Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers!
Bina Thomas ( binatho@gmail.com )

Often in our daily lives we come across instances which reveal great Truths. They bring us face to face with the teachings of Saints and Philosphers. And that is exactly what happened to Monu and his mother when they met a group of young boys from the neighbourhood slums. Read on to know what happened …….



Monu was engrossed in his search, when a gang of boys stopped him.
“Are you looking for this?” asked one of them. He held the `lost’ book.
“Yes, that’s mine!” Monu jumped at it.
“But now it’s ours,” said the boy shoving the book into his shirt, “and if you want it back you have to pay 50 rupees for it” he said.
“50? That is too high! My mother would never agree to pay that much.”
“How about 30?”
“Could we settle for 20 rupees?” Monu finally asked.
“Ok. Done.”
Monu heaved a sigh of relief. It all was his fault. While cycling home from the library, he did not realize when one of his story books fell off the bicycle carrier. On confiding to mom, she had suggested that he retrace the entire stretch between home and library once again and look for the book. The book must have dropped off at the hutments near the cross roads and was found by one of the boys.

Thus, the matter was settled. 20 rupees! Although Monu knew his mother wouldn’t be happy with this negotiation, he desperately wanted his book back. What if the library cancelled his membership because he lost a book? What if he had to pay the cost of the book? That would be much more an amount!

Monu told the young boys to wait at the same spot till he returned with the money. His mother was both angry and amused on hearing the demand. She decided to accompany her son. The boys were a little nervous on seeing an `Aunty’ accompanying their `prey’. But, they put up a strong front. Aunty too was prepared to explain to the boys that it was wrong to keep something that didn’t belong to them.

“But the book doesn’t belong to you”, Aunty pursued.
“And I am going to return it,” replied the young kid and sniggered. His gang giggled among themselves.
“But only for a price?” asked Aunty.
“Yes, 20 rupees,” he confirmed.
“Why?” Aunty wanted the kid to think and realize how unreasonable his demand was.

But his reply was quick!

“Madame, I am being honest and told the truth that I have the book,” said the boy. “It was your son who was careless and lost a book which does not even belong to him. I found it and kept it safe. It is now my property. I could sell it to any secondhand books store and make some money. But, I chose to return it to your son,” with complete confidence the young boy reasoned it out.

Aunty was speechless. It reminded her of an episode in the life of Gautama Buddha. Prince Siddharta, as the Buddha was known when he was young, once saved a bird which was shot down by his cousin Devadratta. When Devdratta made his claim for the bird, Siddharta refused to part with the helpless creature. The matter then went to court. The young princes had to present their case. Siddharta said that since he had saved the bird from death and thus given it a new life the bird should be allowed to remain in his care. The court was adjourned in Siddharta’s favour, because, a Protector is nobler than a Destroyer.

Aunty was so impressed by the young lad’s reply that she could not resist but give him the 20 rupees he expected. “This is for your honesty and fearlessly speaking your mind,” she said.