“Safe Deposit” is a simple story of Sitaram who trusted Joginder but…
In days gone by there lived a pundit named Sitaram Mishra in the village of Haripur. He taught in a Sanskrit school. He was much liked by his students and their guardians.
He had accumulated an amount of five hundred rupees over the years. That was a lot of money in those days.
Once he received an invitation to attend a conference of scholars to take place in Varanasi. That was an honour shown to him. He decided to attend the conference. But with whom to leave the money he had gathered? It would take him a month to be back from Varanasi. To leave the money with his wife was not a wise thing to do.
She was such a simple-natured woman that anybody could swindle her of the amount.
Mishra thought over the issue for a while. Then he went to meet the village grocer, a wealthy man named Joginder. He told Joginder his problem and sought his advice.
“In matters of money, you should not trust anybody. In no time money can make a cheat out of a hermit!” said Joginder.
While Joginder was speaking a village woman left the shop after buying something from Joginder’s assistant, a young man.
Suddenly Joginder turned to the young man and said in a grave tone, “I’m afraid, you kept a paisa more from that woman than what is due to us! Why did you do that? Haven’t I told you time and again that we should be satisfied with the minimum profit?”
Joginder’s honesty charmed Mishra. He was sure that the safest place for his money would be Joginder’s custody. “Joginder, please take charge of my money for a month,” he appealed to him.
“Well, sir, if that is your desire, you can leave your money bag anywhere you like in my shop. Mind you, it is for you to keep it and it is for you to collect it when you return. I have nothing to do in the matter,” said Joginder.
Mishra was happy. He hid his bag in a nook of Joginder’s storeroom and left.
He was back after 4 month and went to the honest grocer’s shop.
“Welcome, Mishraji, welcome. How did the conference go?” asked Joginder.
“I am happy to tell you, Joginder, that the conference went on very well. My lecture was widely appreciated,” said Mishra.
“I am so happy to know this, Punditji, I must say that you are our pride, Now, can I be of any help to you?” asked Joginder.
“You have already been of much help to me by guarding my money. Now can I take my bag away?” said Mishra.
“Please take it, Punditji! You know where you kept it; find it out yourself,” said Joginder and he gave his attention to his accounts.
Mishra went into the shop and looked for his bag, but he did not find it. Surprised, he searched every nook and corner of the shop, but the bag was missing.
“Joginder, I don’t find my bag!” he reported to the shopkeeper after some hesitation.
“If you don’t find it, you don’t find it! That is all. What can I do about it? Had I not made it clear that it is for you to deposit it and it is for you to find it? I have no responsibility in the matter!” said Joginder rather rudely.
Mishra stood stunned. He understood that Joginder had decided to cheat him. He left the shop after a long sigh.
“Why are you looking so sad, son?” someone asked him while he was walking absentmindedly.
He looked up. The one to put the question to him was an elderly lady who belonged to the next village. The
two knew each other very well.
Mishra told her all about his misfortune.
“Don’t you worry, son, I will help you recover your money,” said the lady. Then she told him what they should do.
The lady went home and came back with a bundle of her ornaments. She then went to Joginder’s shop and told him. “Joginder, I propose to make a trip to Kalyanpur for a few days. You have to oblige me by keeping this valuable jewellery of mine with you as a safe deposit. Please don’t turn down my request.”
“Why do you wish to leave your jewellery, of all persons, with me?” asked Joginder, a bit surprised.
“To be frank, sonny, I have tremendous faith in Sitaram Mishra. I know that he has been to Varanasi, leaving his money in your charge. In fact, he had told me that if there is one man entirely honest in this area, it is Joginder the Grocer! He narrated to me how you took your assistant to task because the chap collected an extra paisa
from a customer,” explained the lady.
“What takes you to Kalyanpur, Aunty?” asked Joginder.
“My grandson is there. I have not heard from him for a long time. That is the reason I want to visit the town personally,” said the lady as she opened her bundle.
Joginder guessed that the value of the jewellery would be more than five thousand rupees.
Just then Mishra was seen coming back. Joginder’s face fell. The lady did not know that Mishra had returned from Varanasi. Now if she learns that Mishra had been cheated of his safe deposit, she will never leave her jewellery with him.
Joginder hit on an idea.
“Come here, Punditji, come here I was going to send for you. You are such a forgetful man! You left your money bag at one spot and looked for it in another spot! Here is your bag!” he shouted, taking the bag out of
his drawer.
Mishra took hold of his bag promptly. Then he greeted the lady and said, “Aunty, I was on my way to your house. I met your grandson in Varanasi, He will be back with you the next month. He is doing well.”
“You saved me so much botheration!” exclaimed the lady. “I was about to go to Kalyanpur myself!”
Looking at Joginder, she said, “So, sonny, I need not burden you with my jewellery as a safe deposit.” She left, followed by Mishra.
Joginder looked on, disappointment writ large in his eyes
