A Matter of Right

Shankar, a simpleton from Gangapur, was known throughout the village for his honesty and lack of duplicity. His naivety, however, was overshadowed by the cleverness and miserliness of his wife, Kamla. It was she who influenced Shankar to separate from his brothers and build a home just outside the village.

Shankar’s younger brother, Shiv, was a singer who traveled from place to place, performing at various institutions and functions to maintain his livelihood. One day, he approached Kamla, saying, “I’m going on a pilgrimage to some Himalayan shrines. Please keep this amount of one thousand rupees until I return.” He handed her the money carefully packed in an envelope.

Once Shiv left, Kamla’s covetousness for his money grew. Shankar was preparing to go to the town for business when Kamla handed him her old necklace along with the thousand rupees. “Please buy a new necklace like this one with this money,” she instructed.

Shankar hesitated, recognizing the packet. “But this is Shiv’s money. How can you spend it?” he asked. Kamla replied, “Shiv is like my son. I have the right to spend this money.” By chance, Shankar later met Shiv in town, who shared that his trip had been canceled due to heavy snowfall. “Now I must return home,” Shiv explained.

When they discussed the necklace, Shiv asked, “If you need cash, here is the thousand rupees!” to which Shankar, still simple but beginning to comprehend, asserted, “You should take back your necklace. I know you wouldn’t have minded had I sold it.” Shiv was taken aback, exclaiming, “What! That necklace is worth one thousand rupees! How could you have let it go?”