1.6.08

BELLS

"Say what you will, ill gotten wealth does not lead to prosperity",
said Ratan. "Only such people thrive these days."
"I can prove my point. Take for instance Dr. Chandra of the District
hospital. He made a lot of money by poor patients, and, today, he is
rotting in the Lunatic Asylum.
"This could as well be a coincidence," retorted Ratan peevishly.
"Surely, you have not forgotten Naresh's business partner, Nagraja.
How by defrauding Naresh he acquired property is known to everyone.
Today, he is mourning the loss of his sons..."
Mahendra was going on and on in the same vein. But, before Ratan's
eyes the events of a certain day at the time of the partition of India
into Bharat and Pakistan began to flash back. That day when
unprecedented acts of violence were being perpetrated, he had shut up
his neighbour , pandit Ramnath, in a room and stealing the golden
bells of his temple , had escaped to Hindustan. Poor Ramnath who was
locked up in a room and could not therefore run for his life had been
done to death. His present sound economic condition was due to the
gold stolen from the pundit's temple.
"As far as I know, I have seen people who accumulated wealth by foul
means utterly ruined,"said Mahendra as he concluded his argument.
Ratan had in the mean time gulped three full mugs of beer. He felt
that Mahendrs was intentionally carrying on that unpleasant topic.
"Stop yapping." he suddenly burst out.
Mahendra wondered at Ratan's outburst and looked queerly into his
friend's eyes.
"It appears that you have drunk a bit too much...come, let us have
our dinner." The shining brass buttons on the sleeve of his coat
clinked as. Mahendra rose from his chair. It seemed to Ratan that
Mahendra was teasing him by producing that clinking sound.
"You bastard!....Ringing bells, are you?" He screamed and landed a
stunning blow on the jaw of his friend. As he did that he himself lost
balance and crashed down, carrying the table and the glassware on it
with him as he fell. But the bells kept on ringing in his ears.


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