Once there was a rich man who was very proud of his wealth and did
not pay any heed to others.
He owned almost everything in the city ranging from buildings to
schools and from hospitals to crematoriums but he was so self-obsessed that he
never helped any needy, instead he forced hefty charges on them who had no
other choice except to take his services.
Even the local government had to frame most of their policies
according to his interest and will as he had threatened the local government to
shut down his companies as he possessed all the major enterprises in the city.
One day while traveling through the countryside he was walking
along the shore. After about 30 minutes he felt tired and hungry and went to
the cafeteria to relax and eat.
As soon as he reached there, every shop owner started to run after
him to sell their products except one who calmly stood at his shop smiling at
what he saw.
The rich man got up and approached the shopkeeper and asked him why
he laughed. The shopkeeper told that he laughed thinking about the reason why
these shopkeepers were running after him.
The rich man arrogantly said that the reason that they all were
running behind me was because everyone liked him. The shopkeeper laughed again
and told him that it's not him but his money that people run after.
The rich man egoistically said that he can buy anything even intangible
things like love, happiness, and respect. The shopkeeper laughed again and the
rich man grew furious.
The shopkeeper asked the rich man to stay with him for just 1 day
and he would prove him wrong. The rich man thought to teach him a lesson and
readily accepted the challenge and said that if he lost then he shall give away
his entire wealth to him.
First of all the shopkeeper asked the rich man to drive to an
orphanage. They went inside and met one-year-old orphan boy lying on the cot.
The shopkeeper asked the rich man to do whatever he could so that
the baby would kiss him which would prove that he can buy love.
The rich man brought various kinds of chocolates, sweets, toys and
gave it all to the baby but the baby did not give any reaction. After the rich
man made various unsuccessful attempts, the shopkeeper picked up the baby and
kissed him on his cheeks. The baby smiled and kissed him back. The rich man was
stunned to see this and grew angry on the fact that he couldn’t buy love.
After that, the shopkeeper asked the rich man to arrange for a
meeting which would include all the employees ranging from the CEO of the
company to the security guard who sat outside the office compound.
After some time the meeting started and the shopkeeper asked the
CEO of the company whether he was happy. The CEO replied that yes he was but he
would have been happier if the company could grant him more holidays and perks.
Then he asked the lower grade employees the same question. They replied that
they were happy but would have been happier if they had been given a raise in
their salary. At last, he asked the same question to the security guard and
even he answered that a hike in his salary would make him happier.
After the meeting was over, the shopkeeper asked the rich man to
come to his shop and ask the same question to his employees. The rich man asked
the accountant of the shop whether he was happy and he replied yes. He further
asked the employees and even they replied with a yes. He told them that if they
work at his company, then they can be even happier. All of them smiled and said
that why would one want to be happier if one is already happiest. The rich man
stood awestruck and asked them the reason for their happiness.
They replied that the shopkeeper does not provide them happiness by
giving them money but rather by his actions.
If any employee has an accident then he does not only give him
money but personally comes to ask about the victim’s condition. If an employee
needs a loan then he sanctions it without asking for any interest on it. Every
year he plans a tour not only for his employees but their families as well.
They told him that he had a personal involvement in their lives rather than
just seeing them as assets like the rich man and thus they were happy.
The rich man didn’t say a word and become furious on the fact that
he couldn’t buy happiness.
At last, the shopkeeper asked the rich man to travel to a nearby
old age home. They went inside and met all the elderly people and as soon as
they saw the shopkeeper, they all approached him with a wide grin on their
faces and blessed him. Nobody approached the rich man although he was the
trustee of the old age home. The rich man lost his patience and asked them why anyone
didn’t even notice him though they were living in his old age home.
All of them replied that the old age home asked them money for
staying and eating over there and did not pay any heed to them even when they
told them that they were poor and were unable to pay for themselves. It was the
shopkeeper that came for their help and he is the one who pays for their
monthly expenses.
The shopkeeper had lunch with them, hugged them all, paid their
expenses for the present month and promised to meet them the next month.
The rich man sobbed after learning the fact that even after
becoming a multi-billionaire, he was unable to give people love and happiness
and even couldn’t earn their respect and thus broke down in front of the
shopkeeper.
He thanked the shopkeeper for teaching him a lesson and for
destroying his ego. The shopkeeper smiled, patted him and reminded him that he
has billions of dollars and can prove to be more useful than him.
The rich man promised him that he would use his money for the
benefit of all and shall never try to buy love, happiness and respect rather
will try to earn them.
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