Twice as much

"O generous man, give the poor and hungry some money, may your business flourish"

The shopkeeper had barely set up his sweet shop for the day when even before the first customer, this begger stood looking with great hope into his eyes.

"You guys turn up right in the morning, don't you realize I have just opened my shop?" He said getting irritated.

"A rupee or two that's all, God will give you twice as much you give me" replied the begger sticking strictly to his pitch.

Shopkeeper laughed at the wit of the begger "Very clever of you to say that, here you go, said the shopkeeper taking out a 5 rupee note from the cash box and handed it over to the begger, "Its a little worn but will be acceptable to anyone. Let me see if I get back the double of this"

The shopkeeper had been trying to put this 5 rupee note in circulation since yesterday without success, none of his customers accepted it due to its bad state.

Begger too, though visibly unhappy still looked closely at the money for a while. 'Taped in the middle and very soiled, may work though' he thought after assessing its condition.

 "Be happy, flourish and grow" he said raising his hands as if to bless but in doing so, lost grip and the note slipped away from his fingers onto the road, flew and diasppeared into the drain.

"You know why you beg for a living?" asked the shopkeeper in a humiliating tone, "That's because you can't handle money"

The begger giggled trying to cover up the faux pa

"Now move on, I have nothing more to give you this morning" chided the shopkeeper.

As begger turned around, he bumped into the sweeper who was busy cleaning the drain.

"Drunk are you?" He retaliated as the beggar moved on.

Sweeper soon found the 5 rupee note, air dried and kept it in his pocket.

'One pouch of tobacco is arranged' he thought.

"Rajnandini" he said placing the new-found note at the pan shop after a while.

"Hmm" the owner who was busy setting up his shop moved his head slightly without looking at his customer or the money as if to allow him to take one pouch of tobacco laden betelnut from the string hanging over the counter.

Sweeper looked at the shop owner to see if he had noticed the condition of the 5 rupee note, since nothing untoward happened, he tore open the pouch and emptied it stright into his mouth and walked away.

"A pack of cigarettes, usual one" said a regular customer halting his motorcycle right in front.

Pan shop owner placed the pack on counter, customer handed over a hundred rupee note, "Return me 20 rupees, not all coins please, difficult to keep"

As he was was about to receive balance amount "PRESS WALEY" shreiked someone like hell in his ears.

"What the....are you crazy, my ears are all whistles" he said staring at the man passing  by with his cloth ironing service cart and in the event involuntarily took and kept two ten rupee notes in his pocket.

He puckered his face to ward off the effect of the sonic boom that just hit him, lit up his cigarette, kick started the bike, turned around and halted in front of the sweet shop, "Chhotu, pack 2 samosas" he demanded signalling the young assistant.

"Here", said chhotu handing over the packet,

"You've put the sauce too right?" asked the motorcyclist, " Yes, 20 rupees" said chhotu in response.

Having given the same notes he received from the pan shop, customer sped away.

"Half a kilo Jalebi and 200 gms curd" said another customer to the shop owner who weighed both items, packed them & handed over the stuff in a polybag.

"Give me back 20" said customer placing money on the counter.

"Here" replied the shopkeeper giving 2 ten rupee notes.

"Well this won't work, change this one please" demanded customer after scrutinizing the notes to which the shopkeeper complied.

"The young guy on the motocycle gave this perhaps" said chhotu pre-empting the situation

"Keep your eyes open when dealing with customers or I will deduct money from your salary" cautioned the shopkeeper looking at the soiled and taped 10 rupee note.

The beggar by now had reached far end of the market, was standing in front of the grocery store raising his palms and pleading, "A rupee or two that's all, God will give you twice as much you give me" ●●●