, about Rs.25000. I want to enter into pharmaceutical business. I need this job to pick up experience.”  I felt it was a good move; A step in the right direction. I wished him all the best in the new venture.

The training ended. He left for his hometown. He resigned the job, without even working for a single day. He could afford to do that. After all, he had enough money for his entire life time.

 I felt bad about having invested 10 demanding days with a student, who did not even care to gain a day’s experience. However, no complains from me. I too, was paid to do my job.

Had it not been for money and the compensation it offers, none of us would do many things we do not care for.

Money is a great leveler. If you have enough of it, you can live life the way you want to. If you do not, you will be writing such blogs.