Quick Wit Works - Just a little bit

Sham Nadgonde

Those were the days of Deepavali. One of the most celebrated festivals in India, and the same our home too.

Unexpectedly, a lot of guests arrived to greet us. We were of course glad to receive them and offer the sweets & namkeens. Stock of homemade Namakeen were sufficient, but seems we had had a go at sweets a bit faster.

A happy problem to have, I just rushed to the nearest Sweet shop. This shop was well respected and popular for its taste & quality, and had many branches across Hyderabad. In a great hurry, I bought some two big boxes of sweets and rushed home.

I preferred to taste the sweets before they were served, and was shocked that these were stale and stinking. I immediately went back to the shop and requested to return and exchange with some good fresh sweets. Being Deepavali time, it was a busy day at the Shop and people at the Counter, busy managing other customers, directed me to the owner who sitting inside his Cabin attached to the Shop.

To my surprise, when I shared the details with the Owner, he was quite rude in his response. He said their quality is never bad and it’s not their policy to accept returns and give something in exchange.

I was taken aback and was extremely disappointed. I intended to come back with a sorry face. But suddenly an idea struck.

I again approached the owner and told, since you’re so confident of your quality, I will just go out and distribute these sweets to all the customers waiting. Since you think I’m wrong, let them enjoy the good quality sweets you are so proudly selling. I want to see how your esteemed customers react.

I came back from his room to the main counter and was just about to start the distribution. Now it was the Owner’s turn to be surprised, and taken aback he immediately rushed to the Counter. By this time all the customers also had of what is going on. In a complete turnaround, he was not pleading why I am spoiling his reputation he has earned in last so many years.

He requested me to come to his room again, and offered the exchange. I told him, only exchange won’t be enough now, and he must discard all the stale sweets right away under my watch, so he doesn’t deceive other unsuspecting customers.

I was happy when he agreed to all that I said. As they say in Hindi,  जब सीधी ऊँगली से घी न निकले, तब ऊँगली टेढ़ी कर लेनी चाहिए. Just a little  टेढ़ी  in this case.

 

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