The Guile of Subir
Subir’s Naivety
In a certain village, there lived a young man named Subir. He was reasonably intelligent, but his greatest weakness was his extreme susceptibility to flattery. While most people were oblivious, an old couple living in the neighborhood was all too aware of this flaw.
The Old Couple’s Deceit
From time to time, the old man would meet Subir and say, “Yours is the first face I saw this morning. I knew that it was going to be a fine day. So far, everything has gone very well except that I find myself in need of a hundred rupees. But I know, with a generous man like you as my neighbor, what do I have to worry about? Well, I promise I won’t keep your money for more than a month!”
Subir would gladly hand over the amount, believing in the old man’s words.
At the end of the month, it would be the old woman, not the old man, who would meet Subir. With a broad smile, she would say, “My husband is worried because he cannot pay back the loan. But I told him that it would be an insult to a great man like Subir to think that he would mind our small default.” Subir would feel happy and respond, “Please do not worry. Do not hesitate to ask me for any help whenever necessary.”
“How could I hesitate before you? We are badly in need of another hundred rupees, and we will pay both amounts together,” the old woman would say as she left with the money. Over a few months, the couple borrowed about five hundred rupees from Subir.
Susheela’s Concern
Subir’s newly-wed wife, Susheela, soon realized that the couple was trying to swindle Subir, taking advantage of his naivety. She felt sad but was unsure of how to address the situation. One day, her maternal uncle, a clever lawyer, visited them. Susheela confided in him about the old couple’s deceit.
A Clever Plan
After dinner, her uncle, in Subir’s presence, said, “My daughter, you are lucky to have a husband as clever as Subir. A cousin of mine who was the same age as Subir ended up poor because he lent all his money to various people. But look at Subir. He has increased his late father’s property.”
“But my husband is also in the habit of giving loans,” Susheela replied, narrating the transactions between Subir and the old couple.
The uncle laughed and said, “You foolish girl, what do you know of Subir’s motives? With age and experience, I realize what the wise Subir truly means to do. He is merely using the old couple as a bank. Before the first anniversary of your marriage arrives, he will ensure they repay the entire amount so that he can buy you a pair of gold bangles—or is it a necklace you have in mind, Subir?”
“A necklace, sir!” said the flattered Subir.
“I will come on the auspicious day to see the necklace myself,” the uncle replied.
The Reckoning
Within a week, Subir compelled the old couple to return his money. He then purchased a beautiful necklace, eagerly awaiting the uncle’s visit to appreciate it.