A Phony Story

This is the story of a boy who lost his cellphone. He left it at a tea stall as if it were a hanky. Let's not blame him. He forgets a conversation by the end of it. Now, there were about 10 people who saw it on the table.
Being utterly jobless, they had a round table conference with the stall owner. The question raised was " Who is to keep it? ".....no no.....they were extremely honest people...... The debate was on " Who is to keep it till the boy comes along to claim it back? ".Since each of them trusted his neighbour like India trusts Pakistan, they decided after numerous debates that Panditji was the most respectable of them all. He was chosen for safekeeping the hanky (that costs Rs 4000)

2 days later, the boy came around to claim it. The owner explained the matter to him and asked him to come in the evening when the Panditji will be available. In the evening, the boy came back and waited anxiously like a would be father in a nursing home waiting room. You get the picture. And then on the horizon, riding like Arwen in LOTR, he came riding atop his trusty steed manufactured by Atlas Cycles.Believe it or not, the priest(M.A. , PhD Hindi) INTERROGATED the boy. After satisfying himself and the audience that assembled there, he proceeded without preamble " Now, don't worry, you will get your cell, but there is the small matter of the compensation ". Let me repeat COMPENSATION AKA money. Of course, being virtuous does have its advantages; spiritual and monetary ones both. The boy was shocked. But he agreed and took out a Rs 50 note. No can do. The alleged godman said he wouldn't accept money but he will accept Rs 100 worth sweets(courtesy: The tea stall). This done, the boy and godman left to the latter's home to claim the cell waiting for him.

Upon reaching there through a maze/slum which will not survive 2 hrs of rain, the priest and his hospitality left the boy stunned. Tea, a strong dosage of "shudh hindi" and some more of those Rs 100 sweets later, the boy bid adieu to the family which politely invited him for the next day's festival. Accompanied on the way back by the Panditji, the boy was casually wondering to what levels of grime can a religious man stoop when the Panditji remarked " Go on ahead to the tea stall, I'll just have a cigarette and come there "

Case closed. I am never gonna lose my cell again. And even if I do I am never ever gonna go to reclaim it. Who knows what kinda weirdo I might meet......Maybe a dog lover who eats his pets......or a 10 yr old who is coal mafia don.......