The Alert Neighbour!
Kalyansingh’s arrogance meets the wit of a clever guest, revealing the unexpected value of his late-night antics in a charming South Indian courtyard.
Kalyansingh found happiness not only in hoarding money but also in causing as much difficulty to others as possible. At night, he would open his doors, chests, and almirahs, shutting them again and again with loud thuds. He would call his dog, provoking it to bark, and repeatedly summon his servant for no reason whatsoever. He knew well that his nocturnal activities disturbed the sleep of his neighbors, which gave him a twisted sense of satisfaction.
One day, his nearest neighbor hosted a guest who could not sleep due to the noise. In the morning, he learned about Kalyansingh from his host. At an opportune moment, the guest greeted Kalyansingh and said, “I yearned to meet the noble neighbor to whom everyone feels so grateful!”
“Grateful to me? What for?” asked Kalyansingh, quite surprised. “You remain awake and alert at night. No thief or burglar dares to enter this locality. Your neighbors feel so safe!” replied the guest.
From that day onward, nobody heard Kalyansingh making any noise at night.