Self Will
There were many houses of potters in the village. Most of the potters made vessels out of mud. Maliram was one of the potters who had a house here. The house was made of mud bricks and a roof made of reeds. A particular kind of chaff was used to make the thatched roof. In the village terminology, this chaff was called ‘Kooncha’s pani’. Maliram used to make the thatched roof for his house. Maliram used to carefully place each straw and every passer-by would stop and admire the roof of his house. Many people had asked Maliram to make a roof like his but he never did it for anyone else.
Maliram’s house was right opposite Sohanlal’s Bunglow. Sohanlal was a famous merchant in the village. One day Sohanlal called Maliram and said “I want to build something stylish in the hallway in front of my house. You have to build the roof for that.”
Maliram refused and said “You must have heard that I never build a thatched roof for anyone.”
Sohanlal said “I know it. I can get it built by anyone. But I like the way you build these thatched roofs. Ramprasad was asking three thousand rupees for this work. Harishankar was ready to work for four thousand rupees. You can take six thousand rupees.”
Maliram refused. Sohanlal increased the price to ten thousand rupees, twenty thousand rupees and finally fifty thousand rupees. But Maliram refused again.
Sohanlal increased the price to one lakh rupees and told Maliram “Think about this offer. You cannot earn a lakh even if you work for one year!”
Maliram said “Sir, making pots is my family profession. I do that to make ends meet and to feed my family. But making these thatched roofs is my hobby. I do this work for my satisfaction. If you have money, does it mean that you can get all the good things? You can quote any price but there are some things that I do only for my happiness. I will not make another thatched roof.”
Accepting defeat, Sohanlal got the roof made by someone else. But it could not match what Maliram could have done. Bungalow's conceit is now daily teased by a self-willed hut.
Ego
District judge Raghuveer Sharan and his wife Meera reached the bungalow after their morning walk. As soon as they came home, Meera called out servant Sitaram and said “Today, we spent more time than usual in our morning walk. Get the copper mug and fill it with water.” Meera worshipped the sun god with water every day after her bath.
‘But madam, there is no running water in our tap. Shall I go to the Munsif’s house opposite our house and get water?” Hearing this, Meera immediately saw her husband with a look full of questions.
Raghuveer Sharan immediately called the Water Works Department and asked the lineman to come home. He asked him “What is this? Why is there no water in my house and why does the Munsif’s house have running water? He is a junior officer to me!”
“Sir, the tap in Munsif’s house is at a lower level compared to your house. Shall I keep your tap at a lower level than that of the Munsif’s tap? Then, you will get water for a longer time in your house.”
“No No. The tap is at the right level in my house and the water flow is sufficient. You do one thing. Go to Munsif’s house and raise the tap to a higher level than here.” Saying this, he gave a haughty look towards his wife.
Meera began to think “I wish there was a way to offer away his ego as sacrifice as well!”
