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Monday, September 14, 2009

How conscious are we?


An incident that happened recently made me to write this article. Money is the basic reason for most of the crimes. What is a crime? Crimes doesn't include only robbery or murder, Cheating people for money is also a crime (My own definition). Don't understand? Read this and you will understand the reason behind my definition of Crime.

Three days back, a carpenter came home for doing some wood works. It would have taken just half a day and can be done involving 2 person's. But the carpenter brought 4 person's to assist him. I also asked him to change the lock of the wooden cupboard. After finishing all the works, he came to me.

Carpenter (C) : Madam, the installation of the cupboards is Rs.1,500, new doors for the cup-boards is Rs.2,000, also you have asked me to change the locks of the old cupboard, it costs Rs.200. We are totally 5 member's, give Rs.100 for each and total service charge of Rs.1,000. Totally, give Rs.5,200.

I was astounded by the money he asked. I understood he is trying to cheat me thinking I don't know anything about his work.

Me : What? Rs.5,200? That's costly. We have got the cupboards and the doors and you just installed them using some screws. Apart from individual installation charges you are asking service charge too! This can be done with couple of person's. But you brought 5! Did I ask you to bring 5 of your associates? Also I need the bill of the new lock you changed.

C : Madam...... Its a nominal charge. In these area, people generally don't ask bills and also they won't mind giving this amount. Thinking all that I didn't get the bill.

Me : I need the bill sir, you go and get them.

He went away and came with the bill in another 15minutes. The bill also displayed the same amount Rs.200. I thought he would have asked the shop-keeper to put the amount in the bill. So I called the shop and asked the price of the lock. You know what? The reply of the shop-keeper proved that my instinct about this man's deed was correct. The shop-keeper who attended my call told me the cost of the lock was Rs.75!

Me : See you also increased the price of the lock whose original cost is Rs.75. Even if it was Rs.100 I would have given you. But you wanted an amount larger than the price of the lock. So, what shall we do now?

C : Madam, you are trying to cheat me! You pay me Rs. 5200 immediately and am leaving.

Me : ATROCIOUS. Wait, you can't leave as such. I need a detailed bill in the written format and mind you, I won't give you the price you asked for your associate. Also, mention the price of the lock as Rs.75.

He started cursing me and even told abusive words thinking that I will fight with him and taking that as an advantage, he wanted to get the money from me. I understood his intentions and asked him to write the bill. I also told him that my dad will file these papers for Income Tax. He was literally shaken by my words and started writing the bill. I thought he will reduce the prices. He took a plain paper and started writing. He also took a copy of the bill for his reference and asked me to sign in both the bills after paying the money. I was gaping after seeing the bill. It was just Rs.925! Where's Rs.5,200 and Rs.925? I was about to lose nearly 5times of money if it had not been instinct to question him!

What you call this? Now are you agreeing to my definition of crime? Since I tried managing the situation I didn't lose the money to that trickster. Daily hundred's of people are being cheated in one way or the another. How many of them are conscious or aware of these? Cheating is a primordial economic act: getting more for less. This cheating is not only with respect to money. It is done in every possible form. Why do they do this? Everything is for money. My blogging friend Bharathi wrote an article on these Money Fetishes, it covers all these in detail. I quoted this incident only to showcase how people are trying to cheat us and tries to earn money in a wrong way.

They who are of the opinion that Money will do everything, may very well be suspected to do everything for Money.

People value money more than anything in this materialistic world. I too accept that we need money for leading a normal life. But why cant we avoid earning the money in a wrong way? We all are helping them to earn money. Why can't we stop this? Its our own money, hard earned money. Why should we give it to people who are earning in fraudulent ways? Instead we can give it to people who strives for a single piece of bread. Everyone earns money hardly and it is not reared from a tree.


Last but not the least,

No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs back. Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night.

It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's too good to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy.

What say guys?

With Love,







Image Courtesy : GOOGLE Images.

83 comments:

Madman said...

Way to go shruthi. I would have done the samething. you gotte be street smart to survive in this bid bad world. I hate manipulation even if it is as small as a card game. BTw the pic of the person plucking money ellanm remba over, ivalo symbolic thevaya :)

Shruti said...

yes! Its our own money and we are the ones who have to be street smart and protect ourselves!
panam marathula kaikaadhu nu solla vendaama :P

Unknown said...

money speaks...everywhere...u know even we cannot goto a temple peacefully... everywhere money... i also thought of writing a similar incident.. got pissed off... will write about it soon.. nice post...

Shruti said...

@Shankz!
You are right! Money speaks everywhere! Temple stuff is also very true!!
Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

You really taught him a lesson.very well done i must say!

Shilpa

Shruti said...

@Shilpa
hope he doesn't repeat the same with everyone!

Amit Kumar Singh said...

Very nice post... :)

Really, it's happening everywhere.....
It is bound to happen in money driven society, devoid of ethics and morality...
Here, we are witnessing such form at smaller level but at a bigger level(judiciary and political), it becomes a complete disaster...

Cheers!!

Shruti said...

@Amit
Thanks yaar!
Since it is happening in smaller levels we are able to question them, before our eyes such havoc's happen in political and judiciary levels. Are we able to question them? NO, WE CAN'T!!

Pramoda Meduri said...

HI Shruti,

well done...both for the post and for the presence of mind in that incident ..

And i liked ur quotes on money ..very well said shruti..

Shruti said...

@pramoda
Hi :)
Thank you so much!
Those quotes are really thought provoking!!

kaka said...

here way back when i was in my 1st year of engg when my friend had fever ,the doctor told us to get an x-ray done.....u can see how much they are trying to exploit.....:)...nice quotes

Shruti said...

@Kaka
Yes, the doctor's profession is very noble, but these days doctors use their Noble Profession
Thank you :)

Aditya Kasavaraju said...

Well done Shruti ! I am proud of you and proud of your post too :)

The other day I was going in a auto in a regular route and half way i saw the meter showing me 60 rs when it should have been not more than 35 or so. I stopped the auto and asked him abt it.. and he became rude. I did the best thing , I walked away and he came behind me.........till near the police station when he took a right turn ;)

Shruti said...

@Aditya
Aditya is proud of me! That's really something!! Thanks!!
In your place the auto has a meter and it shows wrong value's, if you are in chennai, you would've had an heart-attack after listening to their fare's, further they don't have meter :P

Mustaf said...

Hi:-)

The way u handled the situation was a lesson for me, will certainly use it whenever required henceforth :-)

And those last lines "It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's too good to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy"..this is the reality of life which we often forget..no words..just absorbing it..

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

In some circles if you have money you have everything, but money is not everything in life......at least not in my opinion.

Yvonne.

pRiYaN...! said...

bravo shruti !!

-bluffmaster
www.gr8bluffmaster.blogspot.com

Shruti said...

@Mustaf,
Hi,welcome to my blog :)
Great that someone learnt a lesson from my writings!
Yes those last words convey the true meaning of life!
Glad that you liked it!

Keep Visiting and Keep Smiling!

Shruti said...

@Yvonne
Hi :)
Very aptly said - money is not everything in life
There are many more :)

Shruti said...

@Priyan
Hi :)
Glad till you don't call me as dumbo :)

Aditya Kasavaraju said...

I lived in chennai for 9 years my dear. Dont I know? :P

I once took a auto guy to valsarvakkam police station :D

Shruti said...

@Aditya
Lived in chennai for 9years! Oh migh!
I once took a auto guy to valsarvakkam police station
Then each auto must carry a sign

ATTENTION AUTO DRIVERS:
BEWARE OF ADITYA! HE MAY TAKE YOU TO COPS!

Aditya Kasavaraju said...

hehehhee

Shruti said...

@Aditya
Lolzz :P

Sathish Chandrasekaran (àźšàź€ீàź·் àźšàźš்àź€ிàź°àźšேàź•àź°àź©்) said...

"Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night"

Bang on Shruthi :)
For me this is one of the best posts from u :)

keep blogging :)
cheers!!!!

Shruti said...

@Sathish
Hi :)
""For me this is one of the best posts from u :)""
Wowwwww!! you left me gaping!!
Thank you so much sathish :)

Soin said...

when theres need theres evolution.so how does it matter if people are stupid enough to get cheated.if you dont care about your own money why should he..you can say you cheat yourself when you go lazy and just pay what he asks..free

Shruti said...

@soin
Welcome,
""if you dont care about your own money why should he""
Very good question! But how many of us are aware of all these and try to rectify ourselves and save our money!
Very Few!
""when you go lazy and just pay what he asks""
How can i install all those shelves which should be done by a carpenter?
Even if they do those works,charging nominal amount is okay! but it shouldn't be sky-rocketing!

Keep Smiling

Neha said...

nice one shruti...first time on ur blog, and I gotta see strength of a woman...ahem ahem, cool...whatever you did was perfect...thank u for sharing..

I keep saying, "money talks, mine always says goodbye", but I think I can only change this, what say..:)

Anonymous said...

That was too much.. he was asking for 5200? you did a great job gal.. good you taught him a lesson.. Even I cannot understand why ppl try to make money thru wrong methods? great post!! :)

Benny said...

A thoughtful post! Nice msg indeed :)

Siddhesh Kabe said...

Oh wow....cheating happens in North and South too much...

In pune... u pay the shopkeeper...and d person coming will not charge anything...

but nice one...good going...

Shruti said...

@neha
Hi girlie :)
Yes he was trying to fool me by thinking i may not know about anything! But why should we be an illiterate! So just taught him,girls aren the the way they think!

Thanks for Visiting!

Shruti said...

@Ashwini
Yes! Why do they want to earn money in a wrong way! Stil its a question that remains unanswered!!

Thank you :)

Shruti said...

@Benny
Hi :)
Thanks :)

Shruti said...

@SiD
Hi:)
Cheating people happens everywhere! Its not whether they are in north or south!!

""nice one...good going...""
Thanks a ton!

Bharathi said...

I appreciate your courage in countering this fraud guy. People should understand earning money by honest means not only satisfy their material benefits but also gives valuable lessons of life. Dishonest practices will give more money (no doubt about it) but they will miss the experiences that are more valuable than money. I am happy that you understood the importance of earning money in honest means.

Shruti said...

@Bharathi
Hi :)
People should understand,but when will they realise that looting other's money for their sake will not yearn anything for them?
Even if we earn a single penny in a honest manner, we will have a goodnight's sleep rather than longing for that sleep by earning crores of money in a wrong way!!

Ekam said...

Wolla!!! *CLAPS CLAPS*
very good .. :)

Shruti said...

@Ekam
Heehheeh :P
Thank you!!

Yellow Tulip said...

nice blog dear:)...enjoyed the story..beautiful and very important msg too:)

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Damn good U stood up and put a fight! Nothing worse than being conned and left unable to do a thing against it!

Cheerio!!!

Btw, many thanks for your visit and comments in my space! Appreciate it!

Shruti said...

@yellow tulip
Hi :)
Welcome to my blog!!
Thank you so much for your appreciations!

Shruti said...

@Rakesh
Hi :)
Welcome to mu blog!!
Yes we have to others that we too have something in our brain!

You have a nice blog and will visit often!

Bharathi said...

They will understand when everyone starte questioning like you :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm impressed with the way you handled the situation and

nice post! :)

Shruti said...

@Bharathi
I don't think they will question!
I saw a lady recently in a bus stand. She wanted to reach a destination and asked an auto man.
You know what? She paid 150rupees from W.Mambalam to ashok nagar!!
She paid it without questioning him!
He drove after smirking at everyone standing there!

Anonymous said...

You taught him a lesson he would never forget...hehe..
great going...
On another note: u r a "Jagruk upbhokta"....

(and never think I don't read ur blog... It is just I was writing my newest blog entry..)

Shruti said...

@kasabian girl
Thanks yaar!

Shruti said...

@RSV
:)
What you mean by ""Jagruk upbhokta""
I don't know hindi!

Carry on with your new post! Cheers!!

Swaram said...

N these ppl think we r fools to nod our head @ whatever they say!!!!! Ridiculous!

Been thru this many times .. it starts rt from these auto drivers! Gosh! they demand 100, 200 ... as though the money plant really yields that!

Glad u did make him reduce the bill! Wonder hw much money he wud hv made this way!

Anonymous said...

It means
enlightened customer...

Shruti said...

@Swaram
Yes!!
all these are atrocious! Auto drivers in chennai make every possible way to scrap the money from customer!

He would have got money from many, cos he was wearing everything in Gold..

Shruti said...

@RSV
thanks for enlightening this enlightened customer!

Prashansa said...

You are so right Shruti! We earn money hard way and should not give it to these cheaters! Cheating is a crime!!

Shruti said...

@Pra
Glad that you accepted my definition of crime

Soin said...

by lazy i meant paying without enquiring and all..and if one is not aware of it he doesnt deserve any sympathy when he cries foul..free

Shruti said...

@Soin
true :)

Prashansa said...

Hey Shruti, Just found a blog with all 55 fictions and name 55 fiction. Just check it out if you like...
http://fifty5fiction.blogspot.com/

Shruti said...

@Pra
will check out now!

BK Chowla, said...

Yes,it is money all the way.Though I agree that we must not allow such incidents to take place,but we must also realise that the entire environment is corrupted.Everyone,reads and sees the figures one is talking about....it is not in thousunds...not in laks..now it is Crores.Every carpenter wants to be rich as he sees that behind every successful man ,there is a crime otherwise how can one suddenly a millionaire?

Shruti said...

@Chowla ji
""behind every successful man ,there is a crime otherwise how can one suddenly a millionaire?""

Very true! What can be done as a single human being!

Indian Pundit said...

Hey Shruti

Great post yaar.

You are right when u said:

They who are of the opinion that Money will do everything, may very well be suspected to do everything for Money.

No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs back. Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night.

i also loved the fact that u stopped that rascal from cheating u.

We need to be conscious all the time in this big bad world!

Shruti said...

@IP
Thanks for sparing your time on my blog!
Also glad that you liked this post!

""We need to be conscious all the time in this big bad world!""
YES! you are right!

Indian Pundit said...

Hey Shruti

hmmmm......this blog is too awesome .......

Shruti said...

@IP
This post or the blog??

Indian Pundit said...

Both!

Shruti said...

@IP
so only u read it after my information eh?!
Anyways thanks :)

Indian Pundit said...

Shruti wrote:

"so only u read it after my information eh?!"

Actually i am speechless by ur writing most of the time......lol

Shruti said...

Punditji always find a method to answer my queries! This is one among them!

Aditya Kasavaraju said...

Check out my latest ;)

Shruti said...

@Aditya
Sure :)

Happybirdie said...

congrats dear for all thz awards:)
keep blogging,now u hv a new follower in me.
take care

Shruti said...

@Happy Birdie
Thanks for following me!!

HaRy!! said...

Hey ya...sorry for the late comment...quite busy lately...romba aniyayam pa ithelam...but yu know why they charge like this? bcos there are corners of people who are so ignorant and do not realise the value of money. Also yu shud hav seen so many ppl who earn more than what they shud have, so they just pay up whatever the charge is!but am proud for yu, to have stood up and spoken.

HaRy

Shruti said...

@Hary
yaaro onsite la velaye illa nu sonanga!
Yarupa adhu?!
:P

Yes very true! Certain sect of people don't know the real value of money! But because of them, everybody is affected :)

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Shruti, way to go.... give in to these people and we get cheated.... I have been fighting with the ricks guys for quite some time now... on the same grounds...

good going
PNA

Shruti said...

@Pins N Ashes
Hi :)
Welcome to my space :)
Yes, if we don't react the moment, we will end up being cheated!

Thanks :)
Keep Visiting!

HaRy!! said...

he he busy nu sonene...athu office work nu solave ilaye :)!! sema bore inga...but was not able to use blogger at home..as was busy at home...atha than sonen :)!! seri seri free ah vidu

Shruti said...

Seri free ya vitachu!!

The Aspirant said...

i completely agree with you.....nd is dat d real incident..if yes.....den i hv to keep an eye on payments like dis coz i nvr question any1 lyk dat......
gud wrk of awareness.....

Shruti said...

@The Aspirant
Yes be careful. Lookout for cheaters!!
Thanks :)

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