The Grutch of Lies
Introduction
Ramji was not only wealthy but also a man of conscience. The people of his region loved and praised him for his sense of judgment.
The Sons
Ramji had three young sons: Jagan, the eldest; Gopi, the second; and Ranganath, the youngest. Jagan and Gopi assisted their father in all his endeavors, constantly on the move, supervising the various farms and orchards. However, Ranganath never concerned himself with the family affairs. He was extremely fond of music and sang charmingly. When he wasn’t practicing music, he engaged in philanthropic work, showing little interest in earning money.
A Father’s Understanding
Ramji recognized Ranganath’s good nature and, therefore, did not pressure him to change his ways. Whenever the opportunity arose, Gopinath would lament, “How is it, Father, that you do not scold Rangu? He spends extravagantly but never contributes to the household!” Jagan, on the other hand, reassured their father, saying, “Don’t worry about Rangu. I assure you that as long as I am fit, he won’t suffer for lack of anything. He is devoted to music and philanthropy. Let him continue in that vein.” Jagan’s words eased Ramji’s worries about Ranganath.
A Sudden Tragedy
Days passed smoothly until one afternoon, Ramji’s sense of peace was shattered when he saw Gopinath getting off a cart with the help of his friend, Shankar. Gopinath was limping.
“What is the matter?” Ramji asked, concerned.
“Gopinath fell from the embankment near your orchard and was injured. I took him to the physician, who said that the fracture in Gopi’s bone is irreparable. He can only walk with a crutch for the rest of his life,” reported Shankar.
“It can’t be so. I will take him to the city and arrange for proper treatment,” Ramji declared.
“There is no use, Father,” Gopinath mumbled. “I understand from what the physician said that any treatment would only result in more suffering. Better to set aside the money you would like to spend on my treatment. When the property is divided among us, give me that money in addition to my share. That would be a great help to me, given my current state.” Gopinath broke down.
An Injustice
Ramji looked at Gopinath for a moment before leaving. A month later, news spread that Ramji was planning to divide his property among his sons. On the appointed day, many villagers gathered on the veranda of Ramji’s house. As Ramji stepped out, Gopinath approached him, weeping, “Father, you know my condition well. Please do not forget to give special consideration to my case!”
Without a word, Ramji walked to the veranda, followed by his three sons. After greeting the villagers, Ramji announced, “I propose to divide my property equally between Jagan and Ranganath. Gopinath will continue to live in the house and will be maintained by his brothers.”
“What does this mean?” Gopinath cried out. “Why should I be deprived of a third of the property? Why must I depend on the charity of others?”
A Father’s Reasoning
“My property consists of lands scattered across different locations. Being lame, you cannot move around to supervise them. The land will yield nothing without direct oversight. What use would it be to give you land? I have complete confidence in your brothers; they will never neglect you,” Ramji explained.
“Who says I shall remain lame forever? I feel better already. Perhaps, I will be able to walk normally within another month,” Gopinath insisted.
“Very well. I shall wait for a month and then decide,” Ramji stated.
The Revelation
In the following month, Gopinath made rapid progress, eventually walking normally and casting aside the crutch. One day, Ramji called Gopinath into his room and said, “I am ashamed of you. You pretended to be lame out of jealousy for Ranganath. By arousing my sympathy, you hoped to gain more than your brothers. I will give you a third of my property, but you have forfeited my love. How could a son of mine stoop so low as to bribe a friend and physician to speak lies?”
Gopinath received the admonition with his head hung low, realizing the weight of his actions.